Imagine holding a stick of pure, vibrant color in your hand. That’s the magic of pastels! But if you’ve ever walked into an art store and stared at rows and rows of these soft, powdery sticks, you might have felt a little overwhelmed. Choosing the right pastels can feel like navigating a maze, and it’s easy to get lost in the different types, brands, and qualities.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many artists, whether they’re just starting out or have been painting for years, find the world of pastels a bit confusing. You want to create beautiful art, but the wrong pastels can make things frustrating. This guide is here to help you cut through the noise and understand what makes a good pastel for your artwork.
By the time you finish reading, you’ll feel more confident about what to look for when buying pastels. We’ll explore the different kinds of pastels available and what makes them special. Get ready to unlock a new level of color and expression in your art!
Top Pastels For Artists Recommendations
- Brilliant Colors: Artecho artist soft oil pastel includes 48 vibrant colors. High-quality pigments
- Great Drawing Effect: Soft touch, easy blending, and shading. This pastel can be drawn for illustration, stenciling, scratching, impasto, and dotting
- Perfect Packaging: Humanized size design, can be easily put into all kinds of bags. Each oil pastel (70 mm × Ø 10mm) has its own independent paper sleeve, not easy to fall off and break
- Fabulous Gift: A great gift for painting lovers. A great choice for DIY creators. They are ideal for art and craft projects. Suitable for beginners, students, and experienced artists. A great gifting idea for birthday, graduation, Thanksgiving, Halloween, or Christmas. Non-toxic and safe to use
- Service Guarantee: We insist on providing you with high-quality products and excellent prices. Please feel free to contact us if you have any comments or suggestions about our products or service
- Brilliant colors apply smoothly and blend easily for shading and color mixing
- More vibrant than chalk pastels, oil pastels make your artwork come to life
- Acid-free pastels are resistant to the effects of humidity for longer lasting drawings
- Best for paper, canvas and artboard
- 80 VIVID COLORS FOR ENDLESS CREATIVITY: A wide range of vibrant soft pastel chalks—perfect for crafts, sketching, and portraits. Easy to use for layering, blending, hatching, and more. Versatile palette for both practice and creating stunning masterpieces in any subject.
- ARTIST GRADE SOFT CHALK PASTELS: Highly pigmented for rich color payoff, smooth blending, and vibrant results on textured surfaces. Square edges offer precision for fine details or broad strokes—perfect for practice and professional artwork. Ideal for beginners, and artists.
- STURDY CARBON BOX KEEPS PASTELS ORGANIZED: A sleek, durable box showcases vibrant colors and makes a perfect gift for art lovers. It protects pastels and minimizes breakage with inner foam cushioning during transit.
- HANDY, USER-FRIENDLY STANDARD SIZE: 2.5-inch pastels wrapped in paper for easy handling and mess-free clean-up. Each wrapper includes the color name and number. Full color palette printed on the package sleeve.
- SAFE, DUST-MINIMIZED, AND NON-TOXIC: Formulated to minimize dust, these non-toxic chalk pastels are suitable for daily artistic use. Trusted by artists, educators, and creative professionals.
- Brilliant Colors: Artecho premium soft pastel includes 48 unique colors, 1 extra black and 1 extra white. High-quality pigments and includes 4 fluorescent colors which can show fantastic luminous effects under UV light or black light
- Great Drawing Effect: Square chalk, is easy to blend and shade. This pastel can be drawn for point, thick line, fine line, and large area coloring
- Perfect Packaging: Humanized size design, can be easily put into all kinds of bags. Each pastel(8×8×27mm) has its own independent card slot in the box, not easy to fall off and break
- Fabulous Gift: A great gift for painting lovers. A great choice for DIY creators. They are ideal for art and craft projects. Suitable for beginners, students, and experienced artists. A great gifting idea for birthday, graduation, Thanksgiving, Halloween, or Christmas. Non-toxic and safe to use
- Service Guarantee: We insist on providing you with high-quality products and excellent prices. Please feel free to contact us if you have any comments or suggestions about our products or service
- Mr. Pen oil pastel set includes 45 colors, perfect for artists, students, and hobbyists looking to create colorful and expressive artwork.
- Each pastel stick is crafted for smooth application, delivering rich, creamy texture that blends effortlessly on various surfaces.
- Designed for easy handling and long-lasting use, these pastels provide excellent coverage and brilliant pigmentation in every stroke.
- Ideal for beginners and professionals alike, this comprehensive set offers a wide range of shades to inspire creativity and artistic expression.
- With durable construction, Mr. Pen oil pastels are a must-have addition to any art supply collection.
- 100 VIVID COLORS FOR ENDLESS CREATIVITY: A wide range of vibrant soft pastel chalks—perfect for crafts, sketching, and portraits. Easy to use for layering, blending, hatching, and more. Versatile palette for both practice and creating stunning masterpieces in any subject.
- ARTIST GRADE SOFT CHALK PASTELS: Highly pigmented for rich color payoff, smooth blending, and vibrant results on textured surfaces. Square edges offer precision for fine details or broad strokes—perfect for practice and professional artwork. Ideal for beginners, students, and artists.
- STURDY WOODEN BOX KEEPS PASTELS ORGANIZED: A sleek, durable box showcases vibrant colors and makes a perfect gift for art lovers. It protects pastels and minimizes breakage with inner foam cushioning during transit.
- HANDY, USER-FRIENDLY STANDARD SIZE: 2.5-inch pastels wrapped in paper for easy handling and mess-free clean-up. Each wrapper includes the color name and number. Full color palette printed on the package sleeve.
- SAFE, DUST-MINIMIZED DESIGN: Formulated to minimize dust for a cleaner drawing experience. Soft pastels suitable for artists, hobbyists, and art teachers.
- Includes 48 vibrant colours & tin storage case
- Soft, powdery texture for seamless application and colour blending
- Pastels can shade large areas and create fine lines
- Suitable for use with pastel pencils and charcoal
- Blend colours with your finger or paper stump, create highlights using a kneadable eraser
- Measures 3 5/8" long and 1/4" square (92mm x 6mm)
- Can be used wet or dry for varying effects
- Composed of rich, creamy pigment that's the artist’s choice for blending and shading
- Brilliant pigments deliver beautiful, velvety color
- Includes 36 vivid pastels
Choosing the Best Pastels for Your Art
Pastels are wonderful art tools. They let you create vibrant colors and soft blending. Choosing the right pastels helps your artwork shine. This guide will help you pick the perfect pastels for your needs.
Key Features to Look For
When you buy pastels, check for a few important things.
Color Intensity
Good pastels have bright, rich colors. They don’t look faded. High-quality pigments make the colors pop on paper.
Texture and Feel
Pastels should feel smooth when you use them. They shouldn’t be too hard or too crumbly. A nice texture lets you blend colors easily.
Lightfastness
Lightfastness means how well the color stays true over time. Colors that are lightfast won’t fade when exposed to light. Look for labels that show good lightfastness ratings.
Binder Content
Pastels have a binder that holds the pigment together. Too much binder makes them hard. Too little binder makes them very soft and crumbly. A good balance is key.
Important Materials
Pastels are made from pigment and a binder.
Pigments
These are the colored powders. High-quality pigments are pure and vibrant. Cheaper pastels might use less pure pigments, making colors dull.
Binder
Common binders include gum tragacanth or methylcellulose. These are like glue that holds the pigment. The amount of binder changes the pastel’s hardness.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Many things affect how good your pastels are.
Pigment Quality
Pure, finely ground pigments make the best pastels. They give you the most brilliant colors. Some brands use lower-quality pigments. This makes the colors less bright.
Binder Type and Amount
The right binder and the right amount are important. A good binder lets you blend and layer colors. Too much binder makes the pastel hard and scratchy. Too little binder makes it break apart easily.
Manufacturing Process
How the pastels are made matters. Brands that carefully mix and form their pastels create a more consistent product. Hand-made pastels are often of higher quality.
Brand Reputation
Well-known art supply brands often have a history of making good pastels. They invest in quality materials and processes. Newer or lesser-known brands might not be as consistent.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use pastels and your experience with them are important.
Beginner Friendly
Softer pastels are easier for beginners to blend. They allow for quick layering. Harder pastels can be good for drawing details. Many artists start with a mix.
Professional Artists
Professional artists often look for the highest pigment load and best lightfastness. They need colors that will last and blend beautifully. They might buy individual sticks for specific needs.
Art Styles
Pastels work for many art styles. You can create soft, dreamy landscapes. You can also make sharp, detailed portraits. The type of pastel you choose can help achieve your desired look.
Surface Choice
Pastels work best on textured paper or canvas. The texture helps the pastel stick. Smooth surfaces don’t hold the pastel well. A good surface makes your artwork last longer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pastels for Artists
Q: What is the difference between soft pastels and oil pastels?
A: Soft pastels are made with pigment and a light binder. They are powdery and easy to blend. Oil pastels use pigment and a wax or oil binder. They are waxy and create bolder marks. They don’t blend as softly as soft pastels.
Q: How do I store my pastels?
A: Store pastels flat in a box or case. This keeps them from breaking. Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat. Protect them from dust.
Q: Can I use pastels on any paper?
A: Pastels work best on textured paper. This is called “tooth.” Paper with a lot of tooth holds the pastel particles. Very smooth paper is not ideal.
Q: What is “lightfastness”?
A: Lightfastness tells you how well a color resists fading from light. Higher numbers mean the color will last longer without fading. Artists look for high lightfastness ratings for permanent artwork.
Q: Are pastel pencils different from soft pastels?
A: Yes. Pastel pencils have a pastel core encased in a wooden pencil. They are good for fine details and sharp lines. Soft pastels are sticks without a casing. They are best for larger areas and blending.
Q: How do I blend pastels?
A: You can blend pastels with your fingers, soft cloths, or special blending tools like tortillons. Gently rub the colors together to create smooth transitions.
Q: Can I fix my pastel artwork?
A: Yes. You can use a fixative spray to help keep the pastel on the paper. Use it in a well-ventilated area. Don’t spray too much, or it can change the colors.
Q: What is a good starter set of pastels?
A: A starter set with 24-48 colors is often a good choice. Look for a set with a good range of basic colors. Some sets include both soft and harder pastels.
Q: Can I mix different brands of pastels?
A: Yes, you can mix different brands of pastels. However, be aware that different brands may have different qualities. For professional work, some artists prefer to stick with one or two trusted brands.
Q: Are pastels safe to use?
A: Pastels are generally safe. However, avoid inhaling the dust. Always use them in a well-ventilated area. Wash your hands after using them.