
PanPastels are professional-grade soft pastels packed in a unique pan format. They are rich, ultra-soft, and super-blendable, and can be applied like paint. PanPastels can be mixed like paint to create intermediate colours. This can be done either on the pan surface or on the working surface (paper). One can also create colour charts to make the process of colour mixing more deliberate and accurate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Color Mixing Techniques | Mix colors on the pan surface or on the working surface (paper). Mix colors like paint to create intermediate colors. |
| Tools | Sofft Tools, sponges, palette knives, tissue blades, etc. |
| Color Charts | Create accurate color charts to avoid guesswork and achieve deliberate color choices. |
| Paper Type | Use heavy tooth, sanded paper for pure, clean colors. Toned boards or papers produce less pure colors. |
| Layering | Apply thinner layers for glazing effects or heavier layers on textured papers for more opaque effects. |
| Blending | Blend colors from the same color family. |
| Flexibility | Pan pastels require mixing colors by "dipping" into each color, which can be distracting and time-consuming for those used to layering and mixing colors with paint. |
| Consistency | Pan pastels have a dense foam with a rubber-like texture, different from paint brushes. |
| Cleanliness | Pan pastels are designed to keep your hands clean, and you can mix and apply colors using tools. |
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What You'll Learn

Mixing pan and stick soft pastels
PanPastels are professional-grade soft pastels with a unique pan format. They are made using a special manufacturing process that compresses the pigment into a soft, velvety cake that can be applied to a surface using sponges or brushes. This results in a much smoother consistency than traditional pastels, making them easier to blend and layer.
When mixing pan and stick soft pastels, some artists prefer to blend on the paper itself. You can draw the stick pastel over the pan pastel, but the reverse may not work as well. It is also possible to mix stick pastels on the paper by smudging with a finger or another tool, but this can dull the vibrancy of the colours.
PanPastels can be mixed like paint to create intermediate colours. Colours can be mixed either on the pan surface or directly on the working surface. This allows artists to achieve a variety of marks and layers, from transparent to intense.
Some artists have noted that mixing pan and stick pastels can be challenging due to the different consistencies of the two mediums. Stick pastels can be used for underpainting, and pan pastels can be used for painting, allowing for a variety of effects. It may take some time and patience to master the technique of mixing pan and stick soft pastels, but it offers a range of creative possibilities for artists.
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Blending colours from the same colour family
To blend colours from the same family, start by choosing a colour family that you want to work with, such as blues or reds. Then, select the specific colours within that family that you want to blend. For example, if you're working with the blue colour family, you might choose Phthalo Blue in Extra Dark, Shade, Pure, and Tint variations.
Next, you can begin the blending process. Apply the colours to the pan surface or directly to your working surface (paper). You can mix the colours like paint, using a soft scrubbing motion to blend them together and create intermediate colours. Be generous with the pastel application to ensure opacity, and don't be afraid to use different tools like sponges or Sofft Tools for better control and varied marks.
Additionally, consider using layering techniques to achieve your desired effect. Apply thinner layers for glazing, allowing the colours underneath to show through, or use heavier layers on textured papers for more opaque results.
Creating accurate colour charts can also help you understand how different colours from the same family mix together. This process involves creating swatches of different values of a colour, from the darkest to the lightest, allowing you to see the full range of shades within the same colour family.
By blending colours from the same colour family, you can achieve a harmonious and cohesive colour scheme in your artwork, adding depth and richness to your creations.
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Layering colours for opaque effects
Layering colours with PanPastels can create opaque effects. PanPastel colours are professional-grade soft pastels packed in a unique pan format. They are rich, ultra-soft, and super-blendable, and can be applied like paint.
To create opaque effects, colours can be applied in heavier layers on textured papers. The more layers of pastel that are blended, the duller the colour mixes will appear. When mixing lots of hues together, the resulting shades and tones will be neutral and grey-brown. Layering pastel colours is an old technique used to achieve subtle variations of colour required to accurately represent a scene.
Soft pastel is a buildable and opaque medium. Artists can start by establishing the composition and blocking in mid-tones, then gradually increase the contrast and leave the highlights and details until last. It is best to use pastel brands with similar softness throughout the painting, or layer softer pastel on top of harder pastel. For instance, the softest brands of pastels, Sennelier and Schmincke, should always be layered last and over harder soft pastels like Rembrandt.
To create an underpainting, a light wash can be applied with a touch of water. This will make the first layer of the drawing look smooth instead of loose and sketchy.
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Using tools for mixing
PanPastels are professional-grade soft pastels packed in a unique pan format. They are rich, ultra-soft, and super-blendable, and can be applied like paint, making them great for painting, drawing, and mixed media.
PanPastels can be mixed either on the pan surface or on the working surface (paper). You can use a variety of tools for mixing, such as:
- Sofft Tools: These are specially formulated, latex-free, micropore sponge applicators that provide maximum control while mixing and applying PanPastel colours. Each tool has a unique shape and size, resembling artist brushes. They are versatile, reusable, and easy to clean.
- Palette knife: You can use a palette knife to mix PanPastel colours on a piece of folded white paper. Scrape off the desired colours of PanPastel dust onto the paper and mix them together until a uniform colour is achieved.
- Blending tools: There are various blending tools available, such as the Soft stubs, that can be used to create soft blends and gradations on the paper.
- Makeup sponges: Inexpensive makeup sponges can be used in a similar way to Sofft Tools. Swipe the sponge on the desired colours and then apply to the surface, wiping the sponge as needed between colours.
It is important to note that PanPastels do not offer the same flexibility as mixing paint on a palette. The colours are mixed by "dipping" into each colour and trying them out on a sample space, and the mixed colour may only last for a stroke or two before needing to be mixed again. This can be a foreign concept for those used to layering and mixing colours with paint, but with practice, it can become more comfortable.
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Creating colour charts
Choose Your Materials
Select a suitable paper or board for your colour chart. Any heavy tooth, sanded paper will work, but if you want pure, clean colours, opt for white paper instead of toned paper or board. You can also use pre-mixed colours or create your own by mixing colours on the pan or paper surface.
Prepare Your Colours
If you're creating your own colours, start with the primary colours: red, yellow, and blue. Place them on your colour chart with three empty spaces between each colour. You can then create secondary colours by mixing the primaries together and placing them in the empty spaces between. To make tertiary colours, mix one primary with one secondary and place them in the correct slots.
Adjust Colour Values
To create pastel colours, adjust the values of your primary, secondary, and tertiary colours. Lower the saturation of each hue by adding its opposite on the colour wheel or by adding grey. If you want to increase the lightness of a colour, add white. Remember that with pan pastels, the order of colour application matters due to their semi-transparent nature.
Document Your Colours
As you mix and adjust your colours, be sure to document the process so you can recreate them in the future. Note the ratios of colours used, the number of layers, and any other techniques employed. This will help you create consistent colours across different projects.
Practice and Experiment
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Frequently asked questions
Sofft Tools are designed to work with PanPastels. These tools are formulated with a micropore sponge that provides maximum control. You can also use inexpensive makeup sponges, palette knives, or your fingers.
You can mix colours on the pan surface or on your working surface (paper).
Yes, but keep in mind that you will continue to blend them each time you apply them, so the colour will change as you do so.
Yes, you can mix and blend PanPastels with stick pastels.














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