Soft Pastels for Beginners: Paper, Blending and Fixing

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adminhaanz

2026-10-13

On 2026-10-13

Haanz Art GuideFree, practical advice from the team at Haanz Art & Craft Materials

Soft pastels give pure, glowing colour that blends like velvet. This guide to soft pastels for beginners explains what they are, which set and paper to choose, simple blending techniques, and how to protect finished pastel drawings from smudging.

What are soft pastels?

Soft pastels (sometimes called chalk pastels) are sticks of almost pure powdered pigment held together with a small amount of binder. Because there is so little binder, the colour is very bright and blends easily with a finger or tool. The trade-off is dust: soft pastel sits on the surface of the paper and smudges easily until it is fixed or framed.

Soft pastels vs oil pastels

Soft pastels are powdery, blend very smoothly and give a soft, matte look. They make dust and need fixative or glass framing.
Oil pastels are creamy, waxy and dust-free, with bolder, more painterly colour. See our oil pastel guide.

Soft pastel sets we stock

Soft Pastels 12 shades: a simple first set to learn blending and layering.
Soft Pastels 24 shades: more colours for landscapes, skies and portraits.
Mont Marte Soft Pastels 36 shades: a wide range of bright, rich colour.
Pastel pencils: Mont Marte Pastel Pencils 12 give pastel colour with pencil control for details. For portraits, try Mont Marte Skin Tints Pastel Pencils or KeepSmiling Skin Tints Pastel Pencils.

Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price. Browse all pastels.

The best paper for soft pastels

Soft pastel needs paper with “tooth” (texture) to grip the powder and hold several layers. The Mont Marte Pastel Pad A4 has 12 sheets of 180gsm acid-free textured paper, and Fabriano Accademia drawing paper also works well. Smooth paper fills up quickly and colour slides off. Coloured or mid-tone paper makes both light and dark colours stand out.

Soft pastel techniques for beginners

Layering: start with light pressure and build colour gradually, leaving some tooth for later layers.
Blending: blend with a finger, a tissue or blending stumps. Clean your finger or stump often so colours stay bright.
Side strokes: break a stick in half and use the long side for wide areas such as skies.
Hatching: lay lines of different colours next to each other for texture without blending.
Corrections: lift colour gently with a kneadable eraser by dabbing, not rubbing.
Highlights last: add the lightest colours at the end with firm pressure.

Fixing and protecting your work

A spray fixative such as Kuelox Fixative 180ml (also in 300ml) helps reduce smudging on pencil, charcoal and pastel drawings. Spray lightly from a distance in a well-ventilated area. Fixative can darken soft pastel colours slightly, so many artists spray between layers and add final highlights afterwards. For important pieces, frame behind glass with a mount so the glass doesn’t touch the pastel.

Keeping it clean and safe

Work with the paper upright or tilted so loose dust falls away, and tap off excess dust rather than blowing it.
Avoid breathing pastel dust: don’t blow on your drawing, and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth instead of sweeping.
Wash your hands after working, and keep sticks in their tray so colours don’t mix.

Frequently asked questions

Are soft pastels good for beginners?

Yes. They need no water, brushes or drying time, and blending is easy. Start with a 12 or 24 colour set and textured paper.

Can I mix soft pastels and oil pastels?

It’s not recommended on the same area, because oil pastel is greasy and soft pastel won’t stick well on top of it.

Do I need fixative?

It is not required, but it helps reduce smudging. Framing behind glass is the best protection for finished work.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you choose the right pastels and paper.

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