UGLYNEWS

Keeping up with the world of Ugly

Pastel Paper Pads That Are Actually Pastel-Colored

The word "pastel" in paper names means two completely different things, and the confusion causes a lot of disappointed first-time buyers. A "pastel paper pad" usually means paper built for...

Read more
Earth Tone Paper for Landscape and Still Life

Earth tones are the oldest colored paper palette in the book. Tan, ochre, clay brown, sage green, slate gray — the colors of actual earth, which is exactly why they...

Read more
How to Actually Use Loose Colored Paper Sheets in Your Studio

Loose sheets aren't just big pads without the binding. They're the right format for a specific kind of work — large-scale drawing, framing-ready pieces, collage and mixed media, printmaking, classroom...

Read more
Bright Colored Paper for Bold Work: Why Saturation Matters

Saturated paper isn't for everyone. It's loud. It's decisive. It kills subtle tonal work and punishes anyone who wants to hide in careful shading. But for the artists and designers...

Read more
Looking for a Colored Paper Pad Without White in It? Read This.

If you've ever bought a "colored" or "assorted" paper pad expecting color and opened it to find four sheets of white and champagne staring back at you, you're not alone....

Read more
The Best Colored Paper Pads in 2026: An Honest Guide

The best colored paper pad depends on what you're actually drawing and how vivid you want the color. For saturated brights and palette variety, Uglypads Brights Vol. 1 and Vol....

Read more
A Short History of Colored Paper in Art

Colored paper isn't a trend. Artists have been preferring a tinted ground to white since at least the 15th century, and the reasons haven't changed: a colored page saves you...

Read more
Why Color on Your Paper Changes How You Draw

There's a reason the blank white page is a cliché for creative block. White paper is, visually, empty — and empty is intimidating. The moment the page has a color...

Read more