Chalk pastels are made with calcium carbonate mixed with only a little bit of colour, so they typically have a paler colour than other pastels, like oils.

A pastel ( US: /pæˈstɛl/) is an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of powdered pigment and a binder. An artwork made using pastels is called a pastel (or a pastel drawing or pastel painting). Pastel used as a verb means to produce an artwork with pastels; as an adjective it means pale in color.

Chalk suited to drawing is both homogenous in texture and relatively soft and yielding. Popular as a medium since the Renaissance, its uses range from preparatory drawings to highly finished compositions.

Using Pastel Chalks Apply chalk to a canvas using either a dry or wet technique. For a dry application, simply draw on the canvas, and use a paper towel, finger or sponge to blend the colors. Follow the grain of the canvas to prevent the white from showing through the pastels.

The most popular papers for general pastel and chalk drawing are colored, textured specialty pastel papers such as Strathmore Pure Tints and Canson Mi-Teintes. These textured surfaces typically have a fine, irregular texture pressed into the surface during manufacture.

Surfaces for pastels can mean a whole range of materials because pastels are incredibly versatile. They can be used on almost any surface as long as there is enough tooth for the pastels to grip. Textured paper is the most popular surface for pastels, but you can also use boards, canvas, and even sandpaper.

Best Paper For Oil Pastels Compared

Oil blending is a fun technique carried out by simply dabbing baby oil on a cotton swab or cotton ball and use to blend onto the surface over the previously applied oil pastel. You can shmear and smooth out your colours and control which direction you want the blending to go.

Camlin Kokuyo Oil Pastel (50 Shades)

Here’s an art supplies list of what you need to start using pastels.

1. Pastel Paper. Different brands of pastel paper have different textures or surfaces to give the pastel something to grip onto.
2. Pastel Colors.
3. Fixative.
4. Sketchbook for Practicing.
5. An Easel.
6. Drawing Board.
7. Bulldog Clips.
8. Pencil for Initial Sketching.

You can use a cloth to blend pastels, but chamois are even more effective. Chamois is a type of super-soft and flexible leather that is excellent for blending colors with pastels. For large areas, you can wipe or rub the chamois across the surface of your paper.