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Pastels are a fun, pastels dessin drawing medium which can be used for all sorts of subjects and effects. They are easy to use, can be blended and smudged (a technique called scumbling) and offer great color range. They can also be layered on the paper, creating different effects such as hatching and cross-hatching or dots/pointillism.

There are two main types of pastel, soft and oil. It is best to experiment with both to see which suits your style better, but they are both similar in that they are made up of pigments in a binder, like other coloured art media such as oils or watercolours.

Choosing your paper and equipment

The type of paper you choose is important for pastels as it must have some texture or “tooth” to grip the pigment, otherwise it will crumble. Generally, it is best to start with a toned surface rather than pure white, as this makes it easier to work with lighter shades of pastel.

It is a good idea to begin with a light sketch on your paper using a graphite pencil, this will help you to plan where each major element should go. When you’re ready to apply the first layer of colour, remember that it is best to block it in fairly quickly, and try not to over-think your colours at this stage.