In case you are not familiar with pastel pencils; they are your typical pencils, but the key difference is that the lead of these pencils are pastel. They are often used by a lot of artists to create spectacular artwork because of their ability to capture the fine and intricate details that you find in most pictures. Before pastel pencils were created, a lot of artists used pastel sticks which were quite problematic to master. Pastel pencils eliminated this difficulty because they provided users with the familiarity of a typical pencil but with color akin to crayons and coloring pencils that most people used as children.
There are quite a good number of pastel pencil options available in the market but at the end of the day, what is ideal for an artist really depends on their needs. Below is a comprehensive list of some of the best pastel pencil options that you can choose from;
1. Koh I Noor Gioconda Pastel Pencils
Intro
The Koh I Noor Gioconda pastel pencils are by far some of the best and relatively popular pastel pencils available in the market. This is could be because they are highly pigmented and glide smoothly when used. Unlike other pastel pencils, the Koh I Noor Giocanda pencils have a butter-like feel to them as opposed to the chalky feel of other pencils.
Pros
- Artists can achieve fine details with these pastel pencils because they can be sharpened.
- They have highly pigmented a quality that any professional artist will appreciate.
- They are fade resistant and lightfast meaning that your artwork will last for quite a while
Cons
- In case your pencil breaks, the chalk is rendered unusable which can be quite wasteful
2. Stabilo CarbOthello Pastel Pencils
Intro
Stabilo CarbOthello pastel pencils are great quality pencils with a unique chalky texture that that sets them apart from other pencil brands in the market. This is because, despite their chalky nature, they have high pigmentation capable of producing excellent quality work with vivid colors. The pigment of these pencils is great for blending, water-soluble, lightfast, and opaque. This makes the pencils quite versatile and ideal for multiple uses and techniques.
Pros
- You have the option of purchasing the pastel pencils in a set or singly.
- The chalk of the Stabilo CarbOthello is water soluble which allows for them to be used as watercolors.
- The pencils are highly adaptable and can achieve numerous artistic effects depending on whether you use them smudged or dry blend.
Cons
- If you purchase the smaller pastel sets of these pencils, you may be forced to buy numerous packs as the sets have limited color options.
- Some users have complained that the pencil texture varies between colors mainly because there is an inconsistency on the core quality
3. Faber-Castell Pastel Pencils
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These pastel pencils by Faber-Castell are unique because they are wax and oil-free and come in different sets. They’re ideal if you’re looking to add details onto a larger pastel work or even want to use them individually. Faber-Castell pastel pencils are brilliantly pigmented making them great for blending and color mixing. They are also highly rated in terms of lightfast which means that your artwork will last for a while.
Pros
- They are great for use if an artist wants to achieve finer more intricate details of their artwork
You do not have to worry about pastel dust as these pencils’ product little to no dust when used.
Cons
- Color transference to the paper can be a bit of a challenge as it does not happen easily.
4. Caran d’Ache Pastel Pencils
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If you are looking for pastel pencils that are a work of art in terms of performance and their aesthetical appeal, then the Caran d’Ache pastel pencils are it. Manufactured by Caran d’Ache who have been in the business since 1952, these pencils make for a great art tool because they glide smoothly on the artwork and have a beautiful butter like feel when applied. The color options of this pastel pencil set can only be described as luscious.
Pros
- They can be purchased as a pack or individually as it suits your preference.
- They adhere well to pastel paper and have great pigmentation
- They are great for layering with other pastel colors.
Cons
- Because they are soft and easily breakable, they are not ideal for drawing.
5. Conté à Paris Pastel Pencils
Intro
Manufactured by the French company Conté, these pastel pencils are an inexpensive option yet highly revered pastel pencil option that can be used by both professionals and amateurs. They are highly pigmented, and the colors are vivid and bright. It is recommended that if an artist is using the Conté pastel pencil, they would achieve the best artwork of the colors and remain true to their original form as opposed to being layered with other colors.
Pros
- They are easy to use and are suited for both drawing and coloring due to the diameter of their lead medium.
- They are great for detailed work.
Cons
- Users have reported the Conte pencils to be quite brittle as most of them received shattered cores when their pencils arrived.
- The chalk content on the pencil is relatively high which means there is a lot of pastel dust.
- They have a gritty and a hard core.
6. Derwent Pastel Pencils
Intro
If there ever was pastel pencils designed for everyone, it is the Derwent Pastel Pencils. This is because of their ease of use as well as the fact that they are budget friendly and extremely lightfast. Derwent pastel pencils are highly pigmented and have a creamy, buttery texture which enhances the coloring experience since the pencils glide on the coloring surface.
Pros
- Easy to use when color mixing or blending.
Cons
- They have an extremely chalky composition which means that dust will be a challenge with these pencils.
Final Thoughts
Pastel pencils are lovely and can create exceptional artwork when used properly. It’s a shame that many artists tend to shy away from using them. When it comes to choosing which pastel pencils you should settle for do not limit yourself to one brand, experiment with as many as you can since they all have something unique to offer/add to your artwork.