Table of Contents
Understanding the Difference: Oil Pastels vs Soft Pastels
What Are the Different Types of Pastels and How Do They Perform?
How Do Artists Approach Colour Selection When Working With Pastels?
How Do Artists Approach Colour Selection When Working With Pastels?
Understanding the Difference: Oil Pastels vs Soft Pastels
Discover an extensive range of both oil pastels and soft pastels at The Sydney Art Store, where you can find high-quality materials that cater to every artist's unique needs.
What Are the Different Types of Pastels and How Do They Perform?
Pastels come in several forms—soft, hard, oil, and pencil—and each brings a unique texture and performance quality to artwork. Soft pastels are highly pigmented and ideal for expressive, painterly techniques, blending easily across textured paper or pastel board. Hard pastels offer more control and precision, making them excellent for detailed work or underdrawings. Oil pastels, with their creamy texture, allow for bold strokes and layering similar to painting, while pastel pencils combine pigment with control for intricate compositions. Each type serves different creative purposes, so understanding their characteristics is essential. Artists often mix formats within a single piece, using soft pastels for vibrant colour and pastel pencils for sharp highlights. Choosing the right pastel medium ensures both creative freedom and the ability to achieve your desired visual effect.
How Do Artists Approach Colour Selection When Working With Pastels?
Sennelier Oil Pastel Set 24 Assorted Portrait
$118.80
Sennelier Oil Pastels
$5.31
Sennelier Oil Pastel Set 24 Still Life
$118.76
Colour selection plays a crucial role in pastel art, especially given the medium’s high pigment concentration. Because blending can be less forgiving than with wet media, artists often build a palette before starting, selecting complementary tones, neutrals, and accents. Brands vary in colour range and lightfastness, so many artists experiment across lines to find their ideal set. Tinted surfaces also influence colour perception; for instance, using a grey or sand-toned paper can mute high-saturation tones for a more balanced result. Pastel layering—starting with muted base layers and building toward highlights—requires thoughtful colour progression. Artists also factor in how warm or cool tones interact, especially when developing depth and contrast. Mastering colour harmony with pastels enhances realism, mood, and visual cohesion across any subject.
What Makes The Sydney Art Store’s Oil Pastel Selection Stand Out?
For artists working in oil pastels, The Sydney Art Store offers a curated lineup of brands that balance creaminess with colour stability. Products from Sennelier, Holbein, and other professional ranges ensure bold coverage, smooth application, and long-lasting pigment integrity. These oil pastels are ideal for rich, layered effects, whether used with blending tools or solvents for mixed-media techniques. We also provide surface recommendations and tools specifically designed to complement oil pastels, ensuring better adhesion and reduced smudging. Our broad selection, combined with practical advice, makes it easier for you to select the right tools for your technique-specific needs. Whether creating textured abstracts or refined figure work, artists trust The Sydney Art Store’s oil pastel collection for its performance and consistency.
