Pastels

Pastels

Perfect for both beginners and professional artists, pastels are a versatile art medium that can be used to create a range of unique effects. Shop drawing supplies online at Art to Art today and get free shipping when you spend over $100. Same day dispatch and Afterpay are also available. Before you go, be sure to stock up on all your favourites, such as art paper, drawing charcoal, markers, pencils and more! 

Oil Pastels

These have a smooth and buttery texture and are excellent for colour blending. Oil pastels are formulated with a unique blend of wax and oil, which gives them a creamy consistency distinct from other pastel types. This composition allows them to adhere to a variety of surfaces without crumbling, smudging, or producing any airborne dust. Unlike soft pastels, they do not require a fixative, making them stable and ideal for use on location. However, because they never completely dry, they can be challenging to transport safely. Oil pastels can be used directly on the support to create strong, vibrant strokes, and their versatility extends to techniques such as creating impasto effects or thinning with turpentine for glazes.

Soft Pastels

 Made with more powdered pigment, these can be used to create brilliant, intense, and richly coloured artworks. Soft pastels, bound with gum, have a more delicate texture that can produce fine dust during use. They are highly favoured for their ability to blend seamlessly and are more suited for detailed work, compared to the broader strokes often associated with oil pastels.

Oil pastels generally offer fewer colour options than soft pastels—typically around 80 shades—but the available range is ample for most artistic needs. If you're considering exploring oil pastels, it's advisable to invest in the best quality you can afford to fully experience their dynamic potential."

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Pastel pencils

These are an exceptional choice for artists who seek precision and versatility in their medium. Your page states: "Pencils: ideal for a wide range of drawing techniques, these pencils offer more detailed control and can easily be smudged." Expanding on this, pastel pencils combine the ease of use found in traditional pencils with the unique texture and color richness of pastels.

These pencils are encased in wood, housing a core that strikes a perfect balance between hard and soft pastels. This unique composition allows for both detailed work and broader, softer lines, depending on whether the pencil is sharpened or used bluntly. Artists appreciate pastel pencils for their ability to be used in a dry state or with water, enhancing their blending capabilities just like traditional pastels.

Types of pastels

• Oil: these have a smooth and buttery texture and are excellent for colour blending. They can also be used on a variety of toned and textured surfaces.

• Soft: made with more powdered pigment, these can be used to create brilliant, intense and richly coloured artworks.

• Hard: use these for fine details, crisp lines and for creating blended effects.

• Pencils: ideal for a wide range of drawing techniques, these pencils offer more detailed control and can easily be smudged. 

FAQs

What are pastels used for?

Pastels can be used for anything, your only limit is your imagination! Use them to create landscapes, portraits, abstract art and more.

What are pastels made from?

Pastel colour sticks are made from powdered pigment and a binder. The exact composition of the sticks also depends on how much pigment and binder is used. For example, hard pastels have more binder and less pigment, whereas soft pastels have more pigment and less binder.