Soft Pastels Set For Beginners
Professional recommendations from a Cheshire-based illustrator
🎨 Introduction
As a professional illustrator, I've helped many aspiring artists find their first set of pastels. This guide covers top-rated options for beginners, focusing on ease of use, value, and quality.
Each product has been selected based on detailed research - examining customer reviews, pigment quality, blendability, and overall value for money.
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⏳ In a Rush? Our Top Picks
Based on detailed research and customer feedback, here are our award winners:
🏆 Recommended Products
1. KOH-I-NOOR TOISON D'OR 8556 Artist's Extra Soft Pastels (Pack of 48) ,...
This 48-piece set offers solid mid-range value with KOH-I-NOOR's soft pastels. Designed for developing artists and serious hobbyists, it delivers vibrant, high-pigment coverage suitable for portraits, landscapes, and expressive work.
✅ Pros
- Trusted by art schools and studios
- Serious upgrade from student materials
- Creates luminous, glowing effects
- Versatile 48 colours for most subjects
❌ Cons
- Individual replacements add up
- Significant investment for beginners
- Fragile sticks break easily
👁️ Quick Review Summary
⚡ Performance
These soft pastels from KOH-I-NOOR excel in colour brilliance and blendability. The 48-piece range covers essential hues beautifully.
🎨 Design
KOH-I-NOOR's soft pastels are designed for serious artists. The classic round shape is familiar and comfortable.
🔌 Compatibility
Compatible with most pastel-friendly surfaces. The pigment adheres well to textured papers and can be built up in multiple layers. Fixative is essential for permanence.
💰 Value
Value assessment: £34.09 is fair for the quality provided.
🎯 Verdict
A solid option for artists seeking KOH-I-NOOR quality. Well-suited for developing artists. Read our full review →
2. MUNGYO MPHM-15 Gallery Artists' Handmade Soft Pastels, Set of 15, Hand...
This set offers solid mid-range value with Mungyo's soft pastels. Designed for developing artists and serious hobbyists, it delivers vibrant, high-pigment coverage suitable for portraits, landscapes, and expressive work.
✅ Pros
- Trusted by art schools and studios
- Serious upgrade from student materials
- Creates luminous, glowing effects
- Mungyo's Korean craftsmanship at accessible prices
❌ Cons
- Individual replacements add up
- Significant investment for beginners
- Fragile sticks break easily
👁️ Quick Review Summary
⚡ Performance
These soft pastels from Mungyo excel in colour brilliance and blendability. The selection covers essential hues beautifully.
🎨 Design
Mungyo's soft pastels are designed for serious artists. The classic round shape is familiar and comfortable.
🔌 Compatibility
Compatible with most pastel-friendly surfaces. The pigment adheres well to textured papers and can be built up in multiple layers. Fixative is essential for permanence.
💰 Value
Value assessment: £33.21 is fair for the quality provided.
🎯 Verdict
A solid option for artists seeking Mungyo quality. Well-suited for developing artists. Read our full review →
3. PanPastel 5 Colour Set - Greys Set
This set offers solid mid-range value with PanPastel's pastels. Designed for developing artists and serious hobbyists, it delivers versatile performance suitable for portraits, landscapes, and expressive work.
✅ Pros
- Artist-grade quality justifies the £32.92 price
- Premium PanPastel quality for dedicated artists
- Intuitive for beginners to learn
❌ Cons
- Overkill for casual sketching
- May be excessive for occasional use
- Learning curve for blending
👁️ Quick Review Summary
⚡ Performance
The PanPastel pastels deliver what artists expect: smooth application, good blendability, and colours that stay true when layered.
🎨 Design
PanPastel has created a practical set for everyday use. Build quality is appropriate for the price category.
🔌 Compatibility
Suitable for beginners' papers through to professional-grade surfaces. Blending is straightforward with these versatile pastels.
💰 Value
The £32.92 investment gets you quality materials for serious work.
🎯 Verdict
A worthy consideration for artists building their skills. Read our full review →
4. KOH-I-NOOR TOISON D'OR 8516 Artist's Soft Pastels in Cardboard Packagi...
This 48-piece set offers solid mid-range value with KOH-I-NOOR's soft pastels. Designed for developing artists and serious hobbyists, it delivers vibrant, high-pigment coverage suitable for portraits, landscapes, and expressive work.
✅ Pros
- Serious upgrade from student materials
- Comparable to more expensive brands
- Velvety texture for seamless gradients
- Thoughtfully curated 48-piece palette
❌ Cons
- Needs quality paper to show best results
- Requires proper storage to maintain quality
- Colours can muddy if overworked
👁️ Quick Review Summary
⚡ Performance
These KOH-I-NOOR soft pastels provide rich, luminous colours with excellent coverage. The soft texture creates beautiful gradients and atmospheric effects.
🎨 Design
Build quality reflects KOH-I-NOOR's attention to detail. Each stick is consistent in size and the packaging protects against damage.
🔌 Compatibility
These soft pastels excel on papers with tooth like Canson Mi-Teintes, Pastelmat, or sanded papers. Blending options include fingers, tortillons, and soft brushes. Use workable fixative between layers.
💰 Value
At £31.30, the value equation suits developing artists.
🎯 Verdict
A practical choice. KOH-I-NOOR delivers reliable performance. Read our full review →
5. Paul Rubens Soft Pastels, 48 Vibrant Colors Chalk Pastel, Fine Pigment...
This 48-piece set offers solid mid-range value with Paul Rubens's soft pastels. Designed for developing artists and serious hobbyists, it delivers vibrant, high-pigment coverage suitable for learning techniques and building skills.
✅ Pros
- Popular choice among hobbyists
- Step up from student-grade without premium cost
- Creates luminous, glowing effects
- Versatile 48 colours for most subjects
❌ Cons
- Lightfastness ratings vary by colour
- Not quite professional-grade pigments
- Fragile sticks break easily
👁️ Quick Review Summary
⚡ Performance
These soft pastels from Paul Rubens excel in colour brilliance and blendability. The 48-piece range covers essential hues beautifully.
🎨 Design
Paul Rubens's soft pastels are designed for serious artists. The classic round shape is familiar and comfortable.
🔌 Compatibility
Compatible with most pastel-friendly surfaces. The pigment adheres well to textured papers and can be built up in multiple layers. Fixative is essential for permanence.
💰 Value
Value assessment: £29.99 is fair for the quality provided.
🎯 Verdict
A solid option for artists seeking Paul Rubens quality. Well-suited for developing artists. Read our full review →
6. MONT MARTE Soft Pastels Signature 72pc, Set of 72 Assorted Coloured Pa...
This 72-piece set offers solid mid-range value with MONT MARTE's soft pastels. Designed for developing artists and serious hobbyists, it delivers vibrant, high-pigment coverage suitable for learning techniques and building skills.
✅ Pros
- Quality-to-price ratio is competitive
- Bridges the gap between student and artist grade
- Pure pigment intensity unmatched by other media
- Massive 72-colour range covers every need
❌ Cons
- Some colours less vibrant than top brands
- May outgrow this set as skills develop
- Can be messy to transport
👁️ Quick Review Summary
⚡ Performance
The MONT MARTE soft pastels offer exceptional pigment concentration with a velvety texture. Each stick delivers intense, pure colour that blends seamlessly.
🎨 Design
The stick format balances usability with material efficiency. Round pastels feel natural in the hand.
🔌 Compatibility
Soft pastels perform best on textured pastel paper, sanded surfaces, or pastel boards. They can be blended with fingers, chamois, or blending stumps. Fixative is recommended between layers and for finished work.
💰 Value
Priced at £27.95, this 72-piece MONT MARTE set offers mid-range value.
🎯 Verdict
The MONT MARTE 72-piece set meets expectations for its price category. Good for regular practice. Read our full review →
7. Inscribe Full Sized Pastels - Assorted Colours, Pack of 48
This 48-piece set offers solid mid-range value with Inscribe's pastels. Designed for developing artists and serious hobbyists, it delivers versatile performance suitable for learning techniques and building skills.
✅ Pros
- Solid mid-range value at £27.95
- Good investment for developing pastel pastel skills
- Intuitive for beginners to learn
- Practical 48-colour range
❌ Cons
- Packaging adequate but not premium
- Some premium features missing at this price
- Learning curve for blending
👁️ Quick Review Summary
⚡ Performance
The Inscribe pastels deliver what artists expect: smooth application, good blendability, and colours that stay true when layered.
🎨 Design
Inscribe has created a practical set for everyday use. Build quality is appropriate for the price category.
🔌 Compatibility
Suitable for beginners' papers through to professional-grade surfaces. Blending is straightforward with these versatile pastels.
💰 Value
The £27.95 investment gets you quality materials for serious work.
🎯 Verdict
A worthy consideration for artists building their skills. Read our full review →
8. PanPastel Colorfin Plastic Palette Tray-14-inch x 11-inch-20 Cavity
This set offers solid mid-range value with PanPastel's pastels. Designed for developing artists and serious hobbyists, it delivers versatile performance suitable for learning techniques and building skills.
✅ Pros
- Solid mid-range value at £26.72
- Good investment for developing pastel pastel skills
- Intuitive for beginners to learn
❌ Cons
- Packaging adequate but not premium
- Some premium features missing at this price
- Learning curve for blending
👁️ Quick Review Summary
⚡ Performance
The PanPastel pastels deliver what artists expect: smooth application, good blendability, and colours that stay true when layered.
🎨 Design
PanPastel has created a practical set for everyday use. Build quality is appropriate for the price category.
🔌 Compatibility
Suitable for beginners' papers through to professional-grade surfaces. Blending is straightforward with these versatile pastels.
💰 Value
The £26.72 investment gets you quality materials for serious work.
🎯 Verdict
A worthy consideration for artists building their skills. Read our full review →
📋 What to Look For
- Pigment Quality: Look for pastels with high pigment concentration for vibrant, long-lasting colours.
- Lightfastness: Check the lightfastness rating if your work will be displayed or sold.
- Colour Range: Consider sets with a good range of colours for your subject matter.
- Blendability: Soft pastels blend more easily than hard pastels. Oil pastels blend differently.
- Value for Money: Consider cost per stick and overall quality balance.
About the Reviewer
Every Big Red Illustration review is written by illustrator and agent Jamie Conner, drawing on over 30 years of combined professional experience in traditional art, digital tools, and the wider creative industry.
I'm Jamie Conner, a UK-based illustrator and illustrator agent with a background in character-focused and expressive artwork. I review digital and traditional art products, offering clear, practical insights to help artists choose tools that suit their workflow.