Chalk pastels are an incredibly versatile and popular medium for professional artists, known for their ability to create rich, vibrant colours with smooth blending and expressive strokes. However, with the vast array of chalk pastel brands available on the market, selecting the right set for your artistic needs can be a daunting task. For professional artists, price, usability, and ease of use play crucial roles in the decision-making process. In this article, we will delve into these factors, helping you choose the right chalk pastels to elevate your artwork.

1. Price: Balancing Quality and Affordability

For professional artists, price is an important consideration when selecting chalk pastels, but it should not be the sole factor. High-quality pastels often come at a higher price due to their superior pigment load, smoothness, and longevity. However, it is essential to find the right balance between price and quality to ensure you’re investing in a product that delivers consistent performance.

Premium vs. Affordable Brands

While some premium chalk pastel brands may seem expensive at first glance, the higher initial cost often translates into better performance and a longer-lasting set. Premium pastels typically contain a higher concentration of pigment and fewer fillers, which results in more vibrant colours and better blending properties. This is especially important for professional artists who need reliable, high-quality pigments for their work.

However, there are still affordable options available that offer great quality for artists who are conscious of their budget. Some mid-range brands deliver excellent usability without compromising on quality.

Popular Premium Brands

1. Unison Colour: Known for its incredibly smooth texture and rich pigment load, Unison Colour pastels are made with a high concentration of pigment, making them ideal for professional artists. Their soft texture allows for easy blending, and the pastels are available in a wide range of vibrant colours. While on the expensive side, their long-lasting nature and excellent performance make them a worthwhile investment for serious artists.
2. Sennelier: Sennelier is a well-respected name in the art world, known for producing high-quality soft pastels. Their pastels are made with pure pigment and high-quality binders, giving them an intense colour payoff and smooth texture. Sennelier pastels are particularly renowned for their ability to blend effortlessly, allowing professional artists to create subtle transitions and realistic effects in their work.
3. Rembrandt: Rembrandt pastels are another popular choice among professional artists. Their soft pastels offer a wide range of colours, excellent blending capabilities, and strong colour intensity. Rembrandt is known for producing high-pigment pastels with good lightfastness, making them a great choice for artists who want their work to withstand the test of time.
   
   Affordable Mid-Range Options
4. Faber-Castell: A well-known brand in the art world, Faber-Castell offers chalk pastels that deliver high quality without the premium price tag. Their pastels are known for their smooth application and ease of blending, making them a good choice for professional artists looking for dependable performance at a more affordable price.
5. Schmincke: While still in the premium range, Schmincke offers pastel sets that balance affordability with high performance. Their pastels provide professional-grade quality with excellent lightfastness and colour payoff. Schmincke is a great choice for artists who need reliable pastels but at a slightly lower cost than some of the top-end brands.

2. Usability: Performance Features to Consider

When selecting chalk pastels for professional use, usability is one of the most critical factors to evaluate. The quality of the pastel’s performance—such as its blending capabilities, pigmentation, and how well it works with different surfaces—can significantly impact your artwork.

Soft vs. Hard Pastels

The softness of a pastel greatly affects its blending ability and texture. Professional artists often prefer soft pastels due to their high pigment content and smooth consistency. Soft pastels are excellent for blending, creating vibrant colour transitions, and layering. However, they can break more easily due to their softness, so careful handling is necessary.

Hard pastels, on the other hand, are great for fine details and precision work. They are less likely to break, and their harder consistency allows for sharper lines and better control. Some artists prefer to use both soft and hard pastels together to take advantage of their unique properties.

For professional artists, choosing between soft and hard pastels depends on the specific techniques they use. Soft pastels like Sennelier or Unison Colour are ideal for large-scale works and delicate blending, while Rembrandt or Faber-Castell hard pastels are better suited for intricate details.

Blending and Colour Intensity

For professional work, the ability to blend colours seamlessly is crucial. Soft pastels generally offer the best blending capabilities, as they spread more easily and allow for smooth transitions between hues. Pastels from brands like Unison Colour and Sennelier are particularly favoured for their rich colour payoff and exceptional blending properties.

Lightfastness is another consideration for usability. Professional artists need their work to stand the test of time, especially if they are selling their pieces or exhibiting them. Lightfast pastels will retain their colour vibrancy even after years of exposure to light, ensuring that their artwork does not fade over time. Brands such as Rembrandt and Sennelier are known for their excellent lightfastness.

Ergonomics and Comfort

As professional artists often work for extended periods of time, comfort is a crucial consideration when selecting chalk pastels. The shape of the pastel and its ergonomic design can influence how easily it can be used for both detailed work and broader strokes. Some pastels are designed to be triangular or square to provide a more comfortable grip, especially for artists working on large-scale projects.

Brands like Unison Colour and Rembrandt offer ergonomically designed pastels that are comfortable to hold for long periods, which is essential when working on detailed or large compositions.

3. Ease of Use: Working with Chalk Pastels

Ease of use refers to how smoothly the pastels apply to paper, their responsiveness to different pressures, and how easily they integrate with various surfaces. For professional artists, ease of use can make or break the quality of the artwork, so it’s important to choose a set that allows for fluid application.

Application and Layering

The ease of applying and layering pastels is essential for professional artists who work with multiple layers to build depth and texture. Soft pastels, such as Sennelier and Unison Colour, are easier to apply and layer on textured surfaces. These pastels allow for a smooth application, ensuring that colours blend naturally while building up layers without causing smudging or a muddy appearance.

Hard pastels, on the other hand, can provide more control and precision, which is particularly useful for artists who need to create sharp lines and detailed elements in their artwork. Brands like Rembrandt and Faber-Castell produce hard pastels that are ideal for fine detailing.

Surface Compatibility

The texture of the paper or surface you use will influence how chalk pastels behave. Rough, textured surfaces are perfect for creating dramatic layers and blending, while smoother surfaces may require more pressure for effective application. Premium chalk pastels, such as those from Sennelier and Unison Colour, are designed to work well with a variety of paper textures, allowing for maximum versatility in your artwork.

Cleanliness and Dust Control

Chalk pastels can create a significant amount of dust during use, which can be problematic, especially for professional artists who work in shared spaces or need to maintain a clean environment. Some brands, like Unison Colour, have been praised for producing less dust compared to other brands, which makes them more pleasant to work with over long periods.

Where to Buy Your Chalk Pastels

Once you’ve selected the right brand and type of chalk pastels for your professional needs, it’s time to purchase them. The following are excellent online art supply retailers where you can find a wide range of chalk pastels:

• Endeavours Art Supply: Located in Fredericton NB, they are a great family operated Art business. Excellent service and very knowledgeable.
  Visit Endeavours Art Supplies - Fredericton NB
  
• The Art Shack: A general art supply store in Moncton NB. Friendly staff and a broad range of art supplies.
• The Art Shack - Moncton NB

Conclusion

Selecting the right chalk pastels for professional use requires careful consideration of price, usability, and ease of use. While premium brands like Sennelier, Unison Colour, and Rembrandt offer exceptional performance and colour intensity, mid-range options like Faber-Castell and Schmincke also deliver quality without the hefty price tag. Understanding the blending capabilities, ergonomics, and overall performance of the pastels will allow you to make a decision that best suits your artistic style and needs.

By choosing the right chalk pastels, you’ll be able to create artwork with greater precision, vibrancy, and longevity.