I still remember those early days when I first started working with pastels, over eight years ago. I’d seen so many beautiful pastel artworks online, and I was so inspired to dive in. But when I went to buy my supplies, I felt totally lost! Unlike my familiar oil paints—just pick some colors and a few brushes—there were so many options for pastels.
There were pastel pencils, soft pastels, hard sticks, medium sticks… and that was just the beginning. And then there was the huge variety of papers! It was overwhelming, to say the least. I know firsthand that with so many choices, it’s easy to feel like you’re in over your head, which can make it tempting to give up before even starting.
But here’s the good news: I went through all those hurdles so you don’t have to! I’m here to simplify things and share exactly what you need to get started.
In this guide, we’re going to focus only on the essentials. The goal is to make it easy for you to take those first steps and experience little wins right away, because that’s what builds your confidence. As you gain more experience, you can always explore other supplies later on.
To keep things super straightforward, I’ll skip detailed brand comparisons for now (I have plenty of videos about that on my YouTube channel if you’re curious). For now, just trust me—I’ll point you to the best options to start with!
Let’s get you set up so you can start creating with pastels and enjoying the process right from day one.
Pastel PencilsTo get started with pastels, all you really need is a good set of pastel pencils. My top recommendation for an all-around, reliable choice is Stabilo Carbothello. These pencils come in various set sizes, and as with any colored pencil art, the more colors you have, the easier it is to create the effects you want.
If possible, go for the largest set your budget allows—it gives you more options and is actually a lot more affordable than buying smaller sets individually over time. With a larger set, you’ll have plenty of colors to work with right from the start, making it even easier to dive in and bring your ideas to life!
Carbothello recently got a new look to the cover of their tins and the new tins look like the one below.
The image below is the older Tin design – both will be just fine.
Pastel PaperYou'll also need the right paper, and trust me, this is one part you don’t want to overlook! The paper surface makes a huge difference—if it’s not the right texture, the pastel won’t grip properly, and you might feel disappointed with the results, no matter how great your pencils are.
From day one, I’ve relied on Pastelmat paper, and it’s been a game-changer. It comes in various colors, but I find that Light Blue works beautifully for almost any subject. Pastelmat is available as both paper and board (the board is just a thicker version, but the surface texture is the same), so you can choose whichever feels best for you.
With the right paper, you’re setting yourself up for a smooth, enjoyable experience!
You can also buy it in pads, but I find I rarely use other colours , so that is not very cost effective. The cheapest way is to buy larger sheets of light blue and cut them down yourself.
Exciting news! Recently, a new paper by Canson has been released, and as of October 2024, it’s starting to appear in some U.S. art stores. It’s been available for a few months in the UK and Europe, and it’s the closest match to Pastelmat that I’ve seen.
I’ve tried it myself and really like it; in fact, it’s the only other paper I use. That said, it can be a bit trickier to work with than Pastelmat since it behaves slightly differently. For beginners, I still recommend starting with Pastelmat to get the hang of things, but it’s always great to know there’s another fantastic option out there as you progress!
Other supplies
Other than your pencils and paper, there are just a few more supplies that might come in handy. Tracing paper is great to protect your work, along with some paper stumps for easy blending. You’ll also need a reliable pencil sharpener. My personal favourite is the Swordfish IKON—it’s durable, and you can usually find replacement blades for it, which is useful since pastel work can dull blades fairly quickly.
If you want to explore more options, I have several videos on sharpeners over on my YouTube channel. These extras make the process smoother and more enjoyable as you dive into pastels!
OK, so that’s the basics to get you started
Now a great free video to start with is my Giraffe lessonhttps://www.patreon.com/collection/196136?view=expanded
