Looking forward to trying Velvet in the larger size. Appreciated the ability to mix colors for the quantity discount and also the good pricing overall.

One of my top papers.

I love canson velvet paper. It takes a wet medium and holds many layers of pastel. I prefer the neutral colors and wish it came in pure white. I would really like to see the back of the sheets have guide lines for easier cutting.

April was incredibly helpful with an exchange and made sure that I was 100% satisfied with the replacement. I so appreciate her hard work and outstanding customer service. I got 10 sheets of Canson velvet to replace pastelmat, and this paper is amazing! Very grippy, takes lots of layers, and a delight to work on. I actually like it a little better than the old pastelmat paper- which I absolutely loved.

I am a long time Pastelmat user and paint realism. I absolutely love Pastelmat but it often comes with blemishes. I was excited when an “alternative” was to be released. When I first tried it, I admit I did not care for it. Alot of reviews led me to believe it would take pastel similar to Pastelmat and that is not the case. Pencil will not really layer over soft pastel in the same way. I decided to give it another try, changed up my style slightly and I love the results. The saturation of color it gives you is fantastic and is probably my favorite thing about the paper. Just know you need to plan a little more what colors you need where, as layering is limited. Given some adjustment, the results are quite impressive.

I was excited to try this new paper from Canson. It's different from Pastelmat and took me a bit of time to adjust my pastel work. But I love the softness it brings to the medium. I'm able to build my layers and get fine details in. Currently working on a red sheet that is luminous.

I like the green. I like how greens and earth colors pop. It's not as smooth as pastelmat IMHO. I will use the green now and then. Other than that it's just not my paper.

Wonderful paper, takes many layers of pastel. I'm so pleased there is a beautiful alternative to pastel mat!

I heard great things about Canson Velvet. I generally use 600 grit sanded paper or Pastelmat. Results of my first test piece: 1. I used my (in order of hardness) old Nupastels, Jack Richeson hard pastels, Jack Richeson semi-hard (student grade) pastels, Rembrandt pastels, Sennelier, Unison, Schminke, and Blue Earth. I didn’t try pencils, although that’s coming. 2. I also used sponges and my fingers to blend, as well as blending color-on-color directly. Underpainted w/hard pastels&gamsol didn’t have the results I expected. Velvet grabs pastels and doesn’t easily release them. Needs a heavy base layer down to get a good underpainting. 3. The color of the paper makes a BIG difference and affects the color of the final because the surface holds the pastels, but it sucks them up (not shredding them, mind you). Very little dust, but lots of layers. 4. SOFTest pastels work better than middle-soft and much better than hard pastels to cover and hold a fine line.

I was eager to try this paper and am not disappointed. It is heavy, will not require mounting, and does not curl or buckle. The surface is similar to Pastelmat. It feels smooth to the touch but grabs pastel very well. I think it's my new favorite.

The paper is available in multiple colors, it’s thick, and has a very fine grit surface. Easy layering of pastel color, it only barely smudges when I rake my finger across it which I really like. There is almost no dust at all, almost no pastel crumbs in the tray beneath my easel. One small drawback is that there is a texture that shows up once you've applied pastel with a light touch. This goes away after a few layers. It also goes away if I spritz the surface with alcohol and lightly use a brush. I think this is just fine for landscapes. A portrait artist might find it bothersome but, it can easily be covered. Love the paper so far.