Our Handcrafted Soft Pastel Creation Process
Artisanal craftsmanship lies at the very heart of La Pastellerie—a delicate art in which raw materials are shaped and transformed to reveal their full beauty.
Every handcrafted soft pastel is made by hand in France using carefully selected artist pigments, chosen for their purity, quality and lightfastness. Within this sensory world, La Pastellerie’s expertise reveals the full richness of the material through deep colours and subtle nuances. Our artist-quality soft pastels embody an authentic approach in which colour, light and texture come together in the service of artistic expression.
What Is the Artisanal Soft Pastel-Making Process?
Artisanal soft pastel making is a manual process in which skilled craftsmanship replaces industrial machinery to ensure exceptional quality.
Each soft pastel is made from artist pigments, a binder and water, carefully combined and transformed according to a precise and demanding process. Every stage contributes to the creation of unique artist-quality pastels, with each handcrafted stick revealing the richness of the pigments and an exceptional intensity of colour.
The Stages of Our Artisanal Pastel-Making Process
The artisanal pastel-making process begins with the precise weighing of artist pigments selected for their exceptional quality.
Each pigment is carefully measured to obtain exactly the right quantity, ensuring complete control over every shade and level of colour intensity.
The artist pigments are gently mixed with water, then slowly ground until they form a perfectly smooth and homogeneous paste with a soft, silky texture.
At this stage, every movement is precise and almost silent, carefully refining the material to give the finished soft pastel its delicate texture.
The mixture is then carefully pressed by hand to remove excess water and achieve the ideal consistency.
This controlled process determines the structure and durability of the soft pastel by creating the perfect balance between density and cohesion.
The pastel-making process continues with the delicate art of rolling.
The paste is carefully divided into evenly sized portions, then shaped by hand to create each individual soft pastel stick.
Through this precise and consistent movement, the material is aligned and balanced, producing beautifully regular pastels with a harmonious finish.
The final stage consists of a slow drying period lasting approximately one month.
This essential resting time allows any remaining moisture to evaporate and the pigments to stabilise, ensuring excellent adhesion and lasting quality.
Once fully dried, the pastels are ready to accompany artists in the creation of exceptional works of art.
“Every pastel begins with a precise gesture, carefully selected materials and a profound love of colour.”
La Pastellerie’s Handcrafted Soft Pastels
La Pastellerie opens the door to an artistic world where French craftsmanship becomes a true expression of refinement and authenticity. Through this delicate alchemy, exceptionally fine artist-quality pastels come to life, with every handcrafted stick embodying outstanding quality. Driven by an uncompromising commitment to excellence, each soft pastel is shaped entirely by hand and reflects exceptional artisanal expertise. Carefully selected artist pigments are transformed into unique palettes filled with vibrant colours and subtle nuances. Discover our soft pastel sets, available in collections of 3, 6, 8 or 32 colours, and enter a world where colour becomes creation.
