Products

HANDMADE PASTELS

My journey as a pastel maker began over twenty years ago. My father had given me a 225 color set of Rembrandt pastels and I was putting them to a heavy test in art school. I noticed after awhile that only a third of the colors were colors I used regularly. Another third were lightly used and the final third I NEVER used! I began my quest to learn about pastel making so I could make a palette of colors that were the colors I wanted to use.

I set out to make a pastel that had both the colors and the working qualities I wanted. Recipes were scarce and antique and contained a host of odd binders and materials. I was left on my own to discover how to make a good pastel.

Twenty years later, I feel I am approaching my goal. My handmade pastels are velvety soft, with a smooth creamy texture that glides onto a sanded surface like butter. They are big and easy to handle with no annoying labels or weird shapes. They contain the highest concentration of the best available dry pigments so even neutral colors are rich and saturated. The more pigment the better the pastel.

Like many pastel artists I have used most of the major brands of pastel. All have strengths and weaknesses. Each artist will have differing ideas about what they desire in a pastel. I enjoy using my pastels and know you will too. They are fun to use!

Softer than Unison and Rembrandt!

Won't crush to pieces like Sennelier!

Richer palette than Schmincke!

PALETTE TALK

I believe a good palette in pastel is more important than having a million colors to choose from. What is a good palette? A good palette in pastel will have a larger concentration in the middle values, some rich darks, some strong brights, a few color infused light values, and some rich neutral or less intense colors. Having painted with pastels for thirty years now, I know that one great color can make a painting a winner. I try to make those kind of colors for you and for me! A great color has mystery. Humans respond strongly to color. Each of us will have a bias unique to our experiences in life. I know I am a sucker for purple! I can’t have too many and can’t avoid trying to make better purples. I love ultramarine blue and greens so strong they seem to punch you between the eyes. My palette reflects my interests in color. My pastel making is a journey of discovery and I invite you to join me! I’ll pass on my best discoveries to you and fill your pastel box with promise.

When I began to offer my pastels to other fellow artists I faced many questions about how I would go about it. Being a one man company I had to find a way to accomplish both my desire to satisfy my customer and to deal with my limitations as a small manufacturer. Each one of my pastels are hand-made by me personally. In order to offer you a great competitive price, I haven't focused on fancy packaging, elaborate color charts, glossy advertising and other frills that would perhaps make me and my product look better. Rather, my focus has been on what is most important: big soft pastels full of pigment in exciting colors!

LIMITED EDITION RICH PASTELS

These colors grew out of a recent request to make some really bright colors and some purples. On the way I began to play with some really dark colors and unusual combinations which produced some lovely smokey blues and purples and olives. I know you won't be finding these colors in the manufacturers selections and they will boost your color octane and the always hard to come by dark values. I have been having fun with them and I know you will too. Very limited! Set of 18 colors for $54.00 plus shipping.

TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED - CUSTOM ASSORTMENTS

Artists often ask me to choose colors for them that will help them in the sort of painting they do. Sometimes they send me digital images of paintings via email or describe the colors they really need. This method has worked very well. I am confident I can pick the colors you need.

PAYMENT INFORMATION

All pastels are $3.00 each, plus shipping. Send check, cash, or money order when you receive your pastels in good condition. You can also pay online using the button below. After I package your order, I'll email you with a final total which will include shipping. You can enter this amount when you pay online. Online payments are processed securely via PayPal. My pastels are totally guaranteed. I want you to be very satisfied. Ten sticks is the minimum order due to the cost of priority mail shipping. I always include a bonus color or two with each order.