Want a new medium for your artwork?
Pastel pencils are a great way to add color and life to your drawings.
They're perfect for artists of all levels, and they come in a variety of colors so you can create any masterpiece you desire.
With their soft texture and beautiful colors, pastel pencils are the perfect way to add some life to your artwork.
You won't be disappointed with the results!
They offer the beauty of pastels in the convenience of a pencil.
In this article we'll take a look at some of the best pastel pencils available, so you can create any pastel project you desire.
Whether you're an experienced artist or just starting you, there's a perfect set for you!
Keep reading to find the best pastel pencils to add to your supplies!
How We Choose Our Selections
Trying to find the best pastel pencils can be really overwhelming.
With so many options on the market, it's tough to know which ones are worth trying.
Not all pastel pencils are created equal.
You don't want to waste your time or money on something that's not going to work well for you.
We’ve done all of the hard work for you!
After reading thousands of reviews on Amazon, we’ve found the best pastel pencils available.
Whether you're an artist, student, or hobbyist, we've got you covered.
Pastel pencils are a great art medium to work with that's versatile.
Why We Love It
General's Pastel Pencils are perfect for any artist who wants to create beautiful works of art.
The smooth, rich pigment in these pencils is perfect for lettering, outlines, coloring, shading, and blending.
With 12 colors to choose from, you can create any type of artwork you can imagine!
Plus, the included sharpener ensures that you always have a sharp point for precise details.
These pastel pencils are arid-free and rachival quality, so let your creativity loose with General's set!
What You Should Know
General's pastel pencil set uses a blendable, oil-free formula and a cedar wood casing.
This set of soft pastel pencils was introduced in the early 1900s, and General still handcrafts these premium pencils with the same formula.
General recommends using slightly rough paper with this set.
This Amazon's Choice product is made in the US.
They are highly pigmented and create richly-hued layers of color.
These pastel pencils create a soft, powdery look and are also easy to blend, making them ideal for creating gradients and shading.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned artist, General's pastel pencil set is a great choice for your art kit.
Why We Love It
Searching for a high-quality set of pastel pencils that will provide smooth, flawless layering?
Look no further than Art-n-Fly!
This professional grade set features 48 rich colors that are perfect for coloring books, doodling, and professional art projects.
The wide range of bright colors makes this set stand out from the rest, and you'll love the way the pencils feel in your hand as you create beautiful works of art.
What You Should Know
If you want pastel pencils that are high-quality and made to last, Art-n-Fly is a great option.
Other pastel pencils have soft pastel cores, but these pastel pencils have an oil-based core, and all of their art supplies are made to resist fading from light exposure.
Plus, this set of pastel pencils is an Amazon's Choice product, so you can be confident in the quality.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned artist, these pastel pencils will help you create beautiful works of art.
Order your set today and see what all the hype is about!
Why We Love It
Looking for a way to add some pizzazz to your sketches and drawings?
Check out Stabilo Carbothello Pastel Pencils!
With 60 highly pigmented colors to choose from, you can find the perfect shade to add some dimension to your artwork.
These pencils provide a charcoal-like feel, making them great for blending.
They also look great on dark or toned papers.
Plus, they're lightfast, so your colors will stay true over time.
What You Should Know
This pastel pencil set is a great choice for anyone who wants to explore the world of pastel art.
The set can be used wet or dry.
You can smudge the dry pastel pigment with a brush or blending stump, or use water and a paintbrush to create different effects.
The finished pastel artwork can be treated with a fixative to protect it.
This set is great for students, hobbyists, and artists of all ages.
Why not give Stabilo Carbothello pastel pencils a try?
You might just find that these Carbothello pastel pencils are your new favorite drawing tool!
Why We Love It
Want a versatile set of pastel pencils that can help you create stunning works of art?
Then check out the Faber-Castell Pitt Pastels!
These premium Pitt pastel pencils are perfect for both professional artists and novice crafters alike.
The wax-free and oil-free formula ensures smooth, rich color laydown, while the fine point is ideal for working with fine details.
With 60 brilliant colors of Faber-Castell pastel pencils to choose from, you'll be able to find the perfect shade for any project.
Best of all, Faber-Castell pastel pencils can be easily blended to create beautiful color transitions.
What You Should Know
Priding itself on its suprerior quality, Faber-Castell has a long history of providing high-quality pencils and other art supplies dating back to 1761.
The brand is currently ran by the 8th generation, and Count Faber-Castell loves taking blasts from the past and recreating them with modern technology.
Faber-Castell Pitt pastel pencils embody this idea and are perfect for artists who want to create beautiful drawings with vivid colors.
Faber-Castell recommends minimal fixing to ensure that your pastel drawings retain their vibrant hues.
Whether you're a seasoned artist or a beginner, these quality pastel pencils are a great way to add some color to your life!
Don't wait any longer, and order your set of Faber-Castell Pitt pastel pencils today!
Why We Love It
Derwent’s premium pastel pencil set features 72 colors and is everything you need to bring your creativity to life!
With these soft pastel pencils at your disposal, the possibilities are endless.
These Derwent pastel pencils blend easily, allowing you to create soft, beautiful transitions or graphic statements with bolder marks.
The vibrant colors create crisp, clean lines that are perfect for adding detail and depth to your drawings.
The set comes in a convenient, secure, metal tin that is perfect for taking on the go.
Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just beginning your creative journey, Derwent pastel pencils are sure to inspire.
What You Should Know
If you're looking for a pastel pencil that offers the best of both worlds, the convenience and control of a pencil with the creativity of a pastel, then Derwent pastel pencils are the perfect choice.
With smooth, round wooden barrels and 4.5mm pastel cores, these pencils offer maximum line flexibility to help you create beautiful works of art.
Plus, the velvety smooth finish is perfect for artists, who want a consistent look and feel to their work.
Since they're ASTM certified, you can be sure that they meet the highest standards for quality and safety.
Whether you're a professional artist or a hobbyist, Derwent pastel pencils are the ideal choice for your next project.
Pick up a set for yourself and experience the quality for yourself!
Pastel Pencil FAQs
When finding new supplies, people often have questions about the best way to use them and what types are available.
With so many options and pastel pencil brands available, narrowing down the selection so you can choose pastel pencils can be overwhelming.
You want to make sure to find the right set for your needs, but it can be hard to know where to begin.
We've compiled this guide to answer some of the most frequent questions about using and choosing pastel pencils, so you can make an informed purchase on the best pastel pencils for you.
Are pastel pencils better than dry pastels?
Pastels come in a variety of forms: pastel sticks, soft pastels, oil pastels, and pastel pencils to name a few.
You can find sets of soft and hard pastels in a range of colors, including pastel colors.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to whether pastel pencils or dry pastels are better, as the best pastels will depend on your individual preferences and needs.
However, we can outline some of the key differences between these two types of pastels to help you make a decision.
Most pastel pencils are made with dry pigments that are held together with a binder.
They have a core of dry pastel lead that is surrounded by a wood casing.
This makes them more difficult to break than traditional wooden pencils, and they also hold their pigment longer due to the binder used in their construction.
Pastel pencils were originally invented for artists who wanted the precision of a pencil for fine detail while still keeping the other qualities of pastels.
Soft pastels, also known as dry pastels, are made with pure dry pigments that are held together with a binder.
They come in a wide variety of colors and have a soft, crumbly texture, which is why they're known as soft pastels.
Working with soft pastel is perfect for artists who want to achieve bold, vibrant colors in their artwork, but they don't always work that well with finer details.
So, which type of pastel should you choose?
If you're looking for precision and control, pastel pencils are the way to go because they have a fine point.
They're less messy than traditional pastel sticks, too.
If you're looking for bolder colors and a more traditional pastel experience, dry pastels are the better option.
You'll have to deal with the messiness that comes with using pastels, but the results are worth it.
You can even use both in the same art project, so experiment and see what works best for you!
What is the difference between pastel pencils and colored pencils?
Both are drawing media that take the form of a pencil; the difference lies in their core.
Colored pencils usually contain wax or oil and a pigment, whereas pastel pencils are made of compressed chalk or carbon.
This means that a colored pencil can achieve richer colors and more subtle blends than most pastel pencils.
Additionally, colored pencils typically have a harder lead which makes them less prone to smudging than pastel pencils.
If you're looking for more control and precision in your artwork, colored pencils are the better choice.
However, pastel pencils can offer bolder colors and a more traditional pastel experience.
Try out each of these drawing media to see what works best for you!
What are pastel pencils good for?
Pastel pencils can be great for adding subtle, fine detail and color to your drawings.
They're perfect for small areas that you want to add a little bit of color to, or if you want to blend colors together to create a gradient effect.
Plus, they're much easier to control than regular pastels, so you can avoid making any unintentional mistakes.
If you do make a mistake, keeping a quality kneaded eraser nearby is handy for fixing them!
What's the best way to sharpen pastel pencils?
There are a few different ways that you can sharpen your pastel pencils, depending on what type of sharpener you have available and how much time you have.
If you have a standard pencil sharpener, simply insert the pencil into the sharpener and twist until the tip is nice and sharp.
You can use an electric sharpener, or you can use a craft knife or razor blade to carefully shave away the wood around the tip of the pencil, revealing more of the lead.
Just be careful not to take off too much wood, or else your pencil will become too fragile and prone to breaking.
Once you've got your desired point, it's time to start drawing!
How can beginners use pastel pencils?
There are a few different ways that people use pastel pencils, and it really depends on what you’re trying to achieve with your drawings.
In a lot of ways, these pencils are like other pencils.
You can produce crisp lines and finer details, and you can find them in a variety of sets.
If you’re just starting out, then a good way to use pastel pencils is to draw lightly with them.
This will help you get a feel for how they work and how much pressure you need to apply to get the right sort of effect.
Another thing to keep in mind when using pastel pencils is that they tend to smudge quite easily.
If you’re doing detailed work, you might want to consider using an eraser or some other type of fixative to keep your drawing in place.
Assuming you want to use pastel pencils for their intended purpose (i.e., adding color to your drawings), then the best way to start is by sketching out your drawing with a regular pencil.
Once you’ve got the basic outline of what you want to draw, start adding in color with your pastel pencils.
Layer different colors on top of each other to create a more vibrant effect, or blend two colors together to create a more gradient look.
Pastel pencils are a great way to add color and detail to your drawings.
If you’re just starting out, try experimenting and practicing with them to get a feel for how they work.
Add a starter set with a decent range of colors to your pastel pencil collection, so you can start creating!
How do you blend with pastel pencils?
There are a few ways to blend with pastel pencils.
One way is to use a blending stump, which is a type of paper stump that is used for blending and smudging media like graphite and charcoal.
You can also use your fingers to blend the colors together; just make sure you have a dust-free work surface and that your hands are clean.
If you want to create a more gradient effect, try layering different colors on top of each other and then blending them together.
You can also try using a colorless blender pencil to help blend the colors together.
Pastel pencils are great for adding subtle detail and color to your drawings.
They're perfect for small areas that you want to add a little bit of color to, or if you want to blend colors together to create a gradient effect.
Plus, they're much easier to control than regular pastels, so you can avoid making any unintentional mistakes.
Can you layer pastel pencils?
Yes, you can layer pastel pencils.
Just like with traditional pencils, the harder the lead, the less likely it is to smudge.
Pastel pencils can be layered by lightly sketching out the area you want to color with a pastel pencil.
Once you have the basic outline, start layering in color with softer pastel pencils.
By layering different colors on top of each other, you can create a gradient effect.
Varying the amount of pressure when using pastel pencils and different colors to see what values and color combinations you can create.
Feel free to experiment and go wild with your pastel pencil layers!
What's the best way to use pastel pencils?
In general, when using pastel pencils it is best to start with light pressure and build up from there.
This allows you to get a better feel for the pencil and also helps to prevent smudging.
Once you have your desired layer of color, you can then go back over it with a bit more pressure to add more depth or darkness.
Experimenting with different pressures and techniques is the best way to find what works well for you and produces the results you want.
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to using pastel pencils, so don’t be afraid to play around until you find a method that works for you.
Can you use pastel pencils with other media like dry pastels or colored pencils?
You can mix different art mediums together to great mixed media pieces; it's entirely up to personal preference!
Some artists prefer to use pastel pencils with dry pastels, while others prefer to use them with colored pencils or by themselves.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods.
When used with dry pastels, pastel pencils can help add shadows, highlights, and other details to your work.
They can also be used to blend colors together.
However, they can be more difficult to control than regular pencils, and the results may not be as consistent.
When used with colored pencils, pastel pencils can provide a softer, more subtle effect.
They can also be used to add layers of color without making the drawing too heavy or overworked.
The downside is that pastel pencils can be more difficult to blend with colored pencils.
If you're just starting out, we recommend trying different methods and seeing which one you prefer.
What is the best paper for pastel pencils?
The best paper depends partially on preference.
Some artists prefer textured paper while others prefer smooth.
Generally speaking, a slightly textured paper works well with pastels and pastel pencils.
You can also try Bristol board that has a textured surface because it is great for holding onto pastel pigment, allowing you to create rich and saturated colors.
The heavy weight of the paper also prevents warping and buckling, making it ideal for detailed work.
In general, pastel paper comes in different colors, such as white, ivory, beige, or gray.
The color you choose will depend on the project you are working on and your personal preference.
If you are just starting out, we recommend trying a couple of different types of paper to see which one you prefer.
The color of your paper can add to your art project, so experiment to see what works best for you!
The Best Pastel Pencils for You
So, what's the best set for your needs?
Pastel pencil sets are a great way to add color and life to your drawings.
After hours of research reading thousands of Amazon customer reviews, we’ve found the top picks for all levels of artists, beginners, and hobbyists.
Hopefully, our findings will help you make an informed purchase, so you can walk away a happy shopper!
Whichever set you choose, we hope you have fun exploring the world of pastels!
Don't forget to tap the button to check Amazon for the prices of the best pastel pencils!
Thanks for reading and happy drawing!
Need a guide for using pastel pencils? Check out Kirsty Rebecca Fine Art's video!
If you'd like to see artwork I've made, you can find some at Redbubble, TeePublic, and TeeSpring.
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Want to further explore the realm of pastels?
Check out some of our other pastel articles:
