Question 1

What's the difference between soft pastels and oil pastels?

Accepted Answer

Soft (dry) pastels are pigment bound with a small amount of gum, so they crumble, layer, and blend into a matte, velvety finish and usually need a fixative or glassine sheet to protect them. Oil pastels bind pigment with non-drying oil and wax, giving a buttery, glossy stroke that resists smudging and never fully hardens. Soft pastels suit blended portraits and skies; oil pastels favor bold, impasto-style color and travel well.

Question 2

How can I tell if pastels are artist grade?

Accepted Answer

Artist-grade pastels list the pigment by name or index number (like PB29 or PR101) and carry a lightfastness rating, ideally ASTM I or II for permanence. They use a higher pigment-to-binder ratio than student sets, so colors read richer and blend cleaner. Handmade small-batch sticks from independent makers often beat mass-market student grades on pigment load. Avoid unnamed 'hues' if archival color matters.

Question 3

How much do handmade artist pastels cost?

Accepted Answer

A small handmade soft-pastel set of 12 to 24 colors typically runs $15-$40, while larger artist-grade boxes of 36 to 60-plus sticks reach $50-$120. Individual open-stock sticks for refilling a used-up color cost a few dollars each. Pan pastels and curated half-stick palettes sit in between. Premium single-pigment lines and hand-rolled limited palettes price higher because of materials and labor.

Question 4

Do pastels need a fixative, and which works?

Accepted Answer

Soft and pan pastels benefit from a workable fixative to lock layers and reduce dust, applied in light coats; oil pastels generally do not, since they stay tacky by design. Workable fixative lets you keep drawing on top, while final fixative seals the finished piece but can slightly darken light colors. Many makers offer a matching fixative or recommend one; store finished pastel work behind glassine to prevent smudging.

Question 5

What paper or surface works best with pastels?

Accepted Answer

Pastels need a toothy surface to grab pigment — sanded pastel paper, pastel board, velour, or textured laid paper like Canson Mi-Teintes. Sanded surfaces hold the most layers and suit soft pastels; smoother papers suit lighter sketches and oil pastels. A toned mid-gray or tan ground is popular because it unifies color and lets highlights pop. Some makers sell pastels paired with a starter pad or sample surface.

Question 6

Which pastels are best for beginners?

Accepted Answer

Beginners do well with a curated 12- to 24-color soft-pastel set in medium softness, or a small oil-pastel box that needs no fixative and travels cleanly. Look for a maker-selected palette built around mixing primaries plus a few earth tones rather than a huge box of similar shades. Half-stick sets stretch your budget and let you sample a maker's range before committing to full sticks.

Artist Pastels: Soft, Oil & Pan Sets

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