
Pan pastels are a type of pastel that comes in a unique pan format. They are described as ultra-soft pastel chalk that has been compressed into a circular shape. Pan pastels are made with minimal binder and fillers, resulting in rich, ultra-soft, and super-blendable colours. They are more expensive than other pastels because they contain more pigment. Pan pastels are versatile and can be used for various art forms, including painting, drawing, and mixed media projects. They are also used for colouring the edges of paper and cardstock and for creating sidewalk chalk drawings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texture | Ultra-soft |
| Form | Compressed into a circular 'cake' |
| Ingredients | Pigment, binder, and filler |
| Binder Content | Minimal |
| Filler Content | Minimal |
| Pigment Content | High |
| Compatibility with Other Pastel Types | Compatible with soft, hard, and pastel pencils |
| Use Cases | Painting, drawing, and mixed media |
| Applicators | Sofft Tools, sponges, and eye shadow-like applicators |
| Stackability | Stackable and interlocking |
| Lightfastness | High |
| Erasability | Erasable |
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What You'll Learn

Pan pastels are a type of soft pastel
Pan pastels are popular among artists because they are easy to blend, can be fully erased, and are compatible with other art mediums and surfaces. They are also cleaner to use and create less dust than soft pastels. Pan pastels are a relatively new format but have gained a huge following. They are more expensive than other pastels because they contain more pigment.
Pan pastels are great for shading and layering and creating expressive but subtle effects. They are also useful for underlayers and soft backgrounds. The colours can be combined to make different colours, more so than with standard pastel sticks.
Some artists suggest getting a small set of pan pastels to use alongside pastel pencils for beginners. This allows artists to experiment with different types of pastels without incurring high costs.
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Pan pastels are made with minimal binder and fillers
Pan pastels are a unique medium of art that offers a newfound freedom of expression. They are ultra-soft pastel chalk compressed into a circular cake-like shape. They are packed in a unique pan format, making them easy to store and carry.
The higher pigment concentration in pan pastels also contributes to their lightfastness, meaning they are less likely to fade with age, even when exposed to light. This is in contrast to cheaper craft chalks, which may not be lightfast and can fade over time, even when stored in the dark. The lightfastness of pan pastels makes them a more durable option for artists, especially when creating paintings or other forms of art that will be displayed and exposed to light.
In addition to their rich colours and lightfastness, pan pastels are also known for their blendability. They can be easily blended using various tools, such as fingers, sponges, or brushes, to create a range of effects. This blendability also allows artists to mix different pan pastel colours together to create a complete painting palette, further expanding the range of hues and values available.
Overall, the minimal binder and fillers used in pan pastels result in a higher-quality art medium with intense colours, excellent lightfastness, and superior blendability. These characteristics make pan pastels a popular choice for artists, despite their higher price point compared to traditional chalk pastels.
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Pan pastels are more expensive than chalk pastels
Pan pastels are a relatively new medium, invented by artists for artists, and are considered professional-grade or artist-grade. They are designed to be used for serious paintings and are well worth the money for this purpose. The unique manufacturing process of pan pastels requires minimal binder and fillers, resulting in colours with excellent lightfastness that are fully erasable.
On the other hand, chalk pastels are designed for a market that is less concerned with lightfastness. They are more comparable to student-grade pastels and are more affordable, making them suitable for sketchbooks, scrapbooks, and practice.
While it is possible to crush chalk pastels into a fine powder to create a higher concentration of pigment, it will not result in the same quality as pan pastels. The difference in quality and price between pan pastels and chalk pastels is due to the type and amount of pigment used, as well as the manufacturing process.
Overall, the higher price of pan pastels reflects their superior quality, lightfastness, and blendability, making them a popular choice for artists seeking rich, intense colours and a versatile medium for their artwork.
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Pan pastels are highly pigmented
The high pigment concentration in pan pastels is due to their unique composition, which includes minimal binders and fillers. This distinguishes them from cheaper alternatives, which tend to contain more binders and fillers, such as chalk or plaster. Artist-quality pastels, like pan pastels, strive to maximise pigment content while minimising fillers, resulting in intense colours that surpass those of other media.
The high pigment load in pan pastels offers several advantages for artists. Firstly, they provide a vibrant and rich colour payoff. Secondly, the ultra-soft texture of the pastels makes them super-blendable, allowing artists to create seamless gradients and mixed media projects. The pan format also makes them convenient to use and easy to store, as they stack and interlock.
While pan pastels are more expensive than traditional chalk pastels, this is because they contain more pigment. The higher pigment concentration results in a superior product that produces more intense and concentrated colours. This makes pan pastels a worthwhile investment for artists seeking to create professional-grade artwork.
Some artists have attempted to increase the pigmentation of their chalk pastels by crushing them into a fine powder. However, this technique may not yield the desired results, as the amount of pigment in the product remains unchanged. Pan pastels, with their inherently high pigment content, offer a more reliable and effective solution for artists seeking richly pigmented materials.
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Pan pastels are blendable and erasable
Pan pastels are a unique type of pastel with a soft, ultra-blendable, and super-pigmented colour payoff. They are made using a manufacturing process that requires minimal binder and fillers, resulting in rich and ultra-soft colours. The colours are also loaded with the finest quality of pigments, making them highly concentrated.
The blendability of pan pastels makes them a versatile art medium. They can be used for a variety of techniques and effects, such as painterly effects, drawing, sketching, and precise detail work. They can also be used on different surfaces, including cardstock, acrylic paper, and even for colouring the torn edges of paper and cardstock.
The erasability of pan pastels is also a unique feature. This means that artists can easily make changes or corrections to their work without having to start over. This can be especially useful for detailed work or when creating layers of colour.
Overall, the blendability and erasability of pan pastels make them a versatile and user-friendly art medium that can be used by both professional artists and beginners.
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Frequently asked questions
Pan Pastels are a type of pastel that comes in a unique pan format. They are described as ultra-soft pastel chalk that has been compressed into a circular shape.
Pan Pastels are a type of pastel that has a chalk-like consistency. However, they are distinct from traditional chalk pastels in terms of quality and brand. Pan Pastels are known for their rich, ultra-soft, and super-blendable colours, achieved through a unique manufacturing process that minimises the use of binders and fillers.
Pan Pastels differ from other pastel types, such as soft, hard, and oil pastels, primarily in their format and texture. Pan Pastels have a unique pan format and are known for their ultra-soft, blendable texture.
Pan Pastels are generally considered to be well worth the money due to their artist-grade quality. They offer rich, intense colours and versatile application methods, making them a valuable addition to any artist's collection.
Pan Pastels can be applied like paint, making them great for painting, drawing, and mixed media projects. They are known for their blendability, so layering and mixing colours is a common technique. Additionally, their unique format makes them ideal for on-the-go use and easy storage.











































