Pastel Drawing

Pastels are sticks of pure color. They feel soft and chalky. Artists press them on paper to make bright, beautiful pictures. Pastels blend easily when you rub them with your finger. Many famous artists have used pastels in their work.

Types of Pastels

There are two main kinds of pastels. Soft pastels make bright, smooth colors. They crumble easily but look beautiful. Oil pastels feel waxy and stick to paper better. They are great for kids because they are less messy.

How to Use Pastels

You can draw with the tip of a pastel for thin lines. You can use the side for wide strokes of color. Layering colors on top of each other makes new shades. You can blend pastels with your fingers, a tissue, or a blending stump.

Fun Facts

• The artist Edgar Degas made many famous pastel drawings of ballet dancers.
• Pastels can last for hundreds of years without fading.
• Pastel sticks are made from powdered color mixed with a little bit of glue.

Did You Know?

A pastel drawing is not called a painting even though it is full of color. It is called a drawing because no wet paint is used!