Can’t see me getting into oil pastels but it’s interesting to hear your take on them. I bought some Sennelier watercolours when I was in France last year (how is it “last year” already!) and there’s something about their transparency or colour that I just LOVE.
Helen, I love watching you swatch! I feel the same way about the Sennelier. Several of my 72 set are gloopy and give an uneven spread of color making them hard to work with. My Mungyo Gallery 72 set is much more consistent in texture and I reach for them more often . But the sets complement each other with their different color ranges. One has more pink/reds and the other has more blue/greens/greys. As you say, I’m going to work with what I have! I like your pastel storage. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve spilled the crayons out of the cardboard box they came in! 😊
Yes, I think the Mungyo colours are good, and also consistent. I like the Haiyas because they are as soft as the good Senneliers, consistent, and have a decent range of colours.
The transparent medium from Sennelier (a stick to be bought separately) is really helpful, including with some colored pencils and wax crayons. I have had my set for only a couple of weeks so, no definite opinion but so far, I think they work best used thinly. Waiting for an order of a few Neopastels to compare but so far, impressed with the subtlety of a number of colors in the Sennelier range. Also, so soft they might be useless outside in the summer 😅
Thanks for the tip! I think that might be some of my problem - I'm quite heavy handed, and I like applying oil pastels quite thickly! I only have one Neo pastel, but it's quite a bit firmer.
Your swatching is the most satisfying to watch on all of RU-vid I swear. I think it’s important that the best quality doesn’t equal most pleasing to use for everyone and it’s nice to hear it said.
The sennelier oil pastels are so tricky to work with. I prefer to draw with Neopastel from Carand'ache and Mungyo gallery. They are more comfortable in layering and making marks.
Yes, the Mungyo (and I just have one Neopastel) are a fair bit firmer to use. I do quite like the softness of quite a lot of the Senneliers, just not the gloopy ones, and inconsistency. This is why I like the Haiyas - they're soft like the nicest Senneliers, and very consistent across the set.
Sennelier violets are really nice...unfortunately (or fortunately perhaps), I'm relieved to find out about the loose paper wrapper problem before purchasing a couple dozen. I don't think I'd be able to withstand fiddling with the wrapper while trying to paint. I don't recall the pastels having this issue several years ago...I wonder if the sticks have shrunken since (either inadvertently or for cost-saving)?
I mean they aren't super loose - it may be me being really picky on this issue - you might not find it bothers you too much! If you love the colours, maybe just try a single one first?
Good question!! I bought them all over a very short space of time. My philosophy tends to be: buy what is generally regarded as 'the best' then you know that if things aren't working out, it's probably your technique at fault and not the materials. This is about the only material where I've done that and not fallen in love with it. I'll persevere!
Thanks Helen. I started with Caran d'ache and Sennelier - then progressed to the Mungyo and Rubens ones. Hard, squidgy, good and soft. I was sure the quality would shine out of the these - it did not. Some are just so ropey, it has put me too off using them. I love the caran d'ache, but they can be tough for arthritic joints to blend. Anyway, I think pro artist or not, if you pay for top quality that is what we should receive. :)
I only have one single Caran D'Ache one, and found it to be reasonably similar to the Mungyos, which I like, but both are that bit firmer. The Haiyas tick most the boxes for me, even if their blends are not quite as clean looking as the Senneliers.
You have inspired me. I am not one for swatching but find that I need to do so with my oil pastels. You mention a blending sponge from Faber-Castell ... I have listened to this phrase several times and cannot make out where the sponge came from. Could you help me with that? Thank you
It's the firmer of two sponges which come in Faber-Castell Gelatos sets. Unfortunately I can't find them available separately, but they are the perfect density of foam.
Hello, I am so glad to have just discovered your channel. I am a landscape artist in the PNW. Also, always on the hunt for beautiful greens, looking forward to seeing more experiments and sketches with the mediums you have. Thank you.
So simple yet so satisfying, love these videos! And you bring up a good point, especially with oil pastels, you get a second chance to feel the texture and how the media works. The colors are beautiful even if the textures are unsatisfying. Keep up the great work!
Thankyou Helen - love your methodical way of swatching/recording your materials - actually inspired me to start to trawl through my supplies and do the same - just the process is a really pleasing experience - getting more acquainted with each pigment/texture. How do you prevent your oil pastel swatch cards from smudging and messing up the inside of your case? Oil pastels are a bit of a mystery to me really - not quite sure how to use them/incorporate them into my work 🤔
I realised I forgot to put this on the video, so added it to the description box - I covered the cards in clear sticky-backed plastic! I've done a few videos now, where I've used them in mixed media pieces, if you're interested.
I haven’t used pastels in years but hoping to give them a try again sometime. I’ve seen several videos recommending the Unison pastels. Was wondering what sort of paper cutter you were using. I’ve got a fairly inexpensive one and it never seems to cut straight so am looking to upgrade but don’t want to spend too, too much and would like one that doesn’t take up a great deal of space esp. when stored. The one in you used in the video appeared fairly compact and seemed to cut accurately. Thanks. I really enjoy your videos.
I recently got my first set of Unison Soft Pastels, and they seem gorgeous! These Senneliers are oil pastels though - a very different medium altogether. I have the XCut Precision Guillotine. It's still quite bulky to store though.
Thank you for your honest thoughts - I don’t think I’ll bother rushing to get the sennelier oil pastels now, although I might try the Paul Rubén’s ones. 🙏💜
You can get a bit more of a clean, rich blend with the Sennelier colours - they seems to have a superior binder, but I don't do the kind of pictures where that makes all that much difference. I'd recommend the Paul Rubens Haiyas rather than their older ones.
I agree on the inconsistency between colours. It's disappointing to grab a colour and find out it's blotchy. Also, I did my own lightfast testing and found out more inconsistencies on the ratings 😢 Some colours are awesome though, but it's a shame that you can't know until you buy them and try them yourself.
Oh, that's interesting about the lightfastness too! If you get chance would you mind telling me which ones you've found to be less lightfast than rated?
@@helencryer I could see some fading on the coral and charcoal, and severe fading on one of the violets (can't remember which one it was, but I think it was parma violet), all of them rated as 3* (even after just 2 months). It was only a 4 month test so maybe more colours could fade if exposed for longer. I tested other brands and mediums at the same time and found some inconsistencies on Faber-castell (albrecht durer wc markers), W&N (gouache) and Carbothello products, so unfortunetly it's not only Sennelier. I'll do the test again soon. The whole reason I stopped so early is that there was a heavy storm and the pages got soaked in water 😅
