Pastels: Rich Colour, Direct and Expressive
Pastels are one of the most immediate and tactile drawing media available. Applied directly to the surface with the fingers or a blending tool, they produce rich, luminous colour with a unique velvety texture. DeSerres carries a wide selection of soft pastels, oil pastels and pastel pencils in student and professional quality, suited to portraiture, landscape, still life and abstract work.
Soft Pastels, Oil Pastels or Pastel Pencils: Which to Choose?
Soft pastels have a high pigment content and blend easily, making them ideal for large areas of colour, smooth gradients and expressive mark-making. They work best on textured paper or pastel board. Oil pastels have a creamy, waxy consistency that adheres to a wider range of surfaces and can be blended with a solvent for painterly effects. Pastel pencils combine the richness of pastel with the precision of a pencil, perfect for fine detail and controlled work. Each type has its own character and opens up different creative possibilities. Explore our full Pencils & Pastels collection for more options.
