Sennelier Pastels
I use soft pastels from several different manufacturers, and their texture ranges from hard, to very soft. My biggest collection of very soft pastels are made by Sennelier, although I’m also guilty of owning several from Great American Artworks.
Sennelier has been making art supplies since 1887, and introduced their line of pastels in the early 1900’s. They’re one of the softest, most highly pigmented pastels in my pastel box, and I love their incredible range of dark colors.
Pastels are worked from dark to light, so I like having a wide variety available. Sennelier makes their darks so intense that I’ve rarely needed the black one they provide. My favorites are Black Green 179, a deep bottle green, and it’s almost black cousin, 177. Other favorites include Intense Blue (463, 465) and Purplish Blue-Gray (478).
Notice how dark 177 and 463 appear next to black (513).
Sennelier makes 525 colors which are sold in boxed sets, and also available individually. Boxed sets include portrait, landscape, pure tone pigments, and iridescent, but I wish they had more sets of hues, like their Blue Notes collection. They have a wonderful selection of greens, which could easily be boxed similarly to Terry Ludwig’s luscious collection, and I’d love something similar to Great American’s grayed series. A set of purples would also be really nice to have.
However, Sennelier is one of the few manufacturers that make half-stick sets available to the consumer. Half-stick sets are great for plein air painting, or for someone who wants to try pastels without spending a lot of money. Their 40, and 80 half-stick sets have a good range of colors, and include some of my favorites. A set of 20 is wonderful way to introduce your pastel collection to some new friends. They’re a little thicker than the full size stick but don’t come with a numbered paper wrapper, so make note of your favorites before they’re used up.
Removing a tightly wound wrapper from a full sized stick can often be a problem, but I’d be lost without it when I need to place an order! It’s not easily peeled from the stick, and this is from someone with an outstanding set of wrapper-peeling fingernails. The brand also suffers some inconsistency in the hardness it’s sticks. According to Sennelier, it’s the natural mineral pigments and their behavior that are responsible for this, and perfect colors are more important to Sennelier than a consistent texture in every stick.
Sennelier pastels also seem to have a reputation for crumbling. Living in an area with a high moisture content in the air seems to prevent this phenomenon, but I can see that it could be a problem for artists living in arid locations. However, really tiny pieces become little dust piles when used on an abrasive support no matter where you live.
I consider myself to be heavy-handed and haven’t had a serious problem with crumbling pastels, so don’t let this rumor deter you from trying Sennelier pastels. Besides, a crumbled pastel is easily repaired! First, mash all those little pieces into a fine dust! It’s a lot of fun, and very therapeutic when you’ve just dropped your favorite stick onto the floor and found it with the bottom of your foot. Next, add a few drops of distilled water to the dust pile, and mix it into a Play-Doh like paste. Roll it back into a stick, or any other shape you desire, and allow it to air dry for a few days. It’ll be good as new and ready to use when it’s no longer cool to the touch.
Gustave Sennelier developed the original soft pastel color palette for Edgar Degas. Working closely with Degas, many of the original colors the two created together are still produced by the Sennelier family today.
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Hey, we do think alike.
My first couple of years working with soft pastels had me criticizing Sennies, but now I have discovered their color trueness. Yummm!
Thanks Casey.
I started my collection with Sennies when their greens were recommended during a landscape workshop, and I quickly found other colors I couldn’t do without.
Sennies are like snails. A little off-putting at first, but the palette soon learns to appreciate them.
I bought the 40 half-sticks, and I’m hooked. In fact, they’re responsible for all my ventures into pastel except the first one (which was frustrating enough to make me buy Senneliers).
I love how they feel on paper and those vibrant colors!
My first box of pastels was a required purchase for an art class. The colors were day-glow gaudy and I truly hated using them.
Never buy student grade art supplies. Better pigments make better art.
Very nice review Lisa - I’m going to link to it on my squidoo lens for pastels
Thank you, Katherine! I’m glad you found it useful.