Pastel is unique in the sense that it is both a drawing and a painting medium. It tends to be associated with drawing because the colours are not applied with a brush, but the medium's malleability and richness of colour invite a painterly approach. Many of today's artists exploit this effect in pastel to produce works which at first sight look almost like oil paintings!

For this reason, it is a wonderful introductory medium to introduce to your students before they move to more advanced mediums such as watercolours and oils.

On a purely practical level, pastels are convenient and simple to use. You don't need much in terms of other equipment such as brushes, knives and mixing medium, and no preparation of the painting surface is necessary. In fact, someone drawing in pastel may even be suspected to be driven by the same impulse demonstrated by children when they pick up a piece of chalk to draw on a wall or pavement!

So let your students experience the beauty of pastels today!

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