Running fingers across a chalk drawing reveals that magical, dusty texture that's just a hint of what awaits artists in the world of soft pastels. These vibrant sticks of nearly pure pigment create art that practically glows off the page. Unlike the process of fussing with paintbrushes and water, pastels put color directly in an artist's hands – literally!
How To Get Started With Soft Pastel
Beginning artists shouldn't overthink this part. Getting started with soft pastels isn't complicated, though the options can sometimes feel overwhelming. Breaking it down to essentials makes the process much simpler.
Materials
Starting a soft pastel journey requires relatively few materials. Artists need pastels themselves (specific recommendations will follow later) and proper paper – regular sketch paper quickly loses its effectiveness for this medium. A clipboard or drawing board helps keep everything steady during the creative process. A kneaded eraser proves invaluable for lifting color, along with optional blending tools, though fingers often work brilliantly.
A practical tip: dark clothing and soft pastels make troublesome companions – pastel dust has a mischievous way of finding every surface!
Techniques
This is where the true exploration begins. Soft pastels invite artists to play and experiment. Laying the stick flat creates broad strokes, while using the edge produces finer lines. Pressing hard delivers intense color saturation while barely touching the paper creates whisper-soft tints.
Layering colors creates depth and richness that are impossible to achieve with single applications. Yellow over blue transforms into green before one's eyes, while blending areas with a finger, tissue, or specialized tools creates smooth transitions between hues.
Many experienced pastel artists recommend creating initial loose strokes without blending, then gradually building up layers, leaving some of those early energetic marks visible for a vibrant, alive feeling in the finished piece.
Types Of Soft Pastel
Not all pastels are created equal. They come in different forms for different needs.
1. Soft Pastel Sticks
These are what most people picture when thinking of pastels, rectangular or round sticks of compressed pigment. They range from butter-soft to moderately firm, with the softest containing minimal binder and maximum pigment.
Soft sticks work wonderfully for broad coverage and expressive mark-making. Many artists break them into smaller pieces for better control and to get more value from expensive brands. Just be warned that the softest ones crumble easily and create more dust!
2. Soft Pastel Pencils
Think of these as soft pastel cores wrapped in wood, like colored pencils but with pastel's richness. They're perfect for detailed work, like adding whiskers to a cat portrait or fine blades of grass. The wooden casing keeps your hands cleaner, too!
Experienced artists often keep a few pastel pencils on hand even when working primarily with sticks. These prove invaluable when precise lines are needed or when adding tiny highlights without disturbing larger areas of the composition.
3. Pan Pastels
The newest kid on the block, pan pastels, come in shallow containers like makeup. You apply them with special sponge tools rather than directly with the stick. They create smooth, even coverage with minimal dust.
Pan pastels excel at creating atmospheric backgrounds and smooth gradients. They're pricier than traditional sticks but offer unique possibilities, especially for those who dislike the dustiness of regular pastels.
Best Surface For Soft Pastels
Your choice of paper matters tremendously with pastels, perhaps more than with any other medium!
Sanded Paper
Artists who try sanded paper often find themselves completely converted. These specialty papers feature a fine, sandpaper-like texture that grabs and holds multiple layers of pastel. Popular brands include UART, Pastelmat, and Wallis.
The slightly abrasive surface allows artists to build countless layers without losing "tooth" (the paper's ability to grab pigment). This creates remarkable forgiveness for experiments or changes – simply add another layer over areas that need adjustment.
Sanded papers come in different grits. For beginners, a 400 or 500 grit offers an excellent balance between tooth and smoothness.
Pastel Paper
Traditional pastel papers have a slight texture but not the sandy feel of sanded papers. Canson Mi-Teintes is probably the most well-known, with its honeycomb texture on one side and smoother surface on the other.
These papers come in gorgeous colors that can serve as midtones in your artwork. They're less expensive than sanded papers but won't hold as many layers. Still, for many subjects, they're perfect!
Watercolor Paper
In a pinch, cold-press watercolor paper works surprisingly well for pastels. The natural tooth accepts the pigment nicely, especially if you're not planning heavy layering.
Some artists even start with a watercolor underpainting, then add pastel on top for a mixed-media approach that combines the best of both worlds. The textures play beautifully together!
How To Choose Your First Soft Pastels
Standing in the art supply store facing walls of colorful options overwhelms many new artists. Simplifying the decision-making process makes selecting that first set much easier.
1. Quality
There's a noticeable difference between artist-grade and student-grade pastels. Artist-grade contains more pigment and less filler, resulting in richer colors that won't fade over time. However, they cost significantly more.
Beginners benefit from starting with higher-quality student-grade or small sets of artist-grade rather than large sets of the cheapest options. This approach provides a truer feel for the medium's potential without excessive financial investment.
2. Foundation
Start with a basic palette rather than hundreds of colors. Look for sets with primary colors (red, yellow, blue), earth tones, and a few neutrals. You'd be amazed at what you can create with just 12-24 well-chosen colors!
Remember, you can layer pastels to create new hues, so you don't need every color under the sun right away.
3. Pigment
As you advance, you'll start caring about specific pigments used in your pastels. Single-pigment sticks blend more predictably than those containing multiple pigments.
While beginners needn't stress about this, checking if brands clearly list their pigment information indicates transparency about their products.
4. Grades
Pastels come in varying degrees of softness. The softest ones blend like butter but crumble easily. Harder varieties offer more control but less vibrant laydown.
Ideally, your first set should include a range of hardnesses, allowing you to experience different effects and find your preference.
5. Experiment
Don't commit exclusively to one brand immediately. Buy a few individual sticks from different manufacturers to test their feel. Some artists love creamy, soft formulations while others prefer slightly firmer pastels.
Your hand size, pressure sensitivity, and artistic style all influence which brand will feel "right" to you.
6. Seek Advice
Talk to other pastel artists! Whether online or at local art groups, pastel enthusiasts love sharing their experiences. Ask what they wish they'd known when starting out.
Art store staff can be goldmines of information too – they've likely heard feedback from dozens of customers about what works and what doesn't.
Best Soft Pastel Sets For Beginners
Let's explore some terrific starter options across various price points!
1. Unison
Unison pastels are hand-rolled in England and widely considered among the creamiest, most luxurious pastels available. They're definitely investment pieces, but even a small set showcases why artists rave about them.
What makes them special? No fillers! They're pure pigment with minimal binder, resulting in colors that practically melt onto your paper. Their color range features subtle variations you won't find elsewhere.
If your budget allows, a small Unison set offers an incredible introduction to premium pastels. Their half-stick sets make them somewhat more accessible for beginners.
2. Royal Talens Rembrandt
Rembrandts strike a perfect balance between quality and affordability. They're slightly harder than ultra-soft brands like Unison or Sennelier, making them excellent for beginners who might press too hard initially.
Their extensive color range gives you plenty of options, and the somewhat firmer texture allows for nice detail work. Many professional artists keep Rembrandts in their collection even after trying pricier brands.
A half-stick Rembrandt set offers tremendous value and will serve you well as you learn.
3. Jackson's Handmade
These relatively new entrants to the pastel world have gained a devoted following. Made in small batches, Jackson's pastels offer excellent pigmentation at a more reasonable price than some premium brands.
Their beginner sets contain thoughtfully curated colors that work well together. The texture falls between soft and medium-soft, making them versatile for various techniques.
4. Jaxell
German-made Jaxell pastels offer surprising quality at their price point. They're softer than student brands but won't break the bank like premium options.
Their vibrant colors blend beautifully, though they do create a bit more dust than harder varieties. For the beginner wanting to experience softer pastels without a huge investment, Jaxells are worth considering.
5. Mungyo
Mungyo Gallery soft pastels represent an excellent entry point for absolute beginners. Available in large sets at remarkably low prices, they let you experiment freely without the anxiety of "wasting" expensive materials.
While not as richly pigmented as premium brands, they perform surprisingly well and allow beginners to practice layering, blending, and finding their style without financial stress.
6. Sennelier
Ah, Sennelier – the buttery-soft French pastels that feel like working with colored silk! These extremely soft pastels contain pure pigments with a touch of moisture-resistant binder.
They're professional-grade and priced accordingly, but even a small set delivers an extraordinary experience. The pigment concentration means a little goes a long way.
Their half-stick sets offer a more accessible entry point to this luxury brand.
7. Jack Richeson
Jack Richeson hand-rolled pastels deserve more attention than they get. They offer wonderful quality at a more moderate price than the European luxury brands.
Their semi-hard set provides excellent value for beginners, with pastels firm enough for detail work but soft enough for beautiful blending. Their specialized "neutrals" set is worth considering as you advance, as subtle neutrals make landscapes and portraits come alive.
8. Faber-Castell
Faber-Castell's Creative Studio pastels sit firmly in student-grade territory but offer good performance for their price. They're somewhat harder than artist-grade options, making them durable and less likely to crumble.
Their larger sets include a wide color range that lets beginners experiment freely. While you'll eventually notice their limitations in layering and vibrancy, they're a solid starting point if budget is a major concern.
9. Conté
Conté crayons aren't technically soft pastels – they're harder and more chalk-like. However, they make an excellent complement to soft pastels, especially for initial sketching and precise linear elements.
Their rectangular shape gives you both broad sides and sharp edges to work with. Many pastel artists keep a few basic Conté colors in their kit for adding final sharp details that would be impossible with softer pastels.
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Conclusion
Beginning artists should start with the best quality they can reasonably afford in a limited color palette. Adding a suitable paper with enough tooth to hold the pigment completes the essential setup. From there, experimentation becomes the best teacher. Newcomers to the medium benefit from playing freely without excessive concern about "rules" or achieving perfect results immediately.