Pastelmat for paper, M&R sharpener, pan pastels for largest areas, pencils for finer details, colored pencils on top for finishing and super fine detail, fixative before colored pencils. Love the piece, I’d love to see more!

I love that you’re like “I’m not wasting any of this pencil” and even using the broken bits. I’ve taken you’re advice over the last few months and pushed myself out of my comfort zone to try new things and I’ve absolutely loved it. Thank you for your videos because I’ve learned to be less afraid of perfection, more accepting of my humanity (it’s not going to be perfect because I’m not a machine in a factory) I’m glad I have too because I’ve had others appreciate my efforts and growth as an artist. Keep it up!!

I love your remark that the only wasted art supplies are the ones left unused. This resonated deeply. And ‘Not Nemo’ is gorgeous. 😀

It took 17 hours to finish this masterpiece!Man talk about dedication

Hi Sarah! If you haven’t seen Jason Morgan on KZfaq, check him out, amazing pastel work! And he has videos with great tips for sharpening, using pan pastels for the backgrounds so you don’t use up your pencils as quickly and so many more! I am new to the medium as well and can’t wait to dive in. I loved how your project came out! Great video!

i find that the "these are expensive, i cant waste them!" mindset really hinders improvement. theres so many things that you need to pay attention to when picking up a new medium - how much of your supplies youre using up should not be one of those things! You might want to pick up some Carbothellos, they're a bit harder and a loooot cheaper. :) Oh and Pastelmat is a must with anything pastel. (And colored pencils as well)

I found that instead of sharpening in a sharpener, scrubbing one side of the pastel on a piece of sandpaper worked better for me. It gave me a flat side for filling in larger areas and a point for doing details. Don't be afraid to work one area and put down some workable fixative before moving on. Such pretty colors

Mahl stick and an easel working top to bottom makes sure the dust falls away from the finished art and you don't smudge. :)

I always like to work mixed media. You can use the pastels with colored pencils but the pastel uses up more tooth more quickly than the pencils, so you can’t go as detailed. If you think of it as a 3 step process, you could use Pan pastels for the background so you don’t waste it, then pastel pencils for medium detail, and colored pencils for sharp detail (probably with some pressure and hardly any blending, if any). It’s like putting down a marker or watercolor for your color blocking and then using colored pencil for texture and fine detail. And definitely get some really toothy paper.

Same here. Unfortunately I spent a fortune on PanPastels, the Stabilo CarbOthello's (chalk pastels) that I swatched on the first paper I bought (Strathmore Pastel paper). I had a blast just swatching the pencils and my two fingers were raw from using them to blend but I found that to be the most enjoyable and successful way for me, I actually loved it. I also bought a small box of Faber-Castell soft pastel sticks. Those haven't even been opened. Come to learn after watching not doing which I have become a pro at (need to work on that!) The Strathmore paper is garbage (although I had fun using it to swatch my pencils I used Krylon Workable Fixatif when I was done and put my swatching into the box promptly forgetting the entire experience! (I have issues with my memory thanks to chronic illness, the reason I started learning art in the first place). I even said out loud "I don't even think I've opened this tin and seen these yet" and ta da! My swatches look beautiful (imo) for my total beginner stage. I have been way too scared to try the PanPastels yet. I did wind up learning that Clairefontaine Pastelmat is the best paper made for pastels that apparently offers a very enjoyable experience. So....two packs (for the different colors) and about $90 more out of pocket, I turned thus video on prepared to give it all a try, so I thought...sitting on my off white carpet to spread out and promptly put it all away for yet....another day. I will have to clear off my kitchen table when I'm feeling up to it. I'm even afraid to use a reference before I know how to work this medium. Just like Sarah, I haven't been confident when it comes to paints either. However gouache was nice when I swatched mine so that's where I plan to start again. I gave up too fast when trying acrylics and watercolors. The paintbrush is so foreign to me. All in all pastels have proven to be by far the most expensive and most likely the most challenging medium in my art bucket list. I definitely need to keep reminding myself that unused supplies are wasted supplies and I would hate to flush the thousands I have spent this year on art supplies down the toilet and let all or any of this go to waste. That was the key statement that stuck with me and I think I will make a pretty little sign with that message written on it to put where I see it every day or....I'll forget. If you read all of this, you're a trooper. Happy arting to everyone and to let of the newbie pastel people out there....good luck. 18 hours for Sarah to make a beautiful piece as she's used to her colored pencils....well that freaks me out. I lose interest easily when a piece of art I start runs long and start doubting myself a lot. I need to stop watching and start doing. That's my biggest challenge. Without the help of these videos though, I wouldn't be so far along and probably would have given up. They've taught me so much and I never would have known of all the amazing mediums and supplies that make this so much fun, and it really is. ❤

About the paper it really depends on the artist and on effect you want in the end of you art piece, me myself, I don’t like that scratchy look that the mi teints canson gives out, I like a sharp and crispy with no blanks spots, so I use clairefontaine’s Pastelmat (which is not a cheap paper, but is incredible to work with), it’s more like a really fine sand paper, so you don’t need to put to much strength to lend the pigment. As for backgrounds and major parts of the drawing/painting I use a combination of soft pastels and Pan pastel to do the underpainting, for the first layer, then I do a second layer with a little bit more of details but still thinking as a underpainting using a little bit of pastel pencils, and then I finish with the pastel pencils doing the major details like fur, sparkles in the eyes and so on. I use a combo of Stabilo CarbOthelo, Caran D’Ache and Faber Pitt pastel pencils, depending on my subject of matter I use a color from one set, or from another set and so… To blend I use the sofft knives that come with the Pan Pastels or my fingers (this last one when I want just to smudge a little bit, but really softly…)

I really appreciated your honesty as you learned to work with these. Your hubby is awesome for gifting you this amazing present!! Kudos to Caran d'Ache for making it right for you. you should definitely check the other pencils in the top layer though.

I love that you are not afraid to show us your learning process and also your difficulties.

You need a mahlstick, it helps keep your hand above the space naturally especially with chronic illness. It’s not just for painting also try fixative spray for pastels and colour pencil for this.

Your piece is gorgeous and your brave spirit astounding. I’m new to this thing called art and wondered what pastels even were. Thanks for your hard work, frame it and display it. Well done!

That’s absolutely lovely Sarah and it proves that it’s good to try new things whether that be mediums or techniques. Thanks for the inspiration.

I've only just come across your channel so I'm going on a binge but you said something in this video that really hit me - about the only wasted art supplies being the ones that remain unopened and unused - For some reason art and craft supplies feel a bit precious to me so I buy things and then because I lack the skill, I don't use them as I don't want them to be 'wasted'. Thank you for reminding us that learning is not a waste, I actually really needed to hear that! Thank you so much 🙌

Beautiful work! I agree about the wasting supplies. I hear/read it all the time. I love that you just jump in there and try something out. its the perfect way to learn. Make sure you spray your beautiful work with a fixative so it doesnt smear.

Turned out amazing Sarah!! I have a VERY small set and I had the SAME issues with breakage and sharpening. I have nothing to offer for a solution 😆 thank you for experimenting before us! Thank you for all you and Shane do!

Thank you for this. I love that you are so willing to take risks and try new things. It helps encourage me to do the same. Even if/when I make a mistake, that's ok. What isn't is just like you said, leaving unused supplies. That would be a waste. As a perfectionist and so OCD, I love that I can come to your channel and watch you try new things. It is so helpful in getting over that fear that I won't do it just "right." You can't learn without making a few mistakes. And your finished piece was so beautiful! I also love your positive spirit through it all! Thanks again.

Yay!! Been thinking about this video all day!

I'm in awe of how beautiful this is. The kind of art this beginner dreams of making!

Thanks for this most interesting and also fun video. Your process was wonderful and I’m happy that customer service was so great too. Along with the idea of using pan pastels for the background, Caran D’Ache makes pastel cubes too that match the colors of the pencils precisely. The pastel cubes would work really well for backgrounds too.

So amazing! Your first go to pastels and you created a masterpiece!

Hi Sarah, I have been watching you for some time; and frankly, it doesn't matter what all you do: we just love watching the experiences you share. So please do more of all of it: more new mediums, more topics on markers, pencils, and product comparisons...all of it! :)

Im excited and i know this will be challenging im gonna buy Pastel pencils soon, after having fun and exploring with color pencils ....im watching all artists like you here on YT just to prepare myself youre work is great 👍

You are truly talented, this is amazing, and with a new medium you hadn't touched before, well done. Ive been so thick, all this talk of pastel pencils, I thought it was just pastel colours, and I couldn't understand the hype. Watching this I now realise it's actual pastels within a pencil shape. I get it now. Don't think I'll be trying, but this was great to watch 🙂💕🦋

What a lovely gift! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I like using mixed media do this is a product I am eager to try. Thanks again!

Howdy and happy day!! I’ve been toying with the idea of buying a hand bridge for my graphite drawings, bc wax paper or tracing paper is helpful but still smudges me and my study. Great job with the pastels and I appreciate the upload, thanks for sharing!! (I would totally buy that shirt!! “Used art supplies are better than a blank canvas” )

Beautiful! I like pastels more in theory than in practice, but I enjoy watching others using them. I think I like the videos where you use colour pencils more, but occasionally this sort of experiment is fun.

Your artwork came out Amazingly Beautiful 💖Sarah!! I love how you take your try & fail with such positivity✨ which is Truly helpful in my thinking when I am coloring & keep learning and having fun. I have to say pastel pencil pencils have been a mystery to me on how to use them. In many tutorials, I have seen people use them for drawing. So glad you made this video, gave a lot more information on these type of pencils.😊🎨

Thanks Sarah - fun and informative as usual. What a lovely piece, I hope you put it on the wall behind you so we can see it on all your videos.😀💜

I love this work! Please do another.

Try to use pan pastels for backgrounds and sometimes detailing too while using these, it helps and the tools are great

Beautiful as always !❤

THANK YOU 🙏 I needed the speech on using your supplies and not letting them sit. I’m so bad at buying things but not using them because I don’t want to ruin them. I find myself giving things away before I even try to use it. I don’t know what mental rationing this is. I do it with everything

This is beautiful and it was the first time ever using them i wish things came so easily to me ...thanks for the video❤❤❤

Wow!! You did an amazing job on your "Lemo" fish!😉 Thanks for another amazing video! I'm addicted to your channel! And I'm learning so much watching you as I colour! Thank you!!🙏💖

When I sharpen pastel or charcoal pencils I use a simple potato peeler. I peel the wood away and I have an easier time adjusting my sensitivity with the peeler. It's not for everyone, but it really works for me.

Gorgeous artwork Sarah Renae! 👏With those kinds of gifts I want to adopt Shane.😃 I use a Derwent pastel sharpener and found it worked well. I didn’t purchase Caran D’ache pastels as they are so expensive although I love their other pencils but I wanted to try colouring full drawings using pastel pencils rather than my PanPastels so I decided on KOO-HI-NOOR 24 and Stabilo Carbothello 60 when I wanted more colours . I had a problem with only one pencil breaking once I started using my Derwent sharpener rather than my other sharpeners. I enjoy the fact I can finish a piece in a short time but to be honest I much prefer pencils and other art supplies. Great video🙏💖🌹

Wow! Sarah, your drawing turned out really beautiful! I'm pretty sure that these pastels are not for me. I can imagine how messy I would be using these pencils. ✏ No need for me to buy a medium that I couldn't master. I'll just stick to regular colored pencils. Thanks for sharing your experience with us, Sarah! You rock!

ive just been watching ur videos for about two hours now. they are really satisfying lol

You are INSANE! To take this project and go until the end... also the bravest. But seriously: a sharpener that I love to these specific pencils is the really cheap sharpener for pastels from Derwent. Work as a charm for me, but we know its always kind of personal. Thank you and xoxo from Brazil

It turned out great! I have used a lot of pastel pencils but I never had breakage like that Before however I have never used that particular brand. Your paper makes a huge difference in the texture of your finished piece and how many layers you can do. I did a side by side comparison of pastel papers on my channel to show how type of paper and it’s texture makes a big in the finished project. I bet you would like something like a sanded paper (pastel mat and Uart make great paper). Also using a toned paper or doing an under painting can make a big difference in a project like this when there is so much of one color being used.

These are my favorite Pastels. It’s so funny, I don’t want to use them because I don’t want to get the box messy haha! But I do use them occasionally. Great video! Thank you for sharing!

This is beautyfull! I've come over from Jazza's channel and I have to say I enjoy watching your videos as much as his. Good job!

Loved watching your process of learning a new medium! When you talked about covering the white texture of the paper I know a lot of artist use watercolor as a underlayer with pastels on top. Great job!

I’m fascinated by ur art❤ so pretty! It’s my favourite channel from now on ❤❤❤❤ I do doodles, then embroider it. Got amazing idea from ur work

Looks sooo good. I’d be framing it as well. Well done x

So happy Caren d'ache addressed the issue, glad I started with a lower cost brand. I would be in tears with that much breakage! Beautiful work...

Yes! Please frame it. :) You would get to enjoy it so much. Thank you for being our test subject. Another great video.

Sarah you are truly talented, I love watching you. Very artistic and funny. Stunning art work 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👍🏾🥰

I hope you’ll post more as you progress in your journey with pastel pencils. I have the Carbothello but haven’t used them much to be honest as I don’t really understand pastel techniques yet.

I feel your pain with the breakages and the sound! I bought a set of pastels direct from the pencil factory when I visited the UK years ago. (20 years?) I had only used them a few times because they are so frustrating. The emotional torture of pencils breaking is heartbreaking! I never drop my pencils and have always kept them in the tin. Anyway, I think you have inspired me to get them out and try again. Thank you for the amazing amount of editing and fun bits you have included to reduce this video to a manageable time!

it's stunning sarah!! can't believe it's you're first time!!

Maybe at this time someone already told you, but a slightly humid towel will help you A LOT to keep your hands clean. I love pastels! Your set is soooo beautiful!

Well I had been thinking of buying these pencils but thankfully I watched this video, I will stick to the old system , thank you for sharing 🤗

Pastelmat Paper is the best surface to use. You would like that paper for your colored pencils as well. Pastlemat takes many layers. You don't have to press hard, and that helps with the longevity of your pencil points. You are using not only one of the most expensive pastel pencils but one of the softest, they require a softer touch. All the best for your next pastel adventure! Enjoyed watching your new experience with my favorite medium.

It came out so beautiful

I love these kind of video and I love watching your videos

LOVE it 😍, it’s awesome!

You did an absolutely AMAZING job!!!

Great job, I would highly recommend getting a can of Krylon Fixitif spray. I use it on all my projects even pencil and gel pens ( especially glitter ones) 👍❤ good to see you successfully go out of your comfort zone a little.

It looks so realistic!

Beautiful work. I am so impressed. I have soft pastels, not in pencil form, and would not even think to take on something like what you did. You are a very creative woman. Thank you for this fantastic video.

I’ve only been colouring for about 10 months,so still pretty new, I bought some pastel, pencils and love them them ,they haven’t broken,but,like you I got very messy! I did find I needed to use the paper stump a lot. The first thing i coloured was a pre printed canvas,I’m really pleased with it. My pencils are by KOH-I-NOR and cost around £30 from Create and craft tv here in England. Good luck with your pastel pencil drawing!🌺

I loved what you said about the unused art supplies and canvases. It really helped me, and I know it helped so many others❤️. The sea scene was so cute !I have loved Nemo since I was 1 years old! I named my first stuffed animal (it was a clown fish), Memo😆. You did a fantastic job!

I love the ARTWORK!!!!!

That is an awesome piece!

I used to work with pastel before when I was a kid, it really sticks to your hand.

So beautiful I loved it 😍

I would love to see you do a piece using the pan pastels for the background (using a masking sheet for the focal), the pastel pencils for the focal point, and then regular pencils for the fine details. You can use workable fixative on each layer once you're satisfied with the color blending. You can color right over the top of it. It's how I prevent my regular No2 pencil drawings from going sideways and have since high school. PS. I only recently discovered you thanks to Jazza and I've really been enjoying watching you while I knit.

I have just gotten in to pastels. I ordered panpastels. I watched one great pastel artist that uses clairefountaine pastelmat paper pads. You are brave and did a great job! Thamks!

Gorgeous piece.

Pastel pencils are normally for fine details on top of your base colors that are laid down with pan pastel or block pastel; that’s probably why they kept breaking. Another note: you’ll almost always see paper texture on pastel drawings unless you heavy layer and seal between layers with a fixatif (and even then)

Nicely done. You have a talent for encouragement.

Wow! So realistic!

Your end result is stunning!

It's looks amazing!

Hello Sara A few handy tips when using pastels (pencils/sticks). (1). Your hands contain natural oils, so don’t touch the work surface. (2). Work vertically so that loose pigment doesn’t build up, let it fall away. (3). Get a small mahlstick to rest your hand on, rather than using the paper or a cover sheet. (4). Try starting with a base layer of Pan Pastels, they are just so useful and give a great starting point, like a watercolour under-wash. (5). A box of wet wipes on your desk will help with the mess. (6). A helical sharpener will help with broken pencil cores. Pastel pencils are so delicate - even more so than colored pencils. Avoid using hand held straight blade sharpeners for any pencils. My personal choice is the M + R Helical Sharpener, it gives great control over the sharpening process and allows adjustment of the point length. Hope these tips work for you.

Oh, this is outstanding!!!!

It looks great!!

Your experience in colored pencils shined through!

Wauw looks absolutely stunning. Despite the pencils breaking alot well done.

Your artwork turned out so beautiful, Sarah!

Personally, I use just pastels. I find that I’m able to get incredible details with them. It’s like with any medium - you just need practice to get the technique and process down 😁 this is a fantastic beginner try!

That was amazing! Thank you!

Love your encouragement of saying that wasted supplies are ones left unopened

Beautiful job...well done!

Love the Pastel Pencils 😊

Really liked the video. The pastel pencils I have in a set with hard pastels as well. Mostly I use the pencils for the fine details. Anyway, thanks for sharing...

Great video!!!!!!! I would love to see you work with watercolors!!! I love them and I think seeing your point of view and how you use them would be beneficial to me. Thank you for the great soft pastel work!

It looks great 💜

never used pastels before. I am tempted but will work with my pencils a bit longer. I will try but not yet. Love your videos.

For dust free(ish) use pastelmat, it allows for layering and fine detail. I also recommend you try LuxArchival paper which is a sanded paper though it will be dustier than pastelmat I think it produces richer color and more layering. Both are good for colored pencils aswell. PanPastel to cover base layers fast. With these papers you don't have to press hard at all so breakage shoudln't be a problem. The Canson paper is not great in my experience, especially if you want something smooth. I'd be very excited to see what techniques you develop with these papers.

Magic Erasers will clean your desk up 👍🏻👍🏻

Hi Sarah!! I just wanted to say that your drawing turned out awesome 👌😍😍. I have also been thinking to try pastel pencils so I started watching a KZfaq artist called kirsty Rebecca. She basically said that crairefontaine pastelmat paper works so much better than other papers labeled as pastel paper. However it is extremely expensive so I will probably stick to colored pencils and graphite.

I use pastel pencils, although sparingly with alcohol markers, their opacity covers some sins, and evens some unsuccessful blends. I can use them to lighten areas that went a bit more dark than hoped and they they can create some nice soft highlights.

Wow. Wow. Caran D’Ache. Wow. Just wow. What a gift.

Wow!! I love the outcome!! I wish I could draw too... :) I did not know that Caran d'Ache have pastel pencils too but of course!!! It seems quite excellent that goes with the brand... I use Faber castell and Derwent pitt pastel but I bought some soft pastel too lately, because, I do not know but I feel like "THIS is my medium" and I'd love to learn to use them better and better and finally "dare to draw"!! (I never learned art) I only do coloring books atm. They look incredible, these pencils, not so vivid despite beautiful. I have not mixed them yet with oil or wax pencils, and I have bought no sets but I have single ca. 80 pcs together and I have not finished yet 😄 (pcs stands not for pieces but for pencils for me now :D) I love your videos Sarah you always give some inspiration and ideas, info on different topics which I thank you! Greetings from Budapest, Hungary :) :)