Pastel Palette

Several months ago I received a request asking what colors of pastels I use. When I pulled out my bins, they were all such a mess I couldn't even read the labels on them. So, I wiped them all down, scrubbed my bins, and sorted and made a list to share with you. Yay, one step ahead for New Year's resolutions!

Some I barely use, a few I've never used, and some I use regularly. I placed an asterisk by my favorites. Some of the Derwents I've had for over 20 years and I think they have a new naming convention, but I included them here anyway. Also, both the Derwents and the Grumbachers are hard pastels. This means that the stick must be shaved to get pastel dust suitable for application. The others are all soft pastels, so I just rub my brushes over the stick to load the brush with dry pigment. The Great American Art Works and Unison sticks are the newest additions, I like them quite a bit, but they are too fat for my bins! I still might indulge in trying some more colors in these brands, but first I need to find a storage solution for them.

I am always looking for good, staple colors such as good base colors, good dark browns, yellows that make believable buckskins, you get the idea. This is why I dabble in different brands. I purchase my pastels open stock, which means by the stick. Since I order online, I don't always know what I'm getting. That would explain the range of pinks I have! I do most of my purchasing from http://www.jerrysartarama.com/. They usually have sales going on, but it is easy to load a shopping cart quickly with so many tempting pastel selections.

REDS

Dark Reds

Sennelier Brand:

046 – really red

076

075 – more burgundy

265 – red

460

Orange Reds

Derwent 64B

Sennelier Brand:

084

462

194* or

195*

434

458

Winsor Newton Brand:

Caput Mortuum Tint 5*

Burnt Sienna Tint 5*

PINKS

Sennelier Brand:

093 – dark

083 – bright

085

095 – paler

088 – really pale

GREYS

Dark Greys/Black

Black generic sticks

Sennelier Brand:

515 – dark

513

816* – shimmer

426 –dark warm grey

517 – dark warm grey

Great American Art Works Black Pearl 318

Charcoal in black*

Cool Greys

Winsor Newton Brand:

Payne’s Grey Tint 2

Payne’s Grey Tint 1

Grey tones from generic sticks set

Warm Greys

Winsor Newton Brand:

Davy’s Grey Tint 2

Sennelier Brand:

431

432

415

416

417

428

440

PEACH

Great American Art Works Brand:

Cinnamon 140.4*

Chestnut 135.4*

Sennelier Brand:

825 metallic

818 shimmer

817 shimmer

020* - base color

011* - base color

Grumbacher 4039

YELLOW/PUTTY

Unison Brand:

Grey 25

Grey 23

Grey 21 – good for buckskin

Derwent Brand:

Golden Brown 59

Brown Ochre 57

Burnt Yellow Ochre 60

Sennelier Brand:

106* - medium

613 – straw yellow

512 - dark

104 – dark

120 – dark

824 – gold metallic

819 – shimmer

820* - shimmer

BRONZE

Sennelier Brand:

107* - base color

063* or

062*

819 – bronze shimmer

Winsor Newton Brand:

Raw Umber Tint 2- use with caution, raw umber can give greenish tinge

Raw Umber Tint 3 - use with caution, raw umber can give greenish tinge

WHITE/CREAM

Sennelier Brand:

346

021

132

126

108*

440

065

821 – shimmer

801

Derwent Chinese White 72

White Charcoal

White generic from set

BROWNS

Great American Art Works Dark Brown 810.1*

Grumbacher Brand:

4051

253P

Derwent Brand:

66B

79B

54B

Sepia 53

Sennelier Brand:

001 – burgundy/purply brown

456 – dark

058*- dark

190*

192*

060

436* - dark red

003 – dark red

061

003

439* or

438*

Winsor Newton Brand:

Burnt Umber Tint 4*

Burnt Umber Tint 5*