Soft Pastel Drawings for Beginners: Tutorials and Tools

by Anna Sok
Published: July 16, 2017
Updated: December 15, 2023

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you buy something, we might get a small commission at no extra cost to you (read disclosure)

In this article, let’s cover soft pastel drawing tutorials and tools for beginners to get you started on this amazing journey!

Soft pastels are like gentle whispers on canvas. They are exquisite, delicate, and immensely versatile. Let’s explore what these magical sticks of color are and why artists adore them.

What are Soft Pastels?

Pastels are a mix of pigment, chalk and a binder that form a thick paste. Then, the paste is put in sticks and allowed to dry.

Soft pastels are pure pigment sticks. They’re soft, powdery, and oh-so-smooth. No brushes, no water, just the artist’s fingertips or a trusty blending tool.

There are multiple benefits of using pastels, but the ones I find to be the most important are:

bright colours;
works in layers;
allows spontaneousness;
can produce a realistic drawing;
can be combined with other mediums (oil, watercolour, acrylics etc).

Why Do Artists Love Soft Pastels?

Many artists love using soft pastels as their primary tool for creativity. Some use them for smoothness, ease of use, color, or other reasons.

Here are some of the reasons you can fall in love with using soft pastels:

Intense Color: Soft pastels deliver vibrant, rich colors straight onto your canvas. No dilution, just pure pigment.
Blendability: They are masters of blending. Colors melt together seamlessly, creating dreamy transitions.
Layering: Artists can layer and layer, adding depth and complexity to their artwork.
No Drying Time: No waiting around for paint to dry. Soft pastels are instant gratification.
Texture: They embrace texture, adding depth and dimension to every stroke.
Versatility: Suitable for various surfaces, from paper to textured boards.

Benefits of Soft Pastels:

Control and Precision:
- Artists wield complete control over their strokes, whether for fine details or broad patches of color.
Blend with Ease:
- Blending pastels is like poetry. You can effortlessly create smooth gradients and soft transitions.
Layering Brilliance”
- Layer upon layer, soft pastels build depth and luminosity that’s hard to match.
Instant Gratification:
- No drying time means you can work without interruptions, letting creativity flow.
No Fear of Mud:
- Soft pastels rarely mix to create muddy colors, allowing you to play around and experiment.
Texture and Tactility:
- The tactile experience of working with soft pastels is an art form in itself. So. Much. Pleasure.

Best Soft Pastels For Beginners

The best soft pastel brands chosen by artists worldwide are Mungyo and Faber-Castell.

There are other great brands as well, but these three are the most commonly found in artists’ studios.

Mungyo Gallery Artists’ Soft Oil Pastel Sets

MUNGYO Gallery Artists’ Soft Oil Pastels Professional, 48 Assorted Colors, Vibrant and Blendable

Mungyo Gallery Soft Oil Pastels Set of 48 – Assorted Colors

Mungyo Artists’ Soft Oil Pastel Sets are absolutely fantastic because they’re crafted with the utmost care, using the finest artist-grade pigments and top-notch materials.

What does this mean for artists like you and I? Well, it means we’re in for a treat!

They offer brilliant, vibrant colors that can elevate your artwork. But working with pastels is not just about color, it’s also about how they feel.

Their smooth consistency makes them perfect for various oil pastel techniques like scrapping, stippling, creating seamless color gradations, overlays, and more.

The best part is, Mungyo offers many choices of sets, so you can pick 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 or even 120 different color sets.

If it’s your first time, feel free to go with a smaller set and order more if you enjoy them.

Check out all sets on Blick

Faber-Castell Goldfaber Studio Soft Pastel Sets

Sale

FABER-CASTELL Creative Studio Soft Pastel Mini Sticks (1.25”) – 24 Vivid Colors, Assorted (Pack of 1)

COMPLETE SOFT PASTELS SET – Includes 24 Faber-Castell Creative Studio Soft Pastel Sticks that are available in white, cadmium yellow lemon, cadmium yellow, orange glaze, light purple pink, alizarin crimson, magenta, violet, blue violet, cobalt blue, ultramarine, helio turquoise, dark phthalo green, chrome oxide green fiery, permanent green, green gold, burnt umber, sanguine, light yellow ochre, cream, cinnamon, cold grey II, cold grey VI and black
FOR THE ARTIST IN US ALL – Faber-Castell Soft Pastel Sticks are multipurpose and ideal for the aspiring artist, art student and creative enthusiasts

Goldfaber Soft Pastel Half Sticks – where smooth color laydown meets vibrant brilliance! These pastels offer a seamless blend of vibrant colors, excellent opacity, and the ability to create rich pastel effects that truly stand out.

Goldfaber comes from the trusted house of Faber-Castell, and it’s designed with students and beginner artists in mind. The aim is to provide high-quality art materials at an affordable price.

Each of these pastel sticks measures a convenient 1-1/4″ × 1/4″, ensuring that you have just the right amount of pastel for your creative ventures.

Inside this kit, you’ll find a carefully curated selection of 12 soft pastels, featuring essential colors like White, Yellow, Light Yellow Orange, Red, Crimson, Pink, Purple, Ultramarine, Light Blue, Yellow Green, Red Brown, and Black.

You’ll also receive 6 sheets of 4 x 6 paper, a kneaded eraser, a retractable eraser, a blending stump, a clear eraser shield, and detailed instructions to help you get started on your artistic journey.

Get on Blick

Sennelier Soft Pastels and Sets

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Sennelier Soft Pastels Half Stick Set 120/Pkg-Paris, Paris

Manufacturing process of the Sennelier cylindrical pastel does not compress the paste, and the pastel dries naturally in open air
Wide range of luxurious, brilliant colors
Made with high quality, pure pigment

Sennelier takes a unique approach to crafting their soft pastels.

These pastels are made by hand, placed in special molds, and left to air dry. What’s remarkable is that they contain no fillers or clays. Sennelier’s soft pastels are renowned for their purity and quality.

They use only the purest pigments with minimal natural binders, ensuring lightfast, water-soluble pastels.

Features:

Pure pigments with minimal binders for lightfast, water-soluble pastels.
Handcrafted with no fillers or clays.
Highly concentrated and incredibly soft for vibrant colors.
Sticks are 2½” long × ½” in diameter (64 mm × 13 mm).

They come in various gift boxes, from economical half-stick sets to more comprehensive and specialized collections.

If you prefer superb packaging and want to keep your pastels well-protected, Sennelier offers Wooden Box Sets. These sets are not only ideal for gift-giving but also for studio storage.

The deluxe box of 525 even features leather handles and accents, measuring 17″ x 18-1/2″ x 3″ (732 mm x 470 mm x 76 mm).

Find your set at Blicks (Starting at $6)

Best Paper For Soft Pastels

Soft pastels are so awesome that you can use them on pretty much any surface!

I have an entire article dedicated to the best paper for soft pastels, check it out for more info.

While I think that almost any ‘mixed media’ sketchbook will do, I picked out these 2 sketchbooks for you, that I think are some of the best out there for pastels!

Sale

Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Pad, Assorted Colors, 9″x12″ Glue Bound, 24 Sheets

Great for creating artwork using a variety of pastels
Ideally textured and suitable colors for pastels
80 lb./118 gsm. acid free
9″x12″ Glue Bound

Sale

Canson Artist Series Mi-Teintes Pastel Paper, Assorted Colors, Foldover Pad, 9x12 inches, 24 Sheets (98lb/160g) - Artist Paper for Adults and Students

Canson Artist Series Mi-Teintes Pastel Paper, Assorted Colors, Foldover Pad, 9×12 inches, 24 Sheets (98lb/160g) – Artist Paper for Adults and Students

Recognized world wide as the preferred papers for pastel, drawing, and paper craft
50 percent cotton, gelatin-sized papers
Dual-surfaced: one side with a heavy texture and the other with a lighter texture
Light-fast paper that is colored at the pulp level
24 sheets of 9 x 12 inch acid free 98 pound/160 gram paper

One thing to keep in mind is that paper that’s more textured will be able to keep more pastel and, therefore, have richer colors and allow for more layering.

For these reasons, textured paper is more famous for pastel artists, and so brands began making “pastel sketchbooks”.

Most of the regular sketchbooks will work, and if you need some inspiration as to which one you should get – check out the “36 Best Artist Sketchbooks To Buy”.

How to Get Started With Soft Pastels

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started with soft pastels.

Hopefully, it helps you begin your creative journey with these vibrant and versatile materials.

Before you begin, it is a good idea to look at other artists’ drawings to get an idea of what you can accomplish with practice.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Before diving into the colorful world of soft pastels, ensure you have the right supplies.

You’ll need soft pastels, paper or a suitable surface, blending tools (like your fingers, blending stumps, or tortillons), a fixative spray (optional), and an easel or a comfortable workspace.

Getting a reference photo is a wonderful idea as well!

Step 2: Prepare Your Workspace

Set up a clean and well-lit workspace. Soft pastels can be a bit messy, so it’s a good idea to have a workspace that’s easy to clean.

Step 3: Start with a Sketch

Before applying pastels, lightly sketch your subject using a pencil or a pastel pencil. This initial sketch serves as a helpful guideline for your pastel work.

Step 4: Layer and Blend

Begin applying pastel to your sketch. Soft pastels are all about layering and blending. Start with a light touch, gradually building up layers of color.

You can blend with your fingers, blending tools, or even cotton swabs for smooth transitions between colors.

Best Soft Pastels For Beginners | Soft Pastels Paper | Soft Pastel techniques and tutorial — You Can Save Me To Pinterest!

Step 5: Explore Techniques

Get creative with different techniques. You can create fine lines, gradients, and texture by varying the pressure and direction of your strokes.

Experiment with stippling, hatching, or cross-hatching for unique effects.

Step 6: Fixative (Optional)

If you want to preserve your work and prevent smudging, consider using a fixative spray. Apply it in a well-ventilated area following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Just try not to overspray, as it can alter the colors.

Step 7: Practice and Experiment

Like any art form, practice makes perfect. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they can lead to creative breakthroughs.

Experiment with different color combinations, subjects, and techniques to discover your unique style.

Step 8: Enjoy the Process

Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the process. Soft pastels offer a wonderful and tactile way to express your creativity.

Embrace the colors, textures, and the joy of creating beautiful art with your own hands.

Best Soft Pastel Books To Help You Learn

Learning from books and online courses is the best way to speed up your growth as an artists, right after the actual practice.

Here are three best soft pastel books for beginners to help your create better art.

Sale

Pastels for the Absolute Beginner (ABSOLUTE BEGINNER ART)

de Mendonça, Rebecca (Author)
English (Publication Language)
128 Pages – 11/12/2019 (Publication Date) – Search Press (Publisher)

“Pastels for the Absolute Beginner” is an ideal book for those who’ve always wanted to explore pastels but lacked confidence.

It offers a comprehensive course in pastel art, guiding beginners through step-by-step exercises, covering essential drawing skills, color theory, and providing inspiration for creating lively and colorful artwork.

Sale

Pastel Painting Step-by-Step

Evans, Margaret (Author)
English (Publication Language)
160 Pages – 02/18/2020 (Publication Date) – Search Press (Publisher)

“Pastel Painting Step-By-Step” is designed to cater to soft pastel painting enthusiasts, from beginners to experienced artists.

It covers various aspects of pastel art, including materials, blending, composition, capturing light, and flower painting, offering step-by-step projects and inspiration from featured artists across a range of styles.

Encyclopedia of Pastel Techniques, The: A Unique Visual Directory of Pastel Painting Techniques, With Guidance On How To Use Them

Painting & Drawing
Martin, Judy (Author)
English (Publication Language)
176 Pages – 01/02/2018 (Publication Date) – Search Press (Publisher)

“The Encyclopedia of Pastel Techniques” authored by professional artist Judy, offers a wealth of stimulating ideas for artists of all levels to develop their own unique pastel style.

It covers a wide range of pastel types, techniques, and subjects, providing step-by-step demonstrations and showcasing diverse approaches from various artists, making it a valuable reference for pastel enthusiasts looking to explore the versatility of this medium.

Best Pastel Online Courses

One step up from books are online courses, and here are two of the best pastel online courses for artists in my opinion.

The best part is that they are both hosted on NMA or New Masters Academy – a great learning resource for artists of all levels.

Start Learning at NMA!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is soft pastel?

Soft pastels are sticks made from pure pigment powder blended in a clay binder, allowing for strokes of intense color on textured paper or card. They can be blended using various tools like fingers, paper stumps, or color shapers.

Are soft pastels toxic?

Soft pastels are not inherently toxic, but it’s essential to avoid ingesting the pigments, as with all artist colors. They are generally safe for artistic use.

How to choose soft pastel colors?

When choosing soft pastel colors, it’s recommended to start with an assorted color range to cover the entire spectrum. Over time, you can identify your preferred colors for specific subjects and invest in additional shades to enhance your collection.

What paper can I use for soft pastels?

For soft pastels, it’s best to use textured paper or card to facilitate color deposition. Mixed media sketchbooks work well also.

Can I erase soft pastels?

Soft pastels can be erased delicately using tools like putty erasers or a soft piece of crustless bread.

Can I combine soft pastels with other media?

Soft pastels can be combined with most other media, including acrylic paint, watercolor, hard pastels, pastel pencils, and oil pastels, offering versatility in artistic expression.

Blog Posts to check out next → “How To Practice Drawing Effectively”

and → ”Best Resources For Artists”

Anna Sok

Anna Sok is an illustrator and a blogger. In 2020, she graduated from OCAD University with a BA in Design / Illustration. In 2017, Anna started a blog for artists, youartartpath.com, which she continues to run today. Anna Sok is an illustrator and a blogger. In 2020, she graduated from OCAD University with a BA in Design / Illustration. In 2017, Anna started a blog for artists, youartartpath.com, which she continues to run today. Anna loves all things creative - drawing, painting, art history, coloring books, digital art, illustration, 3D sculpting, 2D animation, writing, and singing. She doesn't have the time to fit all her hobbies into one month, let alone a single day! Above all, Anna loves trying new things and sharing her knowledge and ideas with others.