The 21 best soft pastels brands
Panpastel, Sennelier and Faber-Castell lead our ranking of 21 soft pastels brands. Compare what each brand makes, visit its official site, or shop it online.
Soft Pastels brands, ranked
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1
Panpastel
Ultra-soft pan pastels applied with sponges, a clean-handling option that suits large areas of colour.
Website: panpastel.com |Brands like Panpastel
Popularity 10.0/10
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2
Sennelier
French maker whose extra-soft half sticks come in themed sets, including sky, mountain and seasonal colours.
Top products: Extra-Soft Half Pastel
Website: sennelier-colors.com |Brands like Sennelier
Popularity 9.9/10
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3
Faber-Castell
Mass-market pastel range from a stationery giant, usually sold as mini sticks and big multi-colour boxes.
Top products: Mini Soft Pastels· Polychromos
Website: fabercastell.com |Brands like Faber-Castell
Popularity 9.7/10
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4
Unison
Handmade in England, Unison pastels are tinted half sticks sold in landscape-themed sets for painters.
Top products: Artists Soft Pastel Box Set· Natural Earth Half Stick Mini
Website: unisoncolour.com |Brands like Unison
Popularity 9.2/10
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5
Royal Talens
Dutch-made Rembrandt half-length pastels, graded for artist use with dense pigment and a firm stick texture.
Top products: Rembrandt Soft Art Pastels· Rembrandt 30 Soft Pastels
Website: royaltalens.com |Brands like Royal Talens
Popularity 7.3/10
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6
Koh-I-Noor
Gioconda pencils give pastel colour in a wood-cased pencil form, suited to fine detail rather than broad strokes.
Top products: Gioconda Soft Pastel Pencils
Website: kohinoorusa.com |Brands like Koh-I-Noor
Popularity 6.2/10
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7
Daler-Rowney
As a company with more than 240 years of history, Daler-Rowney's vision is to spark inspiration in people with its collection of art supplies. The company has been consistently delivering high-quality products for artists worldwide. Daler-Rowney ensures all its products are durable and made sustainably so that making art accessible does not come at a price. With several brands under its name, Daler-Rowney has created a name for itself in the industry.
Website: daler-rowney.com |Brands like Daler-Rowney
Popularity 5.9/10
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8
Prismacolor
Nupastel is firmer than most soft pastels and holds a point well for detailed work.
Top products: Nupastel
Website: prismacolor.com |Brands like Prismacolor
Popularity 5.7/10
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9
Grumbacher
American brand since 1905, with boxed half-length sets and classic wooden-box assortments of soft pastels.
Top products: Finest Soft Pastels
Website: grumbacher.chartpak.com |Brands like Grumbacher
Popularity 5.3/10
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10
Reeves
Reeves makes watercolor, acrylic and oil paints along with easels for artists. The English brand traces its origins to London in 1766, when it is credited with inventing soluble watercolors. Its colours are sold for both practice and professional work,...
Website: myreeves.com |Brands like Reeves
Popularity 5.2/10
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11
Sakura
Cray-Pas is an oil-based stick rather than a dry pastel, so it blends like wax instead of powder.
Top products: Cray-Pas Junior Artist
Popularity 5.2/10
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12
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13
Caran d'Ache
Swiss maker whose soft pastel sticks sit beside its crayon and watercolour lines for mixed-media work.
Website: carandache.com |Brands like Caran d'Ache
Popularity 4.3/10
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14
Schmincke
German maker with extra-soft pastel sets, including multi-pastel assortments and landscape colour selections.
Top products: Multi Pastels
Website: schmincke.de |Brands like Schmincke
Popularity 4.2/10
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15
Derwent
Derwent, an English art materials brand founded in 1832, makes colouring, watercolour, oil and art pencils. The company also sells charcoal blocks, pens, paper and other sketching accessories alongside them. Its products aim to keep the original feel of traditional...
Website: derwentart.com |Brands like Derwent
Popularity 3.9/10
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16
Winsor & Newton
Winsor and Newton was formed by a chemist and an artist back in 1832. The mixture of science and creativity gave birth to a very popular artist brand of the era. The company sells all kinds of good that an...
Website: winsornewton.com |Brands like Winsor & Newton
Popularity 3.9/10
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17
Sargent Art
The one-stop-shop for all kinds of art supplies, essentials, and classroom essentials, Sargent Art is the answer. In both educational and retail markets, they are thoroughly known and proclaimed, all thanks to their excellent quality of products. From packaging to...
Popularity 3.2/10
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18
Gallery
Korean maker Mungyo's soft oil pastels come in large sets up to 120 colours, popular for classroom use.
Top products: Soft Oil Pastels
Website: shoegalleryonline.com |Brands like Gallery
Popularity 2.9/10
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19
Pentel
Pentel has many best-quality pens, refills, stationery, and accessories. They've been assisting people in developing their unique handwriting style and becoming more expressive for over 40 years. They are a renowned maker of exquisite writing and drawing products. Their goal...
Website: pentel.com |Brands like Pentel
Popularity 2.8/10
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20
Art Spectrum
Founded in Melbourne by artist extraordinaire David Keys Snr, Art Spectrum knows what each artist needs to paint their masterpieces. With a broad range of art products, from paints to canvas, you can ensure excellent quality and the best materials...
Website: artspectrum.com.au |Brands like Art Spectrum
Popularity 2.2/10
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21
Conté
Cont, founded in 1997 in Grodno, produces hosiery and knitwear for ladies, men, and children. Tights for schoolgirls and little fashionistas, corrective, fancy, and toasty tights, fantastic stockings, cotton socks and golf, and tights for women and men are their...
Website: contebyoksana.com |Brands like Conté
Popularity 1.8/10
Official websites and social accounts
| Brand | Website | X / Twitter | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panpastel | panpastel.com | /PanPastelColors | p | – | PanPastel |
| Sennelier | sennelier-colors.com | /Sennelier | Sennelier1887 | @sennelier1887 | – |
| Faber-Castell | fabercastell.com | /FaberCastellUSA | fabercastellusa | @FaberCastellUSA | FaberCastellUSA |
| Unison | unisoncolour.com | /unisoncolour | unisoncolour | @unisoncolour | Unison Colour |
| Royal Talens | royaltalens.com | /RoyalTalens | royaltalens | – | RoyalTalens |
| Koh-I-Noor | kohinoorusa.com | /KohINoorUSA | kohinoorusa | – | UClfMY66jglM9gB-DSdXPc1Q |
| Daler-Rowney | daler-rowney.com | – | – | – | – |
| Prismacolor | prismacolor.com | /prismacolor | prismacolor | – | – |
| Grumbacher | grumbacher.chartpak.com | /Grumbacher | – | @grumbacherart | – |
| Reeves | myreeves.com | /WeAreReeves | wearereeves | – | Reeves |
Soft Pastels Buying Guide
Soft pastels are a wonderful medium for artists of all levels. The soft and chalky texture of pastels allows for a wide range of artistic expression, making them a popular choice for painting and drawing. If you are looking to purchase soft pastels, you may be overwhelmed by the variety of options on the market. In this guide, we will provide you with tips to help you find the best quality soft pastels that are perfect for your needs and budget.
Types of Soft Pastels
There are two types of soft pastels: student and artist quality. Student quality pastels are made with lower quality pigments and have a harder texture, making them more affordable for budget-minded artists. While these pastels may not have the same level of richness or vibrancy as artist-quality pastels, they can still be a great option for students or beginners who are just starting to experiment with the medium.
Artist quality soft pastels, on the other hand, are made with the highest quality pigments, and have a softer texture that is easy to blend and layer. These pastels are more expensive, but they offer a greater range of color and the ability to achieve more dramatic effects in your art. If you are an experienced artist or want to create more polished pieces, artist-quality pastels are the way to go.
Soft Pastel Shapes and Sizes
When shopping for soft pastels, you will notice that they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most common shape is the stick, which looks like a small chalk stick. Sticks are versatile and come in a variety of thicknesses, which allows you to create different line widths and effects.
Pan pastels are another option. They come in small, round containers and are applied with a sponge applicator or a brush. Pan pastels are great for creating smooth, even color blends and can be used alone or in conjunction with traditional pastel sticks.
You may also come across soft pastel pencils, which are pencils made of compressed pastel pigment. These are great for creating detailed line work and can be used for precision drawings or sketches.
Soft Pastel Colors
The range of colors available in soft pastels is incredible. You can find everything from bright, bold hues to soft, muted tones, making it easy to create whatever mood or atmosphere you desire in your art.
Some artists prefer to purchase individual pastels, so they can choose the exact colors they need for their projects. Others may opt for pastel sets, which come with a pre-selected range of colors that are coordinated to work well together.
When selecting pastels, it's important to consider the color selection and how the pastels will work with one another. Look for sets that include a range of hues and values—this will give you the most versatility and allow you to create a wide range of colors and shades.
Soft Pastel Quality
When choosing soft pastels, quality is important. Higher quality pastels are made with richer, more lightfast pigments, which means the colors will not fade over time. Lower quality pastels may contain fillers or less pure pigments, which can cause the colors to fade or change over time.
It's also important to consider the texture of the pastels. Softer pastels are easier to blend and layer, which allows you to create smoother transitions and more dynamic effects. Harder pastels are better for creating crisp, clean lines and details.
Soft Pastel Brands
There are many brands of soft pastels on the market, each with its own unique qualities and characteristics. Some of the most popular brands include:
- Holbein
- Rembrandt
- Schmincke
- Sennelier
- Unison
Each brand has its own proprietary recipe for creating pastels, which will affect the texture, quality, and color of the pastels. We recommend trying a few different brands to see which ones you prefer.
Soft Pastel Accessories
There are a few accessories that can make using soft pastels easier and more enjoyable. Some useful accessories include:
- Pastel paper: This paper is specially designed to hold the pastels and prevent smudging or smearing.
- Fixative: A fixative spray can help to set the pastel, preventing it from smudging or rubbing off onto other surfaces.
- Pastel blender: A soft pastel blender tool can help to blend and smooth colors together, creating a more polished look in your art.
- Easel: An easel can help you to work at a comfortable angle, reducing strain on your neck and back while you work.
- Brushes: Soft, natural hair brushes can be used to apply pastel and blend colors together.
Conclusion
Soft pastels are a versatile and enjoyable medium that can be used by artists of all levels. While the range of options can be overwhelming, it's important to consider the quality, colors, and texture of the pastels when making your selection. By following the tips in this guide, you can find the perfect soft pastels for your needs and start creating beautiful works of art.
