
She explains that this type of pastel can help in creating smeared lines, smooth effects, and generating extremely bright colors. “Soft pastels are normally composed of small amounts of chalk or clay, water, dry pigment, and binder,” says Colletta. The biggest difference between soft pastels and chalk pastels comes down to materials and quality. “Each different type of pastel has its strengths and weaknesses in terms of color selections and vibrancy.” This means selecting a set of pastels with the colors you want, but also experimenting a bit. “You want to find a pastel that has the hues and intensity for your artwork,” says Colletta.


If you’re new to pastels, Colletta recommends trying all three different types of pastels first to see which ones you find the easiest to work with, for the type of artwork you are trying to create. There are three main types of pastels-soft, hard, and oil-and every artist has their own personal type, which makes this a must for choosing the best pastels.
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She explains that the price can dictate the quality of pastels, however: “High-quality pastels are extremely expensive and would therefore not be recommended for the beginner if just learning how to use the medium.”

“The first thing to keep in mind is the price point,” says Linda Colletta, an abstract artist with over 25 years of experience. For something more affordable and beginner-friendly, the Sakura Cray-Pas Junior Artist Oil Pastels are a great pick for artists of all ages and skills-plus, you can’t beat that $5 price tag. These come in a variety of color-coordinated sets, including ones specifically made for landscapes, seaside works, and skin tones, and have a paint-like finish. Our top pick is the Sennelier Soft Pastels.
