Soft Pastels

Soft Pastels

Because there are so many variations of soft pastels, it's extremely easy to build up a collection that lets you do almost anything your imagination can think of - you can blend with them, use the side, you can cross hatch, you can even add water to give a totally different texture to your work of art. 

Soft pastels are some of Art to Art's favorite drawing supplies, so it comes as no surprise that we have a huge range of rich, vibrant colours and soft hues available. Different to oil pastels, pastel pencils, and hard pastels, soft pastels contain more pigment so the colours are far more intense. Because they’re soft, you can also apply a lot of colour quickly, giving you a dramatic effect with very little effort. When exploring the world of pastels, the difference in the hardness or softness of each stick plays a pivotal role in its function and the effects it can produce. The difference is in the hardness - because soft pastels contain far less chalk, they're incredibly soft.

Soft pastels, typically rounded in shape, boast a higher pigment load with less binder, making them ideal for blending and smudging to create subtle transitions of colour. This softness allows for a richer application but can also lead to more dust and a need for delicate handling.

Additionally, for artists seeking a middle ground, pastel pencils offer a unique solution. Encased in wood, pastel pencils combine the vibrant colour and blendability of traditional pastels with the clean handling and detailed control of a pencil. They mesh well with both hard and soft pastels, allowing for a versatile range of artistic expressions.

Understanding these differences not only helps in choosing the right type of pastel for your project but also enhances your ability to use them to their fullest potential, whether you are layering colours or defining sharp details.

At Art To Art, we carry an extensive range of additional items available for purchase to enhance your pastel art experience. These include various types of erasers and pencils, featuring options like sketching, watercolour, charcoal, pastel, and coloured. Our selection doesn't stop there; we also offer diverse forms of pastels themselves such as crayons, oil, soft, and water-soluble types.

Essential Pastel Accessories:

• Fixatives: To ensure your pastel artwork remains pristine and smudge-free, we provide high-quality fixatives. These are essential for preserving the vividness and longevity of your work.
• Blenders: Achieve seamless color transitions and subtle gradients with our range of blending tools designed specifically for pastels.
• Sharpeners: Keep your tools in top shape. Our sharpeners are perfect for maintaining the precision of your pastel pencils and sticks.

Additionally, other accessories available include markers, pens, graphite, ink, sharpeners, and materials for technical drawing. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned artist, these tools can help elevate your artistic process and refine your techniques in pastel art.

What brands are featured in the Art To Art’s collection?

The brands featured include Art Spectrum, Faber-Castell, Mont Marte, PanPastel, Rembrandt, Caran Dache.

Don't wait - discover a wide range of soft pastels at Art to Art. Shop now and get free shipping over $100. Same day dispatch and Afterpay are also available. 

FAQs

What is the experience of using soft pastels like?

Using soft pastels feels like applying pure pigment directly to the surface, allowing for immediate and vibrant colour application.

How do you blend colours with soft pastels?

You can blend colours using either your fingers or a specialized tool known as a colour shaper.

What are soft pastels?

Shaped like a stick, artist soft pastels are a combination of pigment, water and chalk or an artificial binder. Compared to hard pastels, they have more pigment in them and less chalk, making them soft to use.

What is the difference between chalk and soft pastels?

The difference is in the hardness - because soft pastels contain far less chalk, they're incredibly soft. Chalks, on the other hand, have a lot more filler, are stiffer, and can even be sharpened. Chalks are also not as vibrant because they have far less pigment in them.

Are soft pastels permanent?

Because soft pastels never crack, yellow or darken over time, you can consider them permanent. Due to the high concentration of pigments, they remain vibrant and colourful, and remain much brighter than a similarly aged oil painting. 

What is the difference between oil pastels and soft pastels?

Soft art pastels can feel a lot drier to touch than their oil based counterparts, which can feel slick, waxy and greasy. Whilst they look the same, they end up creating very different strokes. The soft versions are easier to blend with, whilst oil pastels are viewed as more expressive, and not as good for fine details.

Are Soft Pastels Permanent?

Because soft pastels never crack, yellow, or darken over time, you can consider them permanent. Due to the high concentration of pigments, they remain vibrant and colourful, and remain much brighter than a similarly aged oil painting.