The Ultimate Pastelmat Colored Pencil Guide: Vibrant, Soft & Blendable Artistry

Artists and illustrators searching for a pastel pencil that delivers a unique, velvety texture without the drawbacks of traditional chalk pastels often encounter the Pastelmat colored pencil. This specific medium has carved a distinct niche in the drawing world, prized for its ability to create vibrant, layered, and remarkably smooth artwork on textured paper. Unlike standard wax or oil-based pencils, the Pastelmat formulation is designed to behave more like a dry pastel stick, offering a high pigment load and a matte, soft finish that is immediately recognizable.

What Defines a Pastelmat Pencil?

The core identity of a Pastelmat pencil lies in its unique composition. It combines the precision of a wood-cased pencil with the aggressive tooth and color intensity of a soft pastel. The wax content is deliberately minimized, which prevents the waxy bloom that can dull a drawing over time. Instead, the binder is engineered to grip the fibers of sanded or heavily textured paper, allowing for heavy layering and blending. This results in marks that sit on the surface of the paper rather than being pressed deeply into it, a characteristic that defines its blendability and luminous quality.

Key Advantages Over Standard Colored Pencils

While a standard colored pencil offers control and detail, a Pastelmat pencil provides an entirely different creative experience. Its primary advantage is the speed at which it covers large areas. The soft core deposits a significant amount of pigment with minimal pressure, making it ideal for blocking in backgrounds and establishing major color fields. Furthermore, the matte finish is less reflective than waxy pencils, reducing glare and allowing artists to view their work under various lighting conditions without distraction. This quality is especially beneficial for creating realistic portraits and atmospheric scenes.

Techniques and Application

Mastering a Pastelmat pencil involves adapting traditional pencil techniques to accommodate its powdery nature. Because the pigment sits on the surface, it blends beautifully with the use of fingers, tortillons, or specialized blending stumps. However, artists must be mindful of the "tooth" of the paper; as the tooth fills, the pencil becomes more slippery and harder to layer. To combat this, many users fix their work periodically with a workable fixative or simply switch to a higher grit paper to maintain the desired texture for additional layers.

Layering and Blending

The true magic of the Pastelmat system reveals itself in the layering process. Artists can start with light washes of color and gradually build up intense, saturated hues by applying multiple layers. Cross-hatching and stippling are highly effective techniques, as the textured surface grabs each new layer of pigment, increasing the color depth and richness. For seamless gradients, a light touch with a brush or a blending stump can melt the colors together, creating ethereal skies or smooth skin tones that are difficult to achieve with other media.

Ideal Surfaces and Paper Selection

Choosing the right surface is critical to success with Pastelmat pencils. While they can be used on standard drawing paper, they truly shine on heavy, toothy surfaces. Sanded pastel papers with a fine grit, such as 300 to 600 grit, are considered the gold standard. These surfaces provide the necessary texture for the pencil to grip, allowing for maximum layering potential. Interestingly, many artists also use Pastelmat pencils on watercolor paper, finding that the texture and weight of the paper complement the medium perfectly, allowing for the addition of watercolor washes to create mixed-media masterpieces.

Comparison of Suitable Papers

Practical Considerations and Care

Working with Pastelmat pencils introduces a few practical considerations that differ from other drawing tools. The powdery residue, or "dust," is a significant factor; artists will need a sturdy easel with a shelf to catch falling pigment. A quality easel with an angled surface helps prevent the artwork from smudging. Additionally, while the colors are lightfast, the finished drawing should ideally be framed behind glass to protect the delicate surface from accidental smudges and environmental dust. Fixing the final piece is also a common practice to preserve the artwork for years.

Creative Possibilities and Final Thoughts

The Pastelmat colored pencil is not merely a tool; it is an invitation to explore texture and color in a new dimension. It bridges the gap between the precision of graphite and the boldness of pastels, offering a versatile medium for artists of all levels. Whether you are creating detailed botanical illustrations, expressive portraits, or abstract compositions, the unique properties of the Pastelmat pencil can elevate your work. Its ability to produce such a wide range of effects—from sharp, defined lines to soft, atmospheric washes—makes it an invaluable addition to any serious artist's toolkit.