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. 

Each brand stocked by Art to Art can alter your artistic toolkit dramatically. We've got Rembrandt and PanPastel for the professional artist, or you can choose Faber Castel or Mont Marte art pastels as a beginner. 

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 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.