Pastel sticks or crayons consist of powdered pigment combined with a binder. The exact composition and characteristics of an individual pastel stick depend on the type of pastel and the type and amount of binder

Pastels can be used to produce a permanent painting if the artist meets appropriate archival considerations. This means:
• Only pastels with lightfast pigments are used. As it is not protected by a binder the pigment in pastels is

Pastels are a dry medium and produce a great deal of dust, which can cause respiratory irritation. More seriously, pastels use the same pigments as artists' paints, many of which are

In order to create hard and soft pastels, pigments are ground into a paste with water and a gum binder and then rolled, pressed or extruded into

Pastel supports need to provide a "tooth" for the pastel to adhere and hold the pigment in place. Supports include:
• laid paper (e.g. Ingres, Canson Mi Teintes)
• abrasive

Pastel techniques can be challenging since the medium is mixed and blended directly on the working surface, and unlike paint, colors cannot be

The manufacture of pastels originated in the 15th century. The pastel medium was mentioned by Leonardo da Vinci, who learned of it from the French artist Jean Perréal after