Product Review
Ampersand Pastelbord is a gesso and clay coated hardboard panel with a granular marble dust finish. The result is a textured board comparable to sanded pastel paper, but much more durable and versatile. Since it has a hardboard backing, Pastelbord can be used with wet or dry pastel techniques, as well as acrylics. The museum quality surface is non-yellowing and ph neutral. Available in multiple colors and sizes. Single panel, 9 x 12 x 1/8 inches, Sand finish.
- Holds More Layers Than Pastel Paper: The fine marble-dust tooth grips far more pastel layers than traditional paper—ideal for rich color buildup, smooth gradients, and deep blending. Also excellent for charcoal, colored pencil, graphite, conté, and other dry-pigment media.
- Versatile for Wet & Dry Applications: Pastelbord’s absorbent clay-and-gesso ground works beautifully with acrylic, watercolor, casein, ink, and mixed media, while the rigid Hardbord backing keeps the surface flat and still during wet work. Thin washes on white Pastelbord also allow artists to tone the panel to any color before adding pastel or dry media.
- Stronger & Cleaner Than Paper Surfaces: Because Pastelbord is a specialty coated wood panel—not flexible pastel paper, pastel card, or pastel mat glued pads—it stays completely stable without taping or mounting. The solid, non-flexing surface keeps strokes crisp, reduces excess pastel dust, and gives you greater control for realism and detail. This stable support also accepts wet media without the buckling or surface damage inherent to paper-based pastel art surfaces.
- Framing-Ready: Pastelbord’s sturdy 1/8" Hardbord construction gives finished artwork a solid, professional foundation that fits cleanly into standard frames behind glass—no taping, mounting, foamcore, or support boards required. A durable alternative to delicate pastel papers and card stock surfaces that must be mounted before framing.
- 4 Artist-Preferred Colors: Choose from Grey, Sand, White, and Green to set an immediate tonal base for portrait, landscape, floral, or still-life work. White Pastelbord can also be toned with thin watercolor, ink, or acrylic washes for custom color foundations.
