Choosing the best pastel pencils can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options out there. But it doesn’t have to be complicated.

The perfect pencil combines quality pigmentation, smooth application, and durability, but finding this ideal match often requires knowledge and experience. Many artists struggle with this choice, unsure whether to prioritize price, brand reputation, or technical specifications.

This blog aims to demystify the selection process, helping artists find the colorful world of pastel pencils with confidence.

By understanding core characteristics like pigment quality, hardness levels, and lightfastness ratings, artists can make informed decisions that elevate their artistic practice and ensure their creative vision comes to life on paper.

What Makes a Pastel Pencil “The Best”?

Selecting the right pastel pencils can transform an artist’s work from good to extraordinary. Artists face a dizzying array of options, and finding the perfect match requires understanding what truly makes a quality pastel pencil.

• Pigment Quality: Higher concentrations of pure pigments create richer, more charming colors that blend seamlessly
• Softness vs. Hardness: Softer pencils deliver intense color but wear down quickly; harder pencils offer precision but less vibrancy
• Lightfastness Rating: Superior pencils resist fading when exposed to light, preserving artwork for decades
• Core Strength: A well-made pencil resists breakage during use, reducing frustration and waste
• Blendability: The best pencils layer and blend smoothly with minimal effort
• Color Range: Extensive palettes provide artists with versatile options for any project
• Wood Casing Quality: Premium wood casings sharpen cleanly and protect the core from damage

Must-Have for Stunning Blending: Best Pastel Pencils

When it comes to creating soft, colorful artwork, pastel pencils are an absolute must-have. They combine the precision of a pencil with the rich color payoff of pastels.

Let’s take a look at some of the best pastel pencils that artists around the world love.

1. Caran d’Ache Pastel Pencils

These Swiss-made pastel pencils are known for their velvety texture and outstanding lightfastness. Perfect for both detailed work and expressive shading, they deliver bold pigmentation. Each pencil feels luxurious in the hand, providing a premium experience that professionals admire.

• USP: Exceptional softness and premium lightfast pigments.
• Pros: Rich color laydown, durable wood casing.
• Cons: Higher price point compared to others.

2. Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils

Faber-Castell’s Pitt Pastel Pencils offer a harder pastel core, making them ideal for fine details and layering. They maintain a clean working environment with minimal dust, ensuring your artwork remains neat and controlled without compromising vibrancy.

• USP: Hardcore for fine detailing work.
• Pros: Smudge-resistant, easily blendable.
• Cons: Slightly less soft for broad shading.

3. Stabilo CarbOthello Pastel Pencils

These pastel pencils boast charming, blendable colors with a slightly chalky finish. They can be dry-blended or worked with water for unique effects. Artists love their versatility across different surfaces, offering the best of both control and spontaneity.

• USP: Can be used dry or wet.
• Pros: Excellent color vibrancy, smooth application.
• Cons: The Core can be fragile under pressure.

4. Derwent Pastel Pencils

Derwent’s Pastel Pencils strike a fine balance between softness and strength. The colors are subtle yet buildable, perfect for creating layered works. They’re an excellent choice for beginners and intermediate artists looking for reliability at a fair price.

• USP: Balanced softness for easy layering.
• Pros: Smooth blending, great starter set.
• Cons: Some colors are less luminous.

5. Conté à Paris Pastel Pencils

With deep, earthy tones and a smooth finish, Conté à Paris Pastel Pencils are a favorite for portrait and figure work. Their robust, dense cores allow for dynamic shading and delicate detailing without frequent breakage.

• USP: Ideal for portrait and figure drawing.
• Pros: Strong cores, rich tonal range.
• Cons: Limited range of bright colors.

6. Koh-I-Noor Gioconda Pastel Pencils

Affordable yet highly pigmented, Koh-I-Noor Gioconda Pastel Pencils offer luminous colors with a creamy touch. They blend easily and allow layering without smudging excessively, making them a fantastic option for budget-conscious artists.

• USP: Luminous results at a budget price.
• Pros: Affordable, smooth application.
• Cons: Less consistent lightfastness.

7. Bruynzeel Design Pastel Pencils

Bruynzeel Design Pastel Pencils are appreciated for their silky laydown and consistent performance. Ideal for blending and soft gradients, they help artists achieve a professional finish with minimal effort. Their softer leads are easy to work with for varied techniques.

• USP: Silky, smooth color application.
• Pros: Great blending ability, reliable quality.
• Cons: Smaller color range available.

Comparison of All Best Pastel Pencils

When choosing pastel pencils, it’s important to consider not just color vibrancy, but also the durability, lightfastness, and how well they handle sharpening. Each brand brings its strengths to the table.

Here’s a comparative look to help you find the perfect fit for your artistic needs.

Note: Fragility score is rated from 1 (least fragile) to 5 (most fragile).

• Lightfastness: Measures how well a color resists fading when exposed to light over time.
• Durability and Sharpening: Refers to how strong the pencil core is and how easily it sharpens without breaking.
• Fragility: Indicates how prone the pencil lead is to crumbling, cracking, or breaking under pressure.

Tips To Match Pastel Pencils to Your Artistic Style

Selecting the right pastel pencils isn’t just about quality; it’s about finding tools that complement an artist’s unique style and approach.

Different techniques demand different pencil properties, and what works beautifully for a detailed portrait might frustrate someone creating bold landscapes.

Understanding this connection between personal style and pencil characteristics helps artists build a collection that truly serves their creative vision.

• Detail-Oriented Artists: Opt for harder pastel pencils with fine points that maintain precision for intricate work
• Expressive, Bold Styles: Choose softer formulations that release more pigment and create dramatic, intense color passages
• Layering Enthusiasts: Look for pencils with exceptional transparency that build up gradually without becoming muddy
• Mixed Media Artists: Select pencils that play well with other mediums like watercolor or ink
• Outdoor Sketchers: Prioritize durability and portability with pencils that resist breakage and come in travel-friendly packaging
• Budget-Conscious Beginners: Start with small open-stock collections of professional-grade pencils rather than large sets of student-quality pencils.
• Color Theory Experimenters: Invest in primary colors from premium brands, then expand as specific needs arise

The Bottom Line

The best way to find the perfect pastel pencils isn’t about chasing the most expensive brands or accumulating the largest collection. It’s about finding tools that feel like natural extensions of an artist’s hand and vision.

By considering personal style, technique preferences, and project needs, artists can build a thoughtfully curated set that truly serves their creative process.

Remember that even the finest pastel pencils require practice to master. Artists shouldn’t be discouraged by initial struggles; experimentation leads to findings.

Start small, test different brands when possible, and gradually expand as specific needs emerge. The best pastel pencils aren’t universal but deeply personal.

With the knowledge from this guide, artists can make confident choices that will increase their artistic expression for years to come.