Van Gogh Soft Pastel Starter Set | 12 Colors: The Perfect Entry into Soft Pastels
The Van Gogh Soft Pastel Starter Set of 12 is a curated gateway for artists exploring the luminous world of dry media. These "student-artist" quality sticks strike a professional balance between high pigment concentration and affordability. Crafted from a premium blend of pure pigments and kaolin clay, these slim, round sticks offer a buttery color transfer and a distinctive velvety finish. This compact set provides the essential primary and secondary colors needed to master basic blending and tonal techniques.
Key Features and Design Benefits
- High-Quality Pigment Load: Delivers brilliant, intense colors that stand out on various substrates, from traditional paper to unconventional surfaces.
- Buttery & Reliable Texture: The kaolin clay formulation ensures a smooth laydown and easy blending while being engineered to resist crumbling during use.
- Eco-Safe & Heavy Metal-Free: Formulated without lead, cadmium, or cobalt, ensuring a safer experience for artists working in home or studio environments.
- Archival Performance: Lightfastness ratings range from "good" to "excellent," meaning your art is protected from fading for 25 to 100+ years under museum conditions.
- Dual-Action Shape: The slim, round profile is versatile; use the ends for sharp details or the flat side for rapid, broad area coverage.
Included Color Selection
- 12 Essential Foundation Colors: White (100.5), Deep Yellow (202.5), Lemon Yellow (205.5), Yellow Ochre (227.5), Madder Deep (331.3), Permanent Red (372.5), Burnt Umber (409.5), Ultramarine Deep (506.5), Red Violet (545.5), Phthalo Blue (570.7), Permanent Green Deep (619.5), and Black (700.5).
Application and Usage Guidelines
- The Importance of Tooth: To hold the dry pigment particles effectively, always work on a surface with texture (tooth), such as Van Gogh Pastel Paper, cardboard, or even wood.
- Blending and Mixing: Because these pastels are soft and high-transfer, you can easily mix new shades directly on the paper using your fingers, a blending stump, or a soft brush.
- Layering Strategy: Start with your darker shapes and build lighter colors on top. The White (100.5) is particularly effective for adding final highlights over dried layers.
- Preservation Tip: Soft pastel artwork is delicate and remains "active" on the surface. To prevent smudging and ensure your work lasts, apply a professional pastel fixative in light, even coats once completed.
- Versatile Grounds: Beyond paper, these pastels can be used for outdoor art on asphalt or stone, though they remain non-permanent without a sealant.
Technical Specifications
- Product Identification: Van Gogh Soft Pastel Starter Set
- Quantity: 12 Slim Round Sticks
- Material: Pure Pigment + Kaolin Clay (No Heavy Metals)
- Lightfastness: 25 to 100+ Years (Museum Quality)
- Format: Soft Dry Pastel
- Recommended For: Beginners, students, and artists seeking a portable sketch set
