What Pastels Should I Use?

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks for watching. You can get your pastel supply list here: mailchi.mp/0b911600ddd6/pastel-supply-list

[@billyliar]

I noticed when comparing the Terry Ludwig and great American against the Rembrandt (9.10) you didn't use the same application over the Rembrandt as you did with the other two. Which in my opinion wasn't a fair view. Had you used the same method as the other two, you would have got the same effect I would have thought. Thanks

[@shreyashrestha186]

Is it just me or it's everyone? Art supplies are like drugs you buy one and then you feel the need of buying every other thing that you see

[@hannahjames5300]

No it's not just you. I do the same thing. lol

[@ArtInsight]

No , not just you

[@krkabob]

UUUUmmmm.... I'm a junkie... I have it bad.

[@josephwalsh7546]

I had the same experience when I bought my first handgun ( ditto many people I know ).

[@mard9802]

I'm totally addicted and I love it.

[@radudelacluj]

"Just trust me ... look in my eyes right now, ... you will never regret it" ... Gotta love that enthusiasm !!! Thank you Mr. Picard for an absolutely outstanding eye opening video on pastel colors !!!

[@tdelphia1]

Alain, would love short video from you talking about your hard pastels approach now that Nupastels are unavailable in open stock. Most of us can't continually buy sets just to restock a couple colors- what brands with open stock are you recommending now?

[@trondsi]

I have so far only tested a few brands, and not the most expensive ones. I agree with you on the Sennelier half-sticks. Those feel great to lay down, and strong colors too.

[@sandie157]

What a great episode. No one has done this as far as my experience goes, so as a beginner this is truly appreciated. 💖😊

[@renlobkk]

Very complete video, the best video so far with soft pastel stick tipp. Thanks

[@AlainPicard]

Hey thanks for the kind comment, do you have a favorite pastel?

[@hollyknott4700]

This was super helpful, Alain - many thanks for sharing this freely. If you are so inclined to do another video along these lines, I know that I and other pastel artists may find it helpful to know which ones can be layered more easily. That is, obviously the super soft ones cannot be subject to much layering, but in your video that you shared here of trees in pastels, you mentioned you have a variety in your palette and it seemed like you were freely working with all of them, even at times with a hard touch, with no mud, no smearing, which is a huge frustration for me despite a light touch. Granted, I'm working with Sennelier and Rembrandt but it would seem logical to me to begin with the hards, progress to the mediums and add finishing touches with the softs... Would be interesting to get your perspective on this when you reach for a color if you're thinking of hardness as well depending on the stage of the painting.

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks Holly, I totally understand. Yes, let's save this conversation for a future video. I'm a bit non-traditional in my approach, but the logic of "fat over lean" definitely applies. Light touch first, heavier application last. Keep painting!

[@emilyadams6194]

Very informative and clear descriptions. Thank you Alain.

[@AlainPicard]

You're welcome Emily! Keep painting

[@ashokkelkar272]

Sir you r nicely explained each type of pastel .Now I can begin in this new medium.Thanks a lot.

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Ashok, you're welcome!

[@louisehones]

Great video. Very helpful. Please do one on the many paper surfaces that are available.

[@AlainPicard]

You can bet I will do that! Keep your eye on the channel, I won't let you down! Do you have a favorite pastel?

[@louisehones]

Alain Picard Yes. I have several different pastels but really like the Terry Ludwig pastels the best. I also like Great American...those were the first pastels I purchased. I am fairly new...started in 2017.

[@leannepiorkowski16]

Alain, another great tutorial I wish I had watched this before I purchased pastels. My first purchase was the Sennelier 60 piece half set. Then I purchased nupastels then a few other brands that I don’t like at all. I really like the nupastels but, not to fond of the Senneliers just yet. Then I had the opportunity to purchase Terry Ludwigs and they are the best. Again, I wish I had watched this great video earlier because I would have not spent the money on the brands I don’t like and don’t use. So, again thank you for this informative video I will be making better decisions when purchasing additional pastels. Great demonstration.

[@AlainPicard]

Leanne, glad I could help, and at least you have some pastels that you really do enjoy! Thanks for your appreciation. Keep painting, and I wish you the very best!

[@Linda-qq5mg]

This video is very helpful! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience using pastels.

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Linda, it's a real pleasure to share with you!

[@mjpete27]

Very informative thank you for sharing your expertise! I have always said drawing with pastels, yet you say painting with pastels? Am I missing something? Have I misunderstood the process? I had to set my pastels aside after I got married as my wife has a dust allergy, she said she could not stand them in college and didn’t want them in the house! I now have a separate art room and want to give them a go again! I have some Charvin sticks and a set of Carbillo pencils I bought some paper samples as well, thanks for all the wonderful information you have online! I am watching more of your content as I can!

[@AlainPicard]

Pastel has evolved to a painting medium, as you'll see when watching more of my longer demonstrations. Wet application, rich saturated color that is not a drawing is representative of the medium. You can draw, sketch or paint with pastel depending on your approach and style. All the best in your rediscovery of the medium!

[@bozoclown2098]

Q . Would soaking in water /binder and let dry make a soft pastel harder ??????

[@sunnycharacter]

Watching this twice. Once for the education. Twice for the voice. 😎

[@artaddict2313]

Great Americans (IMO) are by far the best value soft pastels out there....Their half sticks are the size of a Terry Ludwig, and roughly half the price. Also love Blue Earths, very soft and a half stick size, so they are priced accordingly...you can get a full set of blue earths, or GA half-sticks for under $1000. Although I love T.L. darks, I dont understand the incredibly high price. The only other pastel I know that is more expensive is : Roche's. and IMO both are a bit of a "rip-off", I find Diane Towsends to be a bit high priced also.

[@tdelphia1]

If only the Great American half stick sets were available! It has been almost 2 years now that they have not been available for stores to restock. :-(

[@pamhc3993]

Hello! Would you call Maison du Pastels a soft pastel?

[@AlainPicard]

yes that is Roche pastels correct? They are beautiful and medium soft with a gritty tooth

[@pamhc3993]

yes - they are the Roche pastels. They are really beautiful. Might you have a paper recommendation using them?

[@idasyafyan3989]

Handsome and good heart...

[@USERNB123]

Wow 🤩

[@AlainPicard]

I hope it was helpful!

[@USERNB123]

Oh yes ofcourse Alain .. u r an amazing tutor.. 😊

[@flyfisherman3649]

Personally I think pastels are second to the paper being used. I have Sennelier, Ludwig, Blue Earth and others but have discovered that the wrong paper won't help the best pastels.

[@pierreachille6662]

@rf in other videos he recommends uart 400 or 500 series, he also recommends mounting the paper

[@loati94]

Yeah I agree. It's the same with watercolors.

[@sunshinejenny777]

NICE VIDEO! Thanks! I like the way you are very clear and you demonstrate them clearly as well. No music (yeah) and you talk at a regular, nice pace.

[@valerielinares2068]

This is the first video of yours I've seen because I'm thinking about getting into soft pastels.... But off topic... Your voice though... the sound of your voice... DAMN! In a good way 😉

[@AlainPicard]

Well...whatever it takes to get you motivated to paint in pastel, Valerie! Its a wonderful medium!

[@aeriaria2391]

It's really evident how much experience you have with pastels. You could even tell each brand apart from your huge collection.

[@monetcafe]

thanks Alain! I'm going to share in my Facebook group of pastel artists. I know they will appreciate this.

[@AlainPicard]

Monet Cafe' with Artist Susan Jenkins hey thanks for sharing! Wonderful to team up and partner in sharing the joy of pastel painting with others! Blessings to you Susan.

[@ProfilingwithPatBrown]

I bought a bunch of different pastels and I will agree with Alain, those Terry Ludwig are my absolute favorite! Just gorgeous!

[@karenetaylor9743]

My Rembrandt pastels were a gift in 1961. I wonder if the quality has changed over the years. In this big wooden box, I have buttery soft and hard ones.

[@artaddict2313]

As long as they were in a room temp. dry place with no excess heat or moisture, they should be absoulutely fine.

[@barbaraeastbourne5398]

Alan you’re a wonderful man for sharing your talent and knowledge with the public.

[@andrewfuller8440]

Trying to find my way in pastels is becoming expensive

[@luki947]

Great Video! Have you tried the Henri Roché pastels from "La Maison du Pastel" , would be really interesting to see as they are waaaaaaay beyond my budged lol

[@AlainPicard]

I have a small selection of Roche pastels. They are very special. Not an option for beginners due to price but a very high quality pastel that lasts longer than many.

[@autmntooley7186]

As a beginner to pastels, I love Rembrandts and find them more forgiving than the extra soft pastels. They give me lots of chances to fix mistakes 🤣 and I make a lot of mistakes. I am looking forward to getting to a skill level where I can use the extra soft pastels well.

[@SoFloSoFawny]

Unisons are delicious too!

[@tdelphia1]

What about Panpastels? Really informative on lots of brands.

[@stephengreico2810]

Up amongst the best videos regarding pastels Thank you Alain!

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks so much, Stephen, that's kind. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@charlottewells3673]

Would you talk about combining all brands of pastels you have and sorting them by color and temperature as opposed to keeping them in their original box? And then if you’re going to a class or off somewhere to paint how to decide what to take? And thank you for all that you do!

[@juststartingover2735]

Thank you for this review. Just saved me from purchasing a particular brand. Now I have a better idea of what I want. Love your videos!

[@eoinmcgrath93]

Very Good Video, I would love video like this about paper, I have pastel paper and I am not getting the results I want

[@LeoraLaGraffe]

Eoin Mc Grath oh, me too, please do a video like this exploring the different surfaces available to soft pastel artists!

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Eoin & Leora, we are working on it :)

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks for the feedback! What paper are you currently working on?

[@lizkb5473]

Thank you for the guidance. I’m just starting pastels and this gives me a direction to make a wise purchase.

[@mypandapaints5854]

When I'm stuck in a rut, your videos always help give me a push to get back to painting. Thank you for existing.

[@AlainPicard]

that's encouraging, thanks! It's a joy to share the artistic passion and spur one another on to keep creating! All the best.

[@BabsHaake]

Thank you for that great descriptive video of the “why” you like certain brands and how they work best. I printed the list out so I can refer to it when purchasing.

[@AlmaLoL131]

Bonjour Alain, merci pour cette vidéo très instructif et pédagogique, je me lance de le pastel, après mettre essayer avec du pastel bas de gamme d'hard discount, je voulais monter de gamme et j'allais cliquer pour acheter un set de pastel Rembrandt, mais votre vidéo comparatif et de qualité a été pour moi décisif dans mon choix. Je m'abonne à votre chaine en espérant découvrir un peu plus de ce fascinant médium (Alma de France)

[@AlainPicard]

Dear Alma, I am so glad you have found me and are learning pastel! Better quality pastels and papers mean so much. Enjoy your exploration of this colorful medium and keep in touch!

[@nancyloomis3046]

Here’s a 4 years later comment: Prismacolor, in their never ending “wisdom” stopped making NuPastel INDIVIDUAL colors that were available to retailers both online & off last year. So if you want certain colors and not an entire set, you’re SOL unless you can happen upon a source somewhere. Dick Blick’s still have some left in their inventory, like less than a dozen colors. When I found this discontinuation out at my local art storer where they were selling each color for $1 each, I bought up almost all of the colors I thought I could use…about 50 or so. Like you, I really do like them and unlike you, I need to make better use of them. They’re fantastic. Thanks for your review. Now even more hand-rolled brands are on the market and I just ordered a set of the Mungyo Gallery hand-rolled pastels at Jerry’s Artarama, but there are so many brands available now…artisan crafted ones, but mostly very pricey. It is fun to try out various kinds though. 👍

[@tomaaron6187]

Thanks. Top notch. Pragmatic and articulate…the best combination. A tip: I stop off at the thrift store about once a week for art supplies. There’s almost always a quality set of pastels for sale for less than $10. Actually usually half of that.

[@grandidea2085]

What did you mean by thrift store? Dollarama or Goodwill?

[@m072049]

Loved this entire tutorial about pastels: a great help to sort through the many brands that are available!

[@mommyzethartcorner7685]

Hi Alain your tutorial vids are quite helpful for aspiring pastel artists! Thnk u so much! My question is wpuld you recommend fc polycromos instead of nupastel? Coz there are individual sticks available online?

[@AlainPicard]

the polychromes are VERY hard, that is the challenge. They are good quality, but just too hard for me. However I do like the FC Pitt Pastel Pencils for some sketching.

[@AlainPicard]

Try Cretacolor for an alternative to NuPastel. It's closer to the texture.

[@mommyzethartcorner7685]

@@AlainPicard THANK YOU SO MUCH!my question has been anwered. I will look for cretacolor but one day im going to buy everyones favorite Nupastel. God bless!

[@craftsewcute5092]

Hello Alain, could you recommend pastels that I can use with my water color paintings? I want it for highlighting, for example; highlighting leaves and flowers, feathers on birds...

[@catherinele8417]

Hi ! Because Nupastel is not on open stock, I don’t know if Conté à Paris is a good choice for hard pastel ? I heard that they are too soft and not so good for details. Do you have any advice ? Thank you !

[@evanescapades2513]

I think if an artist lets his vision take over and can no longer contain the image within themselves, spitting on a muddy boot will produce masterful strokes and work… i trust my feel more than the price tag on pastels…

[@MedaHalmaciu]

Wow. I should probably stop watching this. I am already addicted to watercolors.

[@rpaalt]

I feel what you said 😩

[@blschafer4310]

Unfortunately, just found out, the Polychromos have been discontinued earlier this year (2022)

[@virginiaestep6488]

Heads up on the Caran D'ache pastel pencils. So.e sets like both my sets have pencils where no color can get onto the paper. Jason Morgan, a wild life artist,had the same issue too. For the price all these pencils, they should perform to your satisfaction. Pitt pastel pencils do not have this issues not do not cost as much but still professional level art supply.

[@loati94]

For how expensive the brand is, caran dache has a ton of quality issues. Their luminance pencils also have batches where they are scratchy instead of buttery.

[@nancywoodward1641]

These videos are great! When I’m talking to a beginner pastelist I always want them to view your videos as to how to work with, and choose pastels, paint portraits, landscapes, etc. you are very encouraging!

[@walcottfineart5088]

Very well done and informative video! I love the Diane Townsends too.

[@AlainPicard]

Yes, they are really nice! Thanks for the comment, and let me know if you are struggling with anything else in the process right now.

[@RT-wk1bd]

A very informative and well done video. I hope to do portraits using pastels and presently have a set of 60 Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils. After watching you draw a portrait using only a few Faber-Castell pencils, I was wondering if is really necessary for me to purchase a set of Prismacolor NuPastels? I live in a small apartment with pets and initially decided to use Faber-Castell pastel pencils rather than soft pastels to reduce the chance of spreading pigment dust. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[@sandfly60]

How are you getting on with your pencils? I use Carbothello for similar reasons. Less dust but I'm drawn to the sticks now.

[@gamal61_art]

كيف نحفظ اللوحة المرسومة بالألوان الباستيل

[@bozoclown2098]

Kinda nuts that white sticks (pastel) do not match well when layered. It's like oil and water .

[@paulsilva4807]

What is your opinion with Carb Orthello Stabilo Chalk Pastel Pencils?

[@pameladiez4933]

I bought my mungjo pastels,soft.and I am totally I love with them.the colors are amazing,and i love them.thank you alain.i can't wait to see what my first inspiration will be,with my pastels.👍

[@triggerfish999]

The Terry Ludwig dark set is £223 at the time of writing (in the UK)…which is, what, $270!!. Sennelier half set is a bit more reasonable. Pastels are marvellous but probably the most expensive art medium. I mean, I can get a workable set (say) 6 or 8 tubes of Golden Acrylics for under £100, and professional quality oil paint easily for less. And of course with pastel you need lots of them, rather than a half dozen colours from which you can mix other colours. Just sayin'

[@AlainPicard]

Jackson's in the UK has some affordable soft pastels and they may have holiday sales. I have students who have been very pleased with the Jackson's soft pastel line that is a great value

[@parvinsaei107]

👍👏👏👏👏

[@kimranson4775]

Thank you so much for this info! I am brand new to pastels and was feeling overwhelmed. This has helped tremendously.

[@soleilcuellar8687]

This is the most complete comparission on KZbin so far. Thank you! It helps me a lot!

[@karenspangrud1653]

I discovered Richeson hand rolled. Buttery soft and magic size. Have you tried these?

[@hellendia]

I am so delighted to see this video :) It took me many many hours to research and finally purchased my first sets of pastels. I wish I saw this video few months ago. Regardless, i realized that i made very good choices for a beginner, with a 120 half stick set from Sennelier and another set from Unison as well Rembrandt for medium pastels ( Christmas gift), and Nupastel for the hard pastels. I will still dream of the TL soft pastels dark set, but will get there :) thank you for making videos with such valuable content, i am always excited to see them and learn. Excellent teaching methods and very inspiring. Thank you also for asking in the email about content and questions, it was really lovely idea. I hope to be able to take your workshops in the future. The first video i have seen about pastels it was yours and i was mesmerized with the results, so the reason for which today i even have this medium is because of your videos. To my surprise it gives me endless joy!

[@AlainPicard]

Hey Helen, that's amazing! I'm so honored and really excited to hear that you got into pastels through this video content. Wow! You have a great set of pastels there, and like I said, the Rembrandts are still great for many things much like the hard pastels. Keep working and experimenting, and you'll find you own way! I'll be sure to keep you inspired with more future content! All the best

[@kmcatriz]

You can only call yourself a real oil pastel painter when you know each pastel by brands even without the cover ❤️ Me: I wanna be like this man 🤯❤️

[@TinRoofVintage]

New subscriber... I absolutely love this video, thank you for giving other pastel options with total explanation and demo of each. Very thorough, much appreciated! Peace and Blessings from Texas USA 🌹

[@MarceloOliveira-vj6rb]

love his hair 3 hours to get it sculpted in layers of gray!

[@sindhuk8703]

Wow I always thought unison is the best but terry Ludwig is amazing Ty ❤️

[@TravelingArtista]

Thank you, Alain, for the great Pastel Supply list. SO helpful! Can't I just buy all the pastels?! Oh, wait, I'm not that rich. Thanks again! Love your videos .. you inspire me. Clear, organized teaching! Wow.

[@nadlavoie7868]

What about the Mont-Marte are they ok like Mungyo ?

[@dreaminGemini]

Me using Faber-Castell and Artist's Loft soft pastels and crying into my wallet...

[@AlainPicard]

No more tears!

[@MehNameIsJeff]

Why does your intro voice gives me the chills of an assassin lol

[@jamessorrel]

It felt like a relaxing voice to me lol. I have no idea where you got the assassin thing from haha.

[@margaretf667]

Alain is an enabler for people who can not stop buying art supplies. 😬

[@LeoraLaGraffe]

Such a great explanation and description of the overwhelming number of soft pastel brands out there! I found myself nodding in agreement with everything you said, and feel it will be an invaluable guide to those just starting out on their pastel journey. I had to chuckle a little when you started talking about pastel pencils and the sharpening issue with some of them. All I will say is, I’ve learned sometimes it’s better to just use an exacto knife or other sharp blade, in addition to a sanding block, to sharpen some brands of pastel pencils.

[@AlainPicard]

Glad you enjoyed this Leora, and know that we are following up with more supporting videos like this one! I could definitely create an uncensored bloopers reel of pastel pencil sharpening mishaps!!!

[@AlainPicard]

By the way, what's your favorite pastel?

[@LeoraLaGraffe]

Alain Picard oh gosh, I could go on for an hour. I have an addiction to pastels, I will admit. And as my husband likes to remind me, “buying more sticks of pastel won’t make you a better artist...”. LOL! Sennelier pastels have some of the most brilliant, intense colors, which I absolutely love. There is a reason they have had a great reputation for centuries! Girault pastels have a lovely texture and such subtle colors that work effortlessly and well with portraits, landscapes, just anything. Truly the colors found in nature, and how nice for doing fine lines on top of layers of pastels! Terry Ludwig Pastels...I open a box of those pastels and think I’ve died and gone to heaven! So many unique colors, including the darker than black eggplant, such buttery, rich, pure pigment, such a wonderful square stick for making luscious marks! Oh I could go on forever about Terry Ludwig Pastels. I even love the way they have them set up in collections, such good decision making as far as what pastels to include in each selection! And how lovely it is to support a business from my own country, the USA! Diane Townsend....also an American firm, and a texture I have come to appreciate and find very useful! Nupastels are wonderful for the initial stages of a painting, and although they are a bit harder, come in handy for indicating branches, grasses, etc. As you can see, I have agreed with all of your choices!

[@AlainPicard]

@@LeoraLaGraffe you have very good taste! I was definitely preaching to the choir with you. All the best as you continue to create in pastel!

[@LeoraLaGraffe]

Alain Picard Thank you so much! All the best to you too, and thank you again for your marvelous videos and the breathtaking art you create to give to the world!

[@charlottesmom]

As a very very beginner this video was incredibly helpful, thank you! 😊

[@TravelingArtista]

Thank you Alain! Great description and comparison explanation. I'm sharing this with students!

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks so much, Terrilynn! I am honored you would share with your students! Glad you liked the video.

[@PeopleMakePictures]

Winsor & Newton? Daler-Rowney?

[@vilvile]

What is your experience with Diane Towsend’s soft form vs their terrages?

[@AlainPicard]

I really like the soft form, but they are a bit fragile in the pastel box. They crumble a bit, but the quality of the pastel is great. I like the bit of tooth they have mixed in

[@Arnaldobaezjr]

Thank you so much Alain for the video and list of supplies, really helps when it come to purchasing. 😀

[@markchorlton60]

Yes, great information, thank you. I'd like to know more about the interaction of pastel support with pastel brand and the type of look that you want to achieve. Thanks so much, Jane.

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Jane, our next video explores supports, so you should get further clarity and understanding from that lesson in conjunction with this one. The best way to learn is by experimenting with surfaces, so keep trying new things! DakotaPastels.com sells paper sample packs, that can be a great way to inexpensively experiment with multiple surfaces. All the best!

[@gabrielafirkowska7941]

Alain Picard Nan

[@lindastclair-ow6ch]

I found this quite helpful

[@maureenbaril1868]

Excellent video Alain! Great demos on each pastel !! I love pastels , they are like diamonds to me. I rather buy pastels than have jewelry! I do have Terry Ludwig, Great American, Schmincke , Unison, Sennelier, Diane Townsend and Nupastels. Also Pan Pastels are fun too! I like the look of the painting , more impressionistic I love your videos and the Painterly Look , so Beautiful Alain!! Thank you again , hope to see more , maybe on pastel paper . Maureen Baril

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks so much for all the encouragement! You have a wonderful collection of pastels! Stay tuned to this channel, and you'll find out more about papers in the coming weeks!

[@silvanacecchini9701]

Thank you for sharing all this information. Your teaching style is great, very relaxed. I love girault, unison, and sennelier. I have a new box of Terry Ludwig which I’m afraid to use..lol Maybe I’ll give them a whirl tomorrow.

[@AlainPicard]

thanks Silvana! You should definitely put those Ludwigs to work! Just use them with a light touch at first. I appreciate your feedback! Have fun painting!

[@constantinstoica8155]

It's not important any pastel color works to do the same thing!🍟🍔😀

[@AlainPicard]

that is not at all true, but I appreciate your enthusiasm.

[@mariawilson8951]

Thank you so VERY much. This was so informative. I have wanted to know the differences of the many pastels out there but never found anyone who could explains so beautifully. I am so glad I found you while I was reading one of the pastel magazines last week. I have been watching your videos and I have to say I love you teaching abilities, you see I am new to pastels. Again, Thank you and have a great painting day.

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks Maria, for your appreciation. Sooo glad this video helped you sort through the many materials. All the best to you in your development!

[@tbsince1954]

Alain, I'm wondering if you have used Blockx, and what you think of them? Also, now that Nupastel has stopped making open stock, any backup?

[@antonioingram8825]

Were did you get those pastel trays at

[@ritazita1111]

Thanks, very informative. Do you use a fixative to set your work? If so, which one?

[@AlainPicard]

I use one fixative when I am concerned about the stability of the final layer. It is Lascaux Fixativ. It's expensive, but very clean with no color change. All the best!

[@nanwright2366]

VERY interesting

[@ceciliaborders]

I've SO enjoyed your other videos, as well as this one! You are such a wonderful teacher and artist. Thank you so much for your thorough information here about the characteristics of the different brands of soft, medium, and hard pastels, as well as pastel pencils. Hope you will consider coming to Charlotte, NC, for a workshop sometime.

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks Cecilia, as a matter of fact I will be in Charlotte in the spring of 2020 with Piedmont Pastel Society! Come join a workshop with me then! Thank you for your kind words, it means alot.

[@j.p.7914]

👍🏻👌🏻🌿🌷🌿Thanks 🌿🌷🌿‼️

[@BigDaddy13515]

I love using the Rembrandts for portraits they’re wonderful to layer and get a slightly painted feel I’ll use the white, red, yellow ochre (for skin tone) and dark green (for shadows) they glaze over eachother wonderfully. And for a much more painted feel I love the Sennelier Paris collection 120 half sticks for an amazing value. I use the Rembrandt’s and Senneliers together as well for different things. And I love the Caran D’ache Pastel pencils especially for wildlife and people portraits. They’re great for fur and layering but definitely a little more pricey than some of the other brands out there. I honestly haven’t tried any hard pastels yet and now look forward to trying some.

[@kakashi1992e]

This video is absolutely fantastic. Thank you so much for making it.

[@AlainPicard]

You're very welcome E H! Glad you enjoyed.

[@azong98]

I wish I had watched this before buying full stick sennelier. They all crumble down!!! I thought I didn't take care! I finally managed to roll them back with alcohol but what a hassle. I would NOT recommend them, as I like Schminke more

[@joa8227]

Thanks to your pastel advice I've just ordered an 18 set of Unison soft pastels from Jackson's. Should arrive in a few days! Thank you!

[@lynnblas4754]

Art supply - rehab lol

[@cindystennette6392]

Love your presentations...so full of great information and so sincerely there to help us succeed and enjoy painting! Thank you for all of the encouragement. :)

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Cindy, that's kind, thanks for your words of appreciation. I'm glad you are finding the videos helpful! Keep painting, and stay tuned as there is more to come!

[@zebulunashcroft6623]

Hey, friend...

[@sigmundfreud7903]

For me you can get away with cheaper brands for skin tones. However, you’ll have fork over money for good brands if you want those vivid colors in your works.

[@CalSister]

I have all the sets you mentioned and have used them all. You ignored Henri Roche' apparently deliberately. I have found this brand to have the best darks across the spectrum of any brands out there...also the best lights! They have over 1625 colors and each and every one is superbly made. They are in the range of Sennelier but not as crumbly...HRs do not crumble even as much as the Sennelier ½ stick sets. While they are expensive as all get out I have learned from using them that you truly get what you pay for. Currently I have the full collection and several back up sticks for most of the colors I usually use...they also sell a semi-hard that is about like NuPastel and plans I have been told are in the works for release of their color range in that density in the future. The sticks are hand made from the grinding/mixing/rolling and drying...take off the wrappers from the ones you have and actually use them! I use them in portraits and seascapes and landscapes as well as still life works. With this one glaring omission your video here is excellent. I enjoy your work and have seen all of your videos.

[@wenceslaodelgado3691]

Thank you for your information, I think buy a box Sennelier.

[@AlainPicard]

As the first set of soft pastels in a collection, the Sennelier half-sticks is a great choice! Enjoy