Pastel Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Set for Your Creations

Oil, soft, water-soluble… Choosing a set of drawing pastels can quickly become overwhelming given the wide variety of options. Each type promises a unique experience and finish. This guide is here to help you navigate the choices and find the perfect supplies for your projects, whether you're a beginner artist, a parent looking for creative ideas for a child, or an art school student. Our mission?: to give you all the keys to making the right choice.

How to Choose the Right Drawing Pastels??

Before comparing sets, it's essential to understand a few criteria that distinguish an entry-level fine art set from premium-quality supplies.

1. Understanding the Different Types of Pastels

The main difference between pastels lies in their binder. The binder determines their texture, application method, and the final result on paper.

• Oil Pastels?: Made from pigments, oil, and wax, they offer a rich, creamy texture. The advantage?? They are dust-free, adhere perfectly to the surface, and allow for layering colours with great intensity. The finish is vibrant and offers excellent coverage.
• Soft Pastels?: With a high concentration of pigments and a small amount of binder, they are known for their powdery texture and exceptional luminosity. They smudge and blend with incredible ease, making them perfect for subtle gradients. The downside?: they are more fragile and dusty. Using a fixative is therefore essential to protect your creation.
• Water-Soluble Crayons?: The best of both worlds?! These hybrid sticks can be used dry, like traditional pastels, or diluted with a wet brush to create watercolour-like effects. This offers incredible versatility for fans of mixed media.

2. Pigmentation and Colour Blending?: The Winning Combination

A pastel's quality is primarily judged by its pigment load. The higher it is, the more vivid, intense, and lightfast the colours will be. The opacity will also be better. Blendability, the ability of colours to merge harmoniously, is just as crucial. A good pastel will allow you to create smooth transitions and endlessly expand your colour palette.

3. Safety and Compliance?: A Non-Negotiable Criterion

For artist drawing supplies intended for children or for use in schools, safety is the top priority. Ensure that the products comply with the European standard EN71. This certification guarantees a non-toxic product, free from hazardous substances, for a worry-free creative experience at any age.

Recommended Pastel Sets

Here are a few recommended options, each tailored to specific needs and techniques.

1. STAEDTLER Oil Pastels – Set of 24 Colours

Why we love it?: This set of oil pastels is designed for smooth application and intense coverage. Its oil-based formula is perfect for layering and for techniques like sgraffito (scratching away the top layer to reveal the colour underneath). With a diameter of 11 mm, the sticks offer excellent durability, reducing breakage even under heavy pressure.

Highlights?:

• Vibrant colours with high opacity, perfect for solid blocks of colour.
• Creamy texture for easy blending and gradients.
• High break-resistance, ideal for young artists.
• Non-toxic (EN71 compliant) and water-resistant formula.
• Individual paper sleeves to keep hands clean.

Who is it for?? An excellent choice for children, students, and beginners looking to explore oil pastels. Its durability and ease of use make it a reliable choice for regular use.

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2. STAEDTLER Pastel Crayons – Set of 24 Colours

Why we love them?: These water-soluble crayons combine the richness of pastels with the fluidity of watercolour. When used dry, they lay down opaque, luminous colours. Once in contact with water, they dissolve to create transparent washes and stunning blending effects. This versatility multiplies the creative possibilities.

Highlights?:

• Exceptional versatility?: use dry or diluted with water.
• Brilliant colours and excellent blendability for watercolour effects.
• Washable from skin and most fabrics.
• Comfortable grip (10 mm diameter).
• Compliant with the European safety standard EN71.

Who is it for?? The perfect tool for amateur artists and curious minds who love exploring mixed media. It's a fun medium for learning about colour blending and will appeal to adults and children alike (under supervision).

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3. Faber-Castell Creative Studio – Set of 36 Soft Pastels

Why we love it?: This set of soft pastels from Faber-Castell stands out for its velvety, powdery texture, which allows for very fine blending. The high pigment concentration ensures rich, expressive colours. With 36 shades, it offers a comprehensive palette for tackling subjects as varied as portraits, landscapes, or still lifes.

Highlights?:

• Powdery texture perfect for smudging and delicate blending.
• High pigmentation for intense and vibrant colours.
• An assortment of 36 colours for immense creative freedom.
• Can be used on many surfaces (paper, cardboard, wood...).

Who is it for?? A must-have for art students and experienced artists who want to master the soft pastel technique. Its quality makes it an excellent tool for working on details and complex colour transitions.

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Looking for Other Options??

Our selection highlights versatile and highly-rated sets, but the world of artist drawing supplies is vast. To discover a wider range of brands, formats, or colour palettes, feel free to explore our full catalogue.

Discover Our Full Range of Pastel Paints

Frequently Asked Questions About Drawing Pastels

What is the difference between oil pastels and soft pastels??

It's all in the formula?! Oil pastels contain oil and wax, which gives them their creamy, dense, and dust-free texture. In contrast, soft pastels have very little binder?: they are powdery and perfect for blending, but also messier and more fragile.

How do you protect a pastel drawing??

For a soft pastel drawing, a spray fixative is essential. It binds the pigments to the paper and protects your creation from dust and smudging. Remember to apply it in thin layers in a well-ventilated room. Oil pastel artworks, being more stable, generally don't require it, although a finishing varnish can provide long-term protection.

Are drawing pastels suitable for children??

Yes, as long as you choose the right ones?! Oil pastels are often recommended for younger children?: they are sturdy, dust-free, and easy to handle. Whatever your choice, the essential step is to check for compliance with the EN71 standard, which guarantees a non-toxic product.

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