Table of Contents
Exploring the Benefits of Soft Pastels for Beginner Artists
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?
Exploring the Benefits of Soft Pastels for Beginner Artists
Soft pastels are a highly recommended medium for beginners stepping into the world of art. The reason lies in their versatility and easy-to-use nature, which makes them perfect for those who are still exploring their artistic potential. Soft pastels offer a rich, vibrant colour spectrum which can be easily blended, allowing beginners to experiment with a wide range of hues and shades. They do not require any mixing or preparation like paints, making the creative process more straightforward and less intimidating for novices. Furthermore, soft pastels are forgiving, meaning mistakes can be easily corrected by layering or smudging. All of these features, combined with a tactile, hands-on experience that encourages direct interaction with the art surface, make soft pastels an excellent choice for those starting their artistic journey. The Sydney Art Store offers a selection of premium-quality soft pastels, designed to ensure a seamless artistic process for artists at all levels.
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 Soft Pastel Ranges Are Available at The Sydney Art Store?
The Sydney Art Store carries an extensive collection of soft pastels from globally respected manufacturers known for consistency and brilliance. Brands like Sennelier, Unison Colour, and Rembrandt offer creamy textures and strong pigmentation ideal for detailed portraits, landscapes, and atmospheric work. Each pastel set or individual stick is curated to help you achieve smooth blending, strong colour transitions, and layering flexibility. We also stock pastel pencils for fine detail, making it easy to expand your range while staying within the same tonal family. Whether you're building your own palette or selecting from themed sets, The Sydney Art Store provides a spectrum of professional-quality options to meet your artistic needs. For those focused on lightfastness, vibrancy, and application ease, these soft pastel collections offer a premium creative experience.
