Is Soft Pastel Toxic?

[@jenfleming9384]

Thank you Emma for the great info and reassurance you have given. I live in the tropics and am an asthmatic. It took me a while to realise I was inhaling dust from the fan I was using to keep cool. I would then get very chesty and mucous breathing at night. I love pastels and can use them if I take commonsense actions and don’t use a fan, wipe down surfaces in between and use good brands and paper. If it’s hot I’ll use watercolours and acrylics and use pastels in winter. Thank you for the good report. Regards from Australia.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Yes I can relate to this living in Spain at the moment. Summer is a challenge. And I have studio lights for filming all around me for extra heat. I have to do very short shifts and hug an air conditioner on my breaks.

[@anettedouglasdotter]

Thank you so much, Emma - so important information! 🙏 I personally get a bit stressed just by watching artists who blows away tons of pastel dust when they paint - not so healthy, and soooo difficult to get rid of! It lands just about everywhere - apart from the lungs... 😳 I collect and re-use my dust - can get some amazing neutrals that way! 👍 Thanks again! ❤️

[@melanieopperman6688]

Thank you Emma, you take all the leg work out of pastelling. We can simply enjoy the process and make art without investing in years of trial and error. Thank you for your well researched talk. You have been so kind to share your knowledge with us.

[@Workingmomification]

Thank you so much for this video.

[@lornafolan1748]

Great info Emma, thanks 👍 I've just started the gorgeous unisons and have discovered my eyes are quite itchy, I was getting too enthusiastic with blowing the dust 😂 I also have chest problems and I am dong Art in a box room where I also sleep and eat! 😬 I'm very limited on space but will need to make adjustments for sure, because I adore these pastels. 😎

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Emma! Wonderful video and so many salient points about pastels! I am not sure why people as so afraid if they do just a bit of research they will find the information you so graciously gave us all! I look forward to seeing a video on your current curly haired dog portrait! Til then be safe and take care!

[@Herr_Vorragender]

A hand held hoover may perhaps be a valid solution for you? Maybe you could try pan pastel with makeup sponges as well? They make significantly less mess. As for the details use Pastel Pencils on top of pan pastel. The three combined may be perfect for limited space.

[@markjayne935]

Hi Emma Mark here, thanks for this video. Until recently I have been doing my art on my lap with the painting stuck on a board tilted up towards me, I had felt that I was too close to it to safely avoid breathing in pastel dust and have now started using an easel and changed my set up to something more comfortable and practical. This video has confirmed for me my need to change the way I pastel but also has put my mind at rest in using Unison pastels. Thanks - Mark.

[@Herr_Vorragender]

You'd need to take big bites out of your pastel sticks repeatedly, but even then you'll feel sick before it'll have a serious effect on you. Unless of course you already suffer from any health limitations. Keep in mind, back in the days make up was made with lead. People didn't feel a thing even after a dozen applications. The dosage makes the poison.

[@suzannw9098]

Thank you Emma, this is a very informative video.

[@loissemanek1715]

Thanks this is good information. Used with pastel mat I don’t even get asthma.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Emma....your videos are unique 🙏🙏🙏

[@Seánybruv]

What are the risks associated with it if according to Unison they’re nontoxic? Seems contradictory if I’m not mistaken. I’ve been using pastels for a few years now and don’t really do anything except give my studio a good vacuuming every now and then. I think I’ll start doing a bit more and wiping down surfaces more often just as a precaution but compared to other stuff we’re exposed to on a daily basis it’s probably minuscule (at least that’s what I tell myself).

[@EmmaColbertArt]

The risk simply comes from the fact that there will inevitably be more dust in the air. It's the same if you were breathing in more dust for any reason. Just because it isn't toxic doesn't make it good to breathe in so it's worth taking some precautions. Like I said it will depend on how much of a dust storm you kick up when you paint. For me it's minimal so the risk is less in my studio but I still try to take precautions.

[@cinnie2543]

Great info! Thanks! I used to have a set of Rembrandts bought about 40 years ago. Are the older pastels safe as well (except for those with respiratory issues of course)?

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Rembrandts have been around a long time. They don't go out of date or anything so still just as safe to use.

[@gambylou9959]

I noticed you never mentioned velour paper, are you not using that for your art as much these days?

[@EmmaColbertArt]

I do still make use of it, but yes I have been experimenting a lot on other papers. I don't tend to demo much using it for videos like this as it looks a bit fuzzy on camera. I have a cat demo coming out in The Artist magazine at the start of the year that's all about velour.

[@ninner196]

Thank you! Oh I hope this will help those who get on FB groups to just scare people. Common sense and a filtered area helps greatly. Thank you!😊

[@EmmaColbertArt]

I know there's a lot of discussion about it right now, but people are still learning a lot about soft pastel. And there are genuine dangers worth considering depending on your health. But for most of us there will never be a concern with a bit of common sense applied.

[@ninner196]

@@EmmaColbertArt Exactly.

[@evandroluz6140]

Obrigado pelas dicas! Está tudo muito correto! Parabéns pelo seu maravilhoso trabalho!

[@marytodd7985]

I love your videos.

[@squirrel8161]

I’m actually really curious as to whether there are lead-based pastels on the market as I’m looking for them. My favourite pastelists of all time (all dead) achieved this glow using lead in their white pastels. From using lead white oil paint for flesh, I am convinced it could improve my pastels too

[@veystone2580]

Thank you! 😊

[@alphat4551]

Soft pastels make my throat itchy and makes me cough. I don't get this with hard pastels or pencil pastels.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Definitely good to avoid the softer end of the scale if it does bother you. Everyone is different.

[@jumanas4012]

i am asthmatic and i don't use it in my bedroom !

[@robisnowart]

Great video Emma, I'm very tempted to try working with a mask, I always get what I call "pastel mouth" when i have a long session with my pastels!

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Not a bad idea. If it bothered me at all I would certainly consider a mask. I tend to get 'pastel face' where I've forgotten my hands are dirty! :-)

[@Herr_Vorragender]

Oil pastels don't dust 💁‍♂😅 yeh, I'll show my self out 🙈

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Hahaha! At least you won't mess up the door handle with your dirty hands!