It’s hard to believe, but when pastels were first manufactured in the 16th century, they were available in just a few basic colors. Over the centuries, of course, as the popularity of the medium grew, so too did the pastelist’s color options. Today, the legendary vibrancy of pastels can be enjoyed in countless hues ranging from alizarin crimson to phthalo green. In the hands of a fine artist, these sticks of pure, light-reflecting pigment can make a variety of subjects sing. In the following section, we present a diverse sampling of pastel artists who portray landscapes, florals, portraits, animals, and much more.
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