Pastels from the 16th Century exist today as fresh as the day they were painted. The pure, powdered pigment, is ground into a paste with a small amount of gum binder then rolled into sticks. The infinite variety of colours in pastel range from soft and subtle to strong and brilliant. Pastel is sometimes combined with water colour, gouache, acrylic, charcoal or pencil in a mixed-media painting, but it is not compatible with oil paint.
Pastel paintings reflect light like a prism.
No other medium has the same colour power. Edgar Degas was the most prolific user of Pastel and its champion. Today, Pastel has the same stature of oil and water colour as a major fine art medium. Many of our most renowned living artists have distinguished themselves in Pastel, enriching the art world with this beautiful medium. All Rights Reserved.