Soft pastels are a form of pastel colors used for various artworks. Even if you are a professional, you might still not be satisfied with the kit you are using currently and might want to upgrade. If you are a beginner, it can be incredibly challenging for you to find which kit to start with.
Having the best kit ensures your quality of work or the rate of your improvement besides practice. It might be daunting for you, despite your artist level, to find the best soft pastels as there are plenty of options in the market.
Thus, we have come up with the best soft pastel reviews to make you worry less and your search easier.
Top 8 Best Soft Pastels
If you are a beginner, you might be dazzled with which product to get as there are plenty in the market. On the other hand, you might also be a pro but still want better quality products to switch and have more improved quality products. For either of the issues, we are here to solve your problems.
1. Mungyo Soft Pastel 64 Color Set
Are you a soft pastel lover looking for a set within your budget? If so, then this is the product for you. Best for beginners and professionals, this set is a win for artists of all levels.
It comes in a high range of shades with 64 pastels colors intact. The colors are vibrant and vivid; hence it will give you stunning artwork once you apply it to the paper. Furthermore, these pastels are easy to work with and are best for all ages.
You can go for a variety of techniques using this item as it tends to blend very easily. Whether it’s blending, dry-wash or gradation, this product won’t let you down and will give you the perfect finish.
This set is made with the finest of materials; the pastels help you draw quickly with a smooth touch. It is also fade-resistant, which means your artwork will always look freshly done as always.
So why keep on waiting? Add these tremendously soft pastels to your cart already without any further delay.
Pros
- Fade-resistant
- 64 set
- Easy to use
- Relatively cheaper
- Blends easily
Cons
- Might take time to wash off if the finger is used to blend.
- Smaller in size
2. Colour Block 100pc Soft Pastel Art Set
If you are looking for a soft pastel art set with a vast range of colors, you must give this set a chance. With 100 pieces of vivid colors, this product will help you bring out the inner artist in you.
It comes in a sturdy wooden box and protective inner cushion foam that keeps the pastels clean, tidy, and safe from breaking. The pastels also tend to last long. As a result, it will be your supporting friend in your journey to a creative world for years.
This product consists of high-end materials hence it is of good quality. The high premium artist-grade soft pastels are 2.5″ in length and come individually wrapped. They help create soft, bold lines, curves, tones, and sharp thin lines.
These pastels will help you unleash your inner creative self, build your self-esteem, and relieve stress. Drawing with these chalks are the ones that you need to fulfill your creating passion.
The item can also be a great gift idea for anybody or an occasion. Be it for a birthday, graduation, or holiday gift; you can buy this for your friend, child, teacher, or anyone with a passion for art. It will be one of those gifts they will cherish for the rest of their lives.
Pros
- Huge range of colors
- Has protective wooden carry case
- Comes as wrapped chalk pastels.
- High quality
- Non-toxic
Cons
- Expensive
- Better if not used by beginners
3. Faber-Castel Creative Studio Soft Pastel Crayons
Growing up, we all have been familiar with a brand that provides coloring kits. If you are looking for a well-branded item within an affordable price range, you should look into it.
The practically sturdy box helps keep your pastels safe and from being mixed. It also makes it easier to carry around without worrying about the pastels being broken or messed up.
Therefore, it is ideal for traveling with this kit, and you can take it along with you anywhere you want.
This kit is also ideal for drawing fine details and shading large areas. Moreover, you can easily blend after using the soft pastels using your finger, paper wiper, or pastel brushes. The kit also deposits intense and vivid color, making your piece of work nothing but a masterpiece.
It comes in a pack of 72 shades; artists of all levels can use this kit. Furthermore, it is also suitable for different paper types and can give off the same vibrant hues on the paper types.
Pros
- Vibrant colors
- Best for drawing fine details
- Box is ideal for traveling with
- Suitable for a range of paper types
- Best for artist of all levels
Cons
- Miniature size
- Can be messy
4. HASHI Non-Toxic Soft Pastels Set for Professional
Do you suffer from allergies or have breathing problems? This product consists of the best quality and non-toxic materials that might be a game-changer for your creative journey. They are safe and are have AP marking.
The excellent shades and the color development are best for any technique you want to draw with. For any method or art style, they are perfect to use and will be your perfect guide.
Moreover, they are ideal for illustration, drawing, and short lengths that will help you express delicate expressions.
You can use these for blending, dry-wash, and gradation too. This kit will ensure your artworks don’t fade over time and will always look polished. It is made up of the finest quality materials. This set is suitable for everyone, including students, professionals, and ordinary people.
It is perfect if you are looking for a product that is cheap as it is budget-friendly. Moreover, using the latest technology in its development makes it the safest and the best kit to purchase for you to have a better experience.
Pros
- Safe to use
- Delicate expression possible due to fine particles
- Colors do not fade
- Affordable
- All techniques of pastels can be used
Cons
- When stored in humidity, strength weakens
- Can be hard for beginners to work with
5. Honsell Gallery Artists Handmade Soft Pastels
It can be daunting to find pastels that effortlessly glide on the paper. If that’s your concern, then worry no more. This kit comes in a range of 30 shades that easily slides on the art paper and gives off vibrant-looking colors.
This set comes in pastel sticks that will give you the highest color brilliance and vivid outcome thanks to its fantastic pigmentation.
Furthermore, these have the finest artist quality with a very soft touch to them. It gives off a buttery consistency upon use on the paper and a creamy texture.
The pastels come in a cardboard box separately wrapped. These colors can be mixed seamlessly with each other and can be used correctly for all pastel techniques.
Not only does it have rich pigmentation, but it also comes in a nice size and can be the perfect refill for your old collection.
Why miss out on this fabulous collection? To get a better finish and a creamy texture in your creative artwork, make sure you get your hands on this fantastic product.
Pros
- Rich pigment
- Gives off a creamy texture
- Friendly size
- Good quality
- Colors are vibrant
Cons
- Relatively costly
- Low range of shades
6. Sargent Art 22-1144 144-Count Colored Square Pastels
Are you looking for assorted shades in a kit? Your search is over because we have found you the perfect product. In this kit, you will discover six each of 24 various colors in vivid pastel hues.
There are 144 brilliantly pigmented square chalk pastels packed for you. Once you buy this kit, you don’t have to refill it for a while as it will last you for a long time. Moreover, the pastels’ quality makes each of the assorted colors last for a more extended period.
These pastels come in a size of 3/8 by 2-1/2 inches each of the 24 assorted shades. They are not only excellent for portraits but landscapes as well. You can also work on other subjected artworks using these soft pastels.
If you are also concerned with breathing issues, we are happy to let you know that this product comprises of non-toxic formula and is AP certified. Furthermore, once you use these soft pastels, you can see that they give off a dry and smooth texture.
Pros
- Large range of shades
- Dry and soft texture
- Can be used for a lot of subject works.
- Rich pigmentation
- Great for refilling old set
Cons
- Expensive
- Not the best to blend with fingers
7. Sennelier 40 Half Pastel Boxed Set
This product is made up of natural pigments and is a very safe artist quality kit you will get in the market. It comes in a range of 40 half stick soft pastels set in a cardboard box by Sennelier.
The pastels arrive separated in a foam container; thus, it is safe from getting broken, and you will receive full sizes.
They contain the purest of colors and will ensure a non-toxic environment when used. There has been the use of the finest chalk known in the world in this kit’s production.
These pastels are the best valued professional set for landscapes you will find in the market. The pastels have a unique smooth texture that gives the artwork a very soft outcome. Furthermore, the colors are also very vibrant, making the art looks very polished.
The set has a good size assortment that will help you go a long way. So don’t waste any more time and purchase these fully pigmented soft pastels for a better coloring experience.
Pros
- Soft
- Natural pigmentation
- High-quality
- It doesn’t crumble
- Doesn’t affect breathing or allergies
Cons
- Darker colors can be hard to blend
- Suits professionals more
8. Rembrandt Soft Pastel Starter Box Set
Are you a beginner looking for soft pastels to start your art journey with? If that is the case, then you might consider giving this amazing product a chance.
The pastels have the best quality and finely grounded pure pigments. They will give your artwork a life with its excellent pigmentation. The colors are of unsurpassed glow and purity. You can also easily blend the colors thoroughly and uniformly end to end.
This soft color kit contains shades that can be blended easily with the use of your fingertips or cotton buds as well. They cover the art papers with its vivid colors with ease. Moreover, they aren’t chalky and will give you a polished result upon use.
If you are new to the pastel world and want to get your hands on something not so costly but of good quality, then this is the one for you. This kit will help you guide and will improve your artwork in the long term once you start practicing using it. Thus, add this to your cart as soon as possible.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Good for beginners
- Can be easily blended with finger or cotton buds
- Colors richly cover paper with ease
- Aren’t chalky
Cons
- Fewer shades
- Not the best for professionals
Best Soft Pastels: Buying Guide
It is a misconception that all coloring kits are the same. However, such coloring tools may vary in many different ways. It is crucial to keep few elements in mind to purchase the right product. Starting to learn art using good products will help you understand and progress faster.
Besides having the right tools and type of paper, it is also essential for you to buy the best colors. If you are one of those consumers confused about what to look into before buying soft pastels, then your problems are solved. Here are a few following factors for you to keep in mind before purchasing:
- Quality
Artist Quality and Student Quality are the two main grades that you can buy. With a higher ratio of pigment to the binder, artist-quality pastels have the best pigments available. As a result, the colors are stronger and tend to be more intense.
Moreover, it also has a high permanence rating indicating that it will last a long time. Artist-quality pastels are usually much cheaper and contain cheaper pigments. The colors are also not as intense as artist pastels as they contain more filler and binder.
If you are a beginner or new to using soft pastels, start with the student qualities to learn and enhance your skill. Start using artist-quality pastels when you reach a certain level and have enough experience working with pastels.
- Colors and Affordability
Unlike paint, soft pastels don’t mix but can only blend. A huge range of colors thus came in creation to compensate for that issue.
Pastels can be purchased in sets or individually. Based on the subject of your work, you can purchase sets. It means the pack will have colors based on artwork, such as more nude colors for portraits, more green and blue shades for landscapes.
The price point also plays a role in whether you should get a set or individual colors. If you are a beginner and looking for affordable pastels that never had pastel colors before, it will be best to purchase the set.
Purchase a group of 48 ranging according to your subject. You can later buy individual colors once you run out of them.
- Safety
Soft pastels often deposit fine dust into the air. Upon breathing while using the pastels, you can quickly inhale it into your lungs. It is wise to avoid breathing in pastel dust. However, there are now non-toxic pastels available you can purchase to maintain safety.
How to Blend Soft Pastels?
There are many methods, techniques, and tools you can use to blend your soft pastels. Not only by your fingers, but you can also blend using pastel sharpers, pastel brushes, or kneaded rubbers according to your choice.
- Using Fingers to Blend
You can use the soft pastels first of your desired colors. It is up to you to use whatever paper you like, but it pops out the best on black paper. If you are using your fingers, blend and clean your fingers while you switch to another color.
Smudge it till you receive the desired stroke. You can use finger cots to protect your fingers from too much rubbing.
- Using Pastel Sharper to Blend
Pastel sharper are like brushes but have rubbery ends instead of bristles. These are pointy and will help you blend into detailed and smaller areas.
If not comfortable, you can also use pastel brushes that work the same way as regular paint brushes and comes in different shapes.
- Using Pastel Brushes to Blend
If you use pastel brushes, then do apply a push and pull motion to the brush. That will give you a softer blend of your artwork. Use the corner parts of the meeting to blend through smaller areas.
While using pastel brushes, make sure to wipe off or blow away excess pigment once mixed.
- Using Kneaded Rubber to Blend
While using a kneaded rubber, twist and mold the kneaded rubber into the right shape and blend away. Although blending stages are similar with all the tools, different ones give out different blending of colors.
Final Words
Being an artist is not easy, nor is it to find the best coloring utensils suitable for you. We hope this article has helped you learn more and gave you the information required for you to find the best soft pastels.
Make sure to keep the crucial factors mentioned in the buying guide while purchasing to not have any regrets later.