Pastel pencils are a form of pastel encased in wood (as with most pencils). To give it colour, the pastel core contains pigment and it also contains binders (usually including chalk) for body. This element is what differentiates the pastel pencils from the pencils in our best coloured pencils list. Ordinary pencils use wax with other binders rather than chalk. How to choose the best pastel pencils Harder pastel pencils like Faber-Castells Pitt Range are sharper if you need to draw fine details, but in all honesty, I am a realist painter and it has never been an issue for me. Don’t forget you need less finesse when you paint larger pieces.

Each set contains 60 distinct shades, which offers a good amount of versatility for your art projects. What’s more, the Stabilo CarbOthello pastel pencils use high-quality pigments that deliver rich and vibrant colors. In particular, we noticed that the color pigments produce great results on dark or toned surfaces. Due to the easily smudged feature, I found the pastel pencils fantastically expressive to use, but at the same time also hard to use for creating outlines and fine details. That’s why we have prepared this buyer’s guide discussing some of the most important aspects to keep in mind. By going through this section, you will get a better understanding of pastel pencils that will help you make a clear decision. 1. Color Variety I’ll be sharing my opinion about pastel color brands that I think are the best considering their features, pros and cons. The most significant differences between these two categories are the lightfastness, quality of pigment and the basic formula of the pastels.According to the preference and the type of the pencil, some people use a traditional pencil sharpener and others use an electric sharpener. Some people also use sandpaper or a cutter to sharpen the softer pastel pencils to avoid breakage. There are also special sharpeners available in the market to sharpen pastel pencils. What type of paper should you use with pastel pencils? When it comes to high-quality art products, Derwent is one of the first names that come to mind. Because of that, many professional artists tend to use Derwent pencils for creating their artwork. It is a big reason why we included the brand’s Pastel Collection on our list as well. A beginner entering the world of pastels might wonder what the best pastel pencils to use are, which we will cover, and why price, color variety, and consistency are the primary factors to consider when choosing pastel pencils. We will also cover how to choose the best pastel pencils for beginners, drawing, and the best pastel pencils for professionals. How to Choose the Best Pastel Pencils Pastel pencils are able to be sharpened and can hold a fine point. This is especially useful for fine details. Cost and quality are the two most important factors when I choose to invest in art supplies. I have analyzed the five brands (Caran d’Ache, Stabilo, Faber-Castell, Derwent, Conte) that I have personal experience using in this post. Some notable brands not included in this review are Bruynzeel, Cretacolor, Gioconda, and Daler-Rowney. Cost Analysis

These are the right pastel pencils for me and are perfectly suitable for professional use. If you are unsure where to start, you can’t go far wrong. These pencils are a safe choice, have a good color selection, and have been around for decades.

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To conclude my journey of discovering the best pastel pencils, I would like to say that it’s not about just the best pastel pencils or the most popular pastel pencils, it’s about the one you like the most of according to your requirements. However, there are some pastel pencil sets that cannot be sharpened this way. For those pencils, you will have to use a utility knife or an artist’s knife to sharpen the tips. In this regard, we recommend sharpening the pencil carefully. Avoid sharpening it to a fine point, or else it may break. What Are The Best Drawing Surfaces For Pastel Pencils? As for the quality, we found that the pigment can produce vibrant colors on paper. It gives a rich color tone on darker surfaces as well, which improves its versatility. And since it is a chalk pencil, the pigment offers a charcoal-like texture. Because of that, you can use these pencils for chalking, shading, lettering, and creating outlines, among other tasks. I hope with the help of this guide you’ll be able to find the best pastel pencils that match your ability and expectations.

These are soft pastel pencils and have a creamy smooth consistency, perfect for blending and complimenting chalk pastels. The pigments can be easily smudged with a blending stump or your fingers to create even more colors and unique artistic effects. These chalk pastel pencils can also be used with water and a brush, which further improves their versatility.

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Faber Castell is arguably one of the oldest and most renowned brands in the domain of art supplies. It manufactures high-quality artistic equipment for everyone ranging from school-going children to professional artists. And the Faber Castell Pitt pastel Coloring Pencils set is one of its most popular offerings, especially among hobbyists and DIY artists. Pastel pencils provide the best results when used on textured paper, similar to regular pastels. The texture or “tooth” of the paper determines the consistency of color. Due to the nature of pastel pigments, a slight texture will produce uniform consistency. And while you can use them on smooth paper, we would not recommend it since the color consistency will be negatively affected. Buying art materials can often raise the question of their worth. But whoever has the slightest interest in art, buying pastel pencils is definitely worth it for them. In that case, one has to be wise enough to choose the right pastel pencils for them. In addition to Lauraine's expertise in art, she has experience in commerce content, grant writing, and health and wellness. Before becoming a freelancer, Lauraine held various positions in large and grassroots organizations locally and abroad.