Testing the MOST EXPENSIVE PanPastel Set... waste of money? 

Hi Kirsty, I came here to comment with some tips for using Pan Pastels after watching your landscape in the first part of the video... Then I saw that you actually watched a couple of my Pan Pastel tutorials in your video (the lion and cockatoo) and yes, the vibrancy and detail issues you have are most likely your paper choice 😊 Most pastel artists who use Pan Pastels use Clairefontaine Pastelmat because it allows you to add details with pastel pencil or coloured pencil on top (as well as "gripping" onto the pigment very well which helps you to get those really vibrant colours!) Also, your little Sofft tool covers that go on the blue knives get worn away quickly if you press too hard (it's a common problem!) When you apply the pastel to the paper, you'll notice that a lot of pigment comes off with the first couple of swipes, then it stops coming off of your sponge as much... this is when you need to go back into your pan and get more pastel onto your sponge - don't try and press harder on your paper to get more pastel to come off (this literally sands away your sponges and they will get damaged very quickly) just pick up more pastel from your pan instead 😊 I also recommend using the larger sponges and squeezing them into smaller shapes wherever possible because they don't get as damaged as the small covers do It's great to see you using Pan Pastels - they really are amazing!

This pan pastel set is a dream!😍 I still only have my set of 10 from 6 years ago. The portrait at the end turned out beautiful!!

Hey Kirsty, I have a hack that I use for chalk pastels that may work for these pan ones too. Instead of using sponge applicators, I use the rubber styluses that are normally used for sculpting. They work FANTASTICALLY! Super smooth application and they don’t fall apart. You can also get super fine detail with them. It might be worth a try with these pan pastels.

You don't need all 80, just start with the set of 20 basic colors (there are only 20 basic colors), extra white and black (to make the tints, shades, and to tone, and extra blending pan). I spent about 100 US dollars and I am good for now. I might get the whole set at some point but since I am using them mainly as under painting for pastel pencils and colored pencils I didn't feel I needed all of them. I would rather have another set of Holbein and Luminance for that money, also I have not been able to find a decent budget substitute for their Sofft tools so you have to save money for them as well (you will go through them a lot, especially at first until you learn to NOT over coat the paper).

If you want to use the powders for details, cut the tip off a cotton swab that uses the rolled paper stick. You can cut a slight chisel end and it should work better than the pencils.

The sofft tool covers are very delicate but if you use them only when necessary and use the larger sponges for larger areas you will be able to find the best way to save money, also try not to press too hard with them and try to avoid rubbing them up and down, it will be easier to prevent braking them if you go in one direction repeatedly. I loved this video and am glad you got lots of pan pastels to work with 😊 I'm looking forward to the next video💞💞💞

i love that you watched tutorials. it's often very frustrating watching artists on here try new supplies and not do any research to figure out how to use them properly 😭

I loooove PanPastels! I made the same mistake with the paper in the beginning. I was so discouraged. I thought I just sucked and there was no way the paper makes that much of a difference. Then I ordered Pastelmat and my whole life changed haha!

For anyone else UK-based watching this. Head to the Dick Blick US store, where they're c£300!! Even with shipping and import duties, it's far less than buying them from Jackson's. Even better, if you have an American pal, get it shipped to them, where they can open it, remove outer packaging (important!), then send it to you with a note _"Hey you left these behind, you daft nelly!"_ . No import duties/VAT/customs delays.

This technique may already be in the comments but I have not seen it. Once you lay down the initial pastel (treat it like an underpainting), spray it with a workable fixative. then do your details on top with colored pencil or traditional pastels. The vibrance will then shine through. once the work is complete, then you will need to coat again with a non-workable fixative if you use pastel for detail to prevent color from smearing. Oh yeah, I'm not misspelling color but rather I live in the USA and that's the way it is spelled here 😀. I hope this tip helps as well for you as it does for me.

There are these pencil elongating end pieces which can be put on very short and used up pencils to give them their last life use time. You could use these stick thingies to elongate the small eyeshadow applicators to create a stick applicator yourself, for when the one in the set is used up. (sry for my rough English, it isn't my first language)

this set looks so pretty!!! cant wait to watch the rest of the video!!

I have a set of 80 that I haven't even opened yet because after spending all that money, I got very intimidated. This helps! Thanks so much!

I’m really surprised with how gorgeous that portrait came out considering it was only lightly refined with pencils 😍😍

I have had the full set for a number of years which I bought pans a few at a time initially to build the set up. I mainly use them for backgrounds and for laying my base colours down first. I have also done complete paintings in just the pans finishing with pastel pencil for details and soft pastel for final texture. Love using them also for backgrounds with pencil art. My pans still have a lot of product left and will last for quite a few years yet before replacing any. In Australia each pan now costs between $11 and $14 AUD depending on where and if on sale. Despite the cost, a pan will last a lot longer than an individual stick making them worth the purchase especially for base blocking and doing backgrounds.

Panpastel is een fantastisch medium voor achtergrond, basislagen etcetera. Ik werk zelf nooit met kleurpotloden, alleen met pastelpotloden. Om ervoor te zorgen dat je geen korrelig effect krijgt, kun je de panpastels in het pastelmat wrijven, voor een super smooth effect. Dat is wat ik mis in deze video. Als je dat doet, kan je nóg meer laagjes maken op pastelmat. Én dus super realistische tekeningen maken ✍️🙏😍

Great stuff Kirsty. My frustration with pastels is that they are really bad for detail work. Great for base layers but that's it. If you do a large works that is viewed from distance I bet they'll look amazing because of the pigments. I got OK results with pastel paper but I do need to try a toothy 'sand paper' as I've read/watched YT vids that all say it makes all the difference. You have just confirmed this too. Lovely work. Glad you're getting time balance with home/kids and YT land.

So happy you are back. You’re the reason why I started colored pencils. I know taking care of your family takes time and It’ should stay your priority. But be sure I will wait for ranch video you will make. You are an excellent teacher. Thanks for all ❤😊✍️💕

I like the big sponge sofft tool to use like a pallet to mix my colors. I have seen this at dede’s channel for the first time and it works fantastic!🤗💕

Beautiful art. Don’t forget you can cut those sponges to shape you need with just scissors.

I purchased extra replacement applicator sponges when I ordered from Amazon, they were very reasonably priced.

Too bad they don't have a CMYK basics set. It looks like you could only mix dull pinks and purples with the primaries they chose...

Try using cheap or old eye shadow for practice

Every color has the true color. If you add white to the "main true color" you can blend it to create that color's tint ! AND....if you add black to the " main true color" you will get that colors extra dark form! I just found that out!! I am still playing but I do love them and you can get a very dreamy looking atmosphere with them 😀 thank you for the video, I always am in awe of your finished pieces! Some day 😀

Hey Kirsty! So glad your coming back into drawing, I have wanted Pan Pastel and seeing tem in action makes me want them more and thank you for teaching how to use them... Love you Kirsty! Amazing drawings!🥰☺

Maybe I'm cheap, but I've literally used make-up applicators for pastels. You can pick them up from beauty supply stores for next to nothing.

I find that having the darker and lighter values of most of the colors (plus black and white) is plenty. I have probably collected half of the full colors over a couple of years and I can mix just about anything. I got lazy with some and just wound up buying the colors - (Like Payne's Grey) But they certainly do mix well. Great video. Thank you. :)

I would say that panpastels, even though they are pastels in a pan, are more like their own medium. They don't work like anything else, specially if you compare them with pastels. And they don't work well if you are heavyhanded , specially the sponges and such, they need a soft touch and more so if you use pastelmat since it is like sandpaper. But I would say that once you learn to use them, they are a delicacy

Dry pastel painting is a new experience, that was very expensive ! You can imagine what can be done with that. You can watch here on RU-vid others painters that use to paint in this material. A little bit of information about that can be find here on RU-vid. Made your own plans as artist. Portraits, still life, landscapes, so many thinks to explore !

I recently bought the 20 set n it does speed up the painting.....they're excelliant quality....😊

are people unable to mix colors or something? You really don't need that many colors.

I totally love her art and her educational expertise.

Thank you SO much. I have tried so many pastels because I've seen videos where artist use pastels under their colored pencils..... And I can't make it work with my polycromos So I've looked at the Pan Pastels but been afraid of trying them out. They are more expensive than even my Sennelier dry pastels that I bought because I was sure it was the lack of quality in the ones I already had, what made it impossible to work. So when the Sennelier didn't work I was afraid that it was the polycromos that just didn't work with pastels. period.... 😉 But seeing how it worked for you and why some of it didn't work, I surely will buy the 2 sets of Pan pastels that I had in mind before. The basic 5 set and the skintone set..... And THEN I will start the portrait of my mother as young that I haven't had the courage to start because of the uncertainty of the underlayer.... 🥰

Thanks to you Kirsty, I decided to have a look at the PanPastels and bought 3 different sets with each one containing a black and a white. Some of the colours are tint or shade. According to PanPastels they are pure colour with either a mix of black or white. So I do question if they are worth it. That causes me to question the full set being worth it. A set of pure colour might be the better way to go. I have got some stainless steel drinking straws that I can crimp the end of to grip and extend the mini applicators. I think the short size is a bit ridiculous as it encorages the hand to touch the paper.

I think the shadows on the girl's face in the last drawing came out beautifully! But it kinda looks like you forgot to color her iris? Like her eye looks like it's just in black and white still.

If I ever move over to pan pastels, I will buy the three basic and purest primary colors, plus black and white and just create my own palette from there.

You’ve inspired me to pull out my set that’s barely been used! Thank you❤

At first, I thought to myself "isn't the very definition of Pastel (dull, pastel, drab, doesn't pop)....? Pastels, by nature, are washed out colors." Pastels would be literally the opposite to use for that kind of result, wouldn't it? Perhaps mixing from other sets? True blacks/etc. But I love how you found the solution regarding paper toothing. As always, you're brilliant! I never would have thought of that!

Nice work on the face! I enjoyed seeing all the different mediums you tested out, thanks!

Thanks for Sharing, Kirsty, I recently bought some sets of panpastels at a reduced price. I mainly got them to colour clay goblins/trolls, but I do want to try maybe an animal portrait or landscape. Now an eye after seeing what you created. Those applicators are so expensive, so I have bought some make-up applicators, much cheaper. Will try them out soon. Then theres the paper pastelmat is so expensive too. Amazing artwork.

Great protrait and video! I just bought the same Pan Pastel set and I can hardly wait to start using these colors for the first time. Do I need to use a fixing spray (or something else) to avoid the colors bleeding after I'm done with a picture?

Yes, is very expensive ! I start to colect Pan Pastel too ... they are amazing !

I love your videos :) been a proud follower for ages

Is using luminance ontop of panpastels better than using pastel pencils ontop of pan pastel for detail? Just curious

I wondered for adding the fine details can you use pastel pencils.

I'm looking 1st time Thanks for Sharing so Wonderful

You can use hairspray to fix the powder before add more pastel, I did it

So glad I bought mine 7 yrs ago when the set was much, much, much cheaper about half price.

I’d be interested to see how well you can get non-grainy details using pastel pencils instead of oil or wax based pencils. May not be able to sharpen them to a very fine point, but maybe good for some of the smaller areas?

You should know how to make your own shades and tints

They look like makeup I love it 😂🥰

I was sooo impressed by the cat eye art ❤❤❤

I really recommend using pastel pencils to add detail. It produces much more unified result than using color pencils.

I don't t like that the pallet knives from the Sofft tools are plastc and not metal.

thank you for the video

This is so perfect

I never even heard of panpastels before watching this video. Pretty interesting- I won't be buying any(too expensive), but this was fun to watch.

Mam I need your help. My previous black coloured pencil is finished. I want to buy black coloured pencil. I try to buy from market but they didn't have. So please tell me from where I buy set of black coloured pencil. Mam please solve my problem. Thanku

I use the alternaTive r /option

Jason morgan is the expert with pan pastels

This was a lovely video! also, your art skills are amazing.

they look like fun but I have pastels since ages and the mess that pastels leave makes me hesistant to use pastels. It's not even the dirty hands, it's the mess and cleanup you need to do after using pastels.

It's good to have you back!

Awesome! These were in combination with colored pencils right? Its nice with pastel-pencils too

I guess this is the downside of buying stuff online. I used to work at an art supply shop and, if someone was investing that much money in a medium, I would have inquired about their intended surface because I'd want to ensure they were set up for success. Just the idea of using (layered) pastel on bristol kind of hurts in a way. Another person might have given up immediately, thinking they were just "not good at art" when really, it's an issue with the choice of surface. Some online shops do try to suggest appropriate pairings with items one has chosen. It might be a good idea to look into those suggestions to see if they have merit.

Get a pastel fixative! It's at Michael's hobby lobby, and any art store.

I honestly wish they had 1/2 sized pans, I'd be much more likely to try them. I do mixed media so I'm unlikely to ever use that much pastel

Hi so i am a also an artist just like u but im not that perfect so i just need tips or hacks that how to blend

Such a sweet British accent.. N not to forget such good explanation

В Россию нынче её не поставляют - а нам по-фиг, мы люди привычные к санкциям и умеем изобретать велосипед😆😉☝.)) Я из обычной мягкой пастели сделала аналог + насадки на ручку для рисования из Элементарного вспененного полиэтилена💥👌.) Переводите с Русского и учитесь нашей находчивости и непотопляемости - всех целую💋 !)) translated for the lazy😊: They don't supply it to Russia now - and we don't care, we are people accustomed to sanctions and know how to reinvent the wheel.)) I made an analog out of ordinary soft pastels + nozzles for a pen for drawing from Elementary foamed polyethylene.) Translate from Russian and learn our resourcefulness and unsinkability - I kiss everyone!))

i have these and it was 100% worth it. to be fair i got this same set for about £300-350 so much better value

Makeup sponges might be worth a try. Makeup brushes work with paint with no shedding also cheaper

It looks like you overloaded the paper with pan pastel before applying pencil layers so there wasnt much tooth left so the pencils didnt sit, you also mentioned the paper - pastel mat is key for vibrant pastel work. :)

best artist ever❤

Hope you wil make more human faces with this mediums, just to see all your tips and advice 😊 and…finding an alternative for these tools that break So quickly

Yup. Thanks for reminding me why I hate pastels lol

Great video sweetheart, lots of tips and good information 🥰

Hey Kirsty I'm a huge fan of your art work. I just wanted to know if these sponges fee like makeup brushes? Can we use makeup sponges instead of them?

Im not a fan of their sponges especially when using on the rough pastel mat. i find cotton buds and tissue are more effective and only use some of the larger sponges the little expensive sponges get destroyed.

Wish I had an ounce of your talent. Would so love to just be able to create something from my mind. Love your work 💕

This is a medium I’m not interested in I rather use oil pastels

The women's eye looks like she is dead. Something is missing to give the alive look. I was loving her lips but then somehow they look like she is dead too. No offence. Maybe it is just the dryness of pastels. I just can't get my eye to see moist eye or lips on this. I have a set of pan pastels as well and haven't tried them yet. A large set. I may wind up offering them for sale as a set. But the cougar eye looked alive. The pop of white pencil did it for me. I used to be a big amature true crime researcher. Maybe I have just seen too many dead women. Her skin wasn't too pale. Its just the dry eyes and mouth. The color of her eye may have prevented a pop of white to make them look wet. Im not sure. My eye and brain just can't connect it . Good job of a pretty piece of art and realistic as well. Loved your cougar !

Very nice 👍

Wonderful share

Amazing video and drawing please make more videos like this and also post every week if you can

I love watching your videos❤️😎😜

So miss sweet k if you did not need it then give it to me hahaha But seriously I actually saw pencils hacks your first video I did not know that 😅 hacks I will try

Please tell me where did you buy that gorgeous shirt that you're wearing in the video? 😍

But that are not the primary colours... Primary are cyan , magenta , yellow

Your lack of underpainting and only one layer of pastel on white paper is your problem.

Mam how can we clean those spung blanders

Considering you used really expensive pencils too even if you use less of the pencil it would still be very expensive. The results are beautiful though

Time to switch to a tablet if this is the money being spent

Amazing video 💕

Came in thinking I saw “tasting penpastel…” and I’m not happy with how long into the video I made it before realizing it was testing. I was just way into a taste test apparently 😂

It looks like you used the wrong kind of paper. The sponge is a horrible tool to spread and mix pastel, especially if you want deep, rich colors!

Thanks again

Hey sister can you use only primary colours and make a portrait.

Love my pan pastels they are just so versatile

you are pretty.