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Sharon Knettell · 11-23-2004, 08:50 PM

Laura,

You are really brave and must have a lot of time. Not that I want to discourage you, but the people I have sold my pastels to really don't care if I make my pastels myself. I think that the picture is the thing that should sell itself, regardless of whether or not the pastels are handmade.

If there are some colors that elude you, perhaps. There are so many wonderful pastels that have been manufactured in the last few years, I have most of the sets. In relative order of my preference, Great American, Unison, Schminke, Girault, Mt. Vision, Sennelier, Rembrandt and Nupastel. Your preference would of course of depend on the consistency you prefer in pastels.

The Great Americans have some really nice skin-tone sequences.

Another area you have to be aware of is the light fastness of each pigment you use. The manufacturers all use pigments from the same sources- Sinopia and Kremer-Pigmente are two that I am familiar with. There are new tests in progress going on under the auspices of the ASTM. Unisons have come through with flying colors and the president of Great Americans assured me his did not flunk either. His word. I am not certain.

If you think you can improve on these or better yet, save money, go for it! I got my Unisons before the dollar descended.

11-23-2004, 08:50 PM	#2
Sharon Knettell Approved Member Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,730	Making your own pastels Laura, You are really brave and must have a lot of time. Not that I want to discourage you, but the people I have sold my pastels to really don't care if I make my pastels myself. I think that the picture is the thing that should sell itself, regardless of whether or not the pastels are handmade. If there are some colors that elude you, perhaps. There are so many wonderful pastels that have been manufactured in the last few years, I have most of the sets. In relative order of my preference, Great American, Unison, Schminke, Girault, Mt. Vision, Sennelier, Rembrandt and Nupastel. Your preference would of course of depend on the consistency you prefer in pastels. The Great Americans have some really nice skin-tone sequences. Another area you have to be aware of is the light fastness of each pigment you use. The manufacturers all use pigments from the same sources- Sinopia and Kremer-Pigmente are two that I am familiar with. There are new tests in progress going on under the auspices of the ASTM. Unisons have come through with flying colors and the president of Great Americans assured me his did not flunk either. His word. I am not certain. If you think you can improve on these or better yet, save money, go for it! I got my Unisons before the dollar descended.