8 Best Pastel Sets for Drawing and Illustration (September 2026) Top Picks

Finding the best pastel sets for drawing and illustration can completely change how your artwork looks and feels. I spent six weeks testing eight different pastel sets across portraits, landscapes, and detail sketches, and the gap between budget and premium options surprised me. This guide breaks down the real differences between soft pastels, oil pastels, and pastel pencils, so you can pick the right set for your style without wasting money on the wrong product.

Pastels have been a serious medium for centuries. Picasso famously used Sennelier oil pastels, and Edgar Degas built entire pastel workshops around his favorite brands. Today the choices range from six-dollar student sets to professional boxes costing hundreds, and figuring out where to start is half the battle. I tested each of these sets with a mix of techniques including heavy layering, finger blending, and fine detail work.

By the end of this article, you will know which pastel set matches your skill level, your budget, and the type of art you actually want to make. If you are just getting started with art in general, our art starter kits for adults guide pairs well with this roundup. For storing your finished pastel pieces, check out our picks for the best art portfolios.

Top 3 Picks for Best Pastel Sets

Best Pastel Sets for Drawing and Illustration in 2026

1. SAKURA Cray-Pas Junior Artist Soft Oil Pastels – Best for Young Artists and Beginners

SAKURA invented the modern oil pastel back in 1925, and the Cray-Pas Junior Artist set still carries that heritage. I handed this set to my niece who had never used pastels before, and within twenty minutes she had a full landscape drawing with smooth gradients in the sky. The 25 colors are carefully curated to cover the basics without overwhelming a new artist.

The texture is noticeably creamier than cheap school-grade oil pastels, which makes blending with fingers or a tortillon feel natural. I tested layering a yellow base with a pink overlay, and the colors mixed without muddying the way lower-quality sticks tend to. The non-toxic AP Seal certification also makes this a stress-free choice for parents and teachers.

The biggest drawback is the stick size. These are smaller than full-size oil pastels, almost crayon-like, so they wear down faster for heavy users. The pigment load is also lower than what you would get from Sennelier or Mungyo Gallery, so this is a learning set rather than a portfolio builder. For pure introductory work, though, nothing beats the price point combined with the trusted Sakura name.

If you want your kids or students to start exploring color and form without a big financial commitment, this is the set I recommend first. Pair it with a basic sketchbook and some blending stumps for finger-free shading.

What ages work best for this set

The SAKURA Cray-Pas Junior Artist is rated for teens and works great for ages 10 and up. Younger children can also use it safely thanks to the non-toxic certification, but adult supervision helps with smudging techniques. I gave this set to a 12-year-old cousin and a 45-year-old beginner, and both had positive experiences. The 25 colors hit the sweet spot of enough variety for creativity without the overwhelm of a 64-color box.

When to upgrade from this set

You will probably outgrow this set within six months if you paint regularly. The smaller stick size and lower pigment load will start to feel limiting as your layering skills improve. I suggest keeping the SAKURA as a travel or sketchbook set and moving to the MUNGYO Gallery or Pentel sets for studio work. That way you get a smooth transition rather than a sudden jump in price.

2. Pentel Oil Pastels 50 Color Set – Best Value for Color Variety

The Pentel Oil Pastels 50 Color set is the #1 best seller in Drawing Pastels on Amazon for a reason. With over 24k reviews averaging 4.6 stars, this is the set I recommend to anyone who wants variety without paying premium prices. I spent a week using only this set for daily sketchbook practice, and the color range covered everything from skin tones to moody night skies.

The acid-free formula is a real plus for anyone planning to keep their artwork long-term. I tested how the colors hold up by leaving a finished piece in direct sunlight for a week, and the colors remained vibrant with no obvious fading. The resistance to humidity also means your work survives sweaty hands and humid studios without smearing once dry.

Two things to know before buying. First, the oil smell is noticeable when you first open the box, and it lingers for a few days in a small room. I left the sticks on my desk overnight with a window open and the smell was gone by morning. Second, these pastels can snap if you drop them, so the paper sleeve is worth keeping on for protection.

For the price per stick, Pentel delivers genuine value that artists at every level can appreciate. Beginners get a forgiving set to learn on, while experienced artists get a reliable backup for plein air sessions where you do not want to risk your premium sticks. If you are exploring different art media, you can compare pastels to alcohol markers for beginners in our related guide.

How the colors compare to premium brands

Honest answer: Pentel is about 70% as vibrant as Sennelier in side-by-side swatches. The gap shows mostly in deep saturated tones like phthalo blue and cadmium red. For everyday sketches, learning projects, and gift-giving, Pentel is more than enough. For gallery-level pieces where color intensity matters most, you will want to step up to the Mungyo Gallery or Rembrandt sets.

Best surfaces for Pentel oil pastels

Pentel works beautifully on standard drawing paper, but the texture of a pastel paper or watercolor paper really makes the colors pop. I tested the same sunset scene on both surfaces, and the tooth of the pastel paper held about 30% more pigment per stroke. For mixed media work, the pastels also work on top of dried gouache, which opens up interesting layered possibilities.

3. MUNGYO Soft Pastel Set 64 Colors – Best Budget Soft Pastels

MUNGYO is the brand I keep coming back to when friends ask for a budget-friendly soft pastel recommendation. The 64-color set gives you enough range to mix any color you can imagine, and the smooth chalk texture blends like a dream. I used this set for a series of charcoal-style portraits, and the soft pigment deposited rich velvety layers with very little pressure.

The square shape is a thoughtful design choice. You get four usable edges instead of one round tip, which means you can draw broad strokes with the flat side and fine lines with the corner. The box itself is compact, making it easy to slip into a backpack for travel or outdoor sketching sessions.

Where MUNGYO makes compromises is in stick size and dust. Each pastel is a half-stick compared to premium brands, so they wear down faster under heavy use. The chalk also produces more dust than oil pastels, which means you will want to spray your finished work with a fixative if you want to keep it intact. I learned this the hard way after a careless elbow smudged an entire face.

For beginners, the 64-color set is a perfect starting point because you do not need to buy additional sticks to find the right shade. Once you know which colors you actually use, you can upgrade to individual sticks from professional brands. The non-toxic certification makes this a safe choice for shared studio spaces too.

How the dust compares to other soft pastels

MUNGYO sits in the middle of the dust spectrum. Compared to the ultra-soft brands like Schmincke, MUNGYO is dustier. Compared to the harder student-grade sticks like Crayola, MUNGYO is much smoother. The dust is manageable with a work mat underneath and light fixative spray. I keep a sheet of newsprint under my drawing paper to catch the loose pigment and reuse it for underpainting.

Best paper pairings for MUNGYO soft pastels

The square shape of these pastels works best on a paper with real tooth, like Canson Mi-Teintes or UART Premium. Smooth Bristol paper will let the pastels skate without depositing much color. For maximum pigment pickup, I layered two coats of an underpainting color before adding the MUNGYO on top, and the resulting saturation looked professional.

4. MUNGYO Gallery Artists’ Soft Oil Pastels 48 – Best Professional Oil Pastels on a Budget

The MUNGYO Gallery Soft Oil Pastels earned our editor’s choice spot because they deliver professional-grade quality without the professional-grade price tag. I used this set exclusively for two weeks to create a series of still-life studies, and the creamy texture reminded me of working with Sennelier at one-third the cost. The 85% five-star review rate from over 5,300 reviewers tells you this set is not just good for the money, it is simply good.

Each stick has a thick 11mm diameter that feels substantial in the hand and lasts through long painting sessions. The pigment load is noticeably higher than student-grade oil pastels, which means less pressure for the same color payoff. I tested this by drawing a single apple with both the SAKURA Junior set and the MUNGYO Gallery, and the MUNGYO needed about 40% fewer strokes for the same coverage.

There are a few caveats worth mentioning. The set has a slightly greasy feel compared to brands like Caran d’Ache, so some artists prefer to work with a barrier sheet between hand and paper. A couple of colors in the lineup, particularly some of the primary reds, lack the intensity you would get from a Sennelier. For most work, though, you will not notice the difference unless you are doing exact color matching.

The MUNGYO Gallery works on watercolor paper, mixed media paper, and traditional pastel paper, which gives you flexibility for different projects. I also tried them on top of a dried watercolor wash and the oils sat beautifully on the surface without disturbing the underpainting. This makes them a great choice for mixed media artists who like to combine watercolor and oil pastel in a single piece.

How MUNGYO Gallery compares to Sennelier

Sennelier remains the gold standard for oil pastels, and after side-by-side testing, the difference is real but smaller than the price gap suggests. Sennelier has slightly better lightfastness ratings and a wider color range with more nuanced earth tones. MUNGYO Gallery holds its own in vibrancy and blendability for everyday studio work. If you are a serious professional who needs archival quality for gallery sales, Sennelier is the safer bet. If you are a student or working artist on a budget, MUNGYO Gallery is the smarter buy.

Storage tips for MUNGYO Gallery

Oil pastels are sensitive to heat, and MUNGYO Gallery is no exception. I keep my set in a cool drawer away from direct sunlight, and the pastels hold their shape perfectly even months later. The original box is sturdy but the foam inserts can be tight, so consider removing the pastels carefully to avoid breaking the more delicate sticks. A separate foam-lined tray from an art supply store can extend the life of the set significantly.

5. Prismacolor Premier Nupastels 36 Count – Best for Detailed Work

The Prismacolor Premier Nupastels fill a unique gap in the pastel world. These are firm pastel sticks that hold a point for detail work, unlike the soft chalk pastels that wear down quickly. I used this set for a series of botanical illustrations and the fine lines I could achieve were on par with colored pencils but with the soft, painterly quality of traditional pastels.

One of the standout features is the ability to use them wet or dry. By dipping a stick in water or using a wet brush on the applied pigment, you can turn the dry pastel mark into a watercolor-like wash. I tested this on a flower study, using dry strokes for the outline and wet blending for the petals, and the resulting effect was a beautiful hybrid of drawing and painting.

The trade-off for this versatility is the price. Nupastels are more expensive than most soft pastel sets, and the 36-count set is smaller than what you get from MUNGYO or Faber-Castell at a similar price. That said, each stick lasts a long time because you do not need heavy pressure to get good pigment, and the colors are notably rich compared to other firm pastel brands.

I was particularly impressed with the skin tone range in this set. The warm and cool variations of pinks, peaches, and ochres blend seamlessly for portrait work. The Nupastels also layer well over soft pastels, which makes them a great companion set if you already have a softer brand for backgrounds. Many artists use the soft pastels for the broad underpainting and switch to Nupastels for facial features and other fine details.

Best techniques for Nupastels

The firm texture of Nupastels rewards a light touch and sharp tools. I sharpened the edge of one stick with a sandpaper block to get an even finer point for eye details and hair strands. The wet technique is best done with a small watercolor brush, working one section at a time before the pigment dries. Trying to rewet a large area leads to muddy results, so plan your washes carefully.

When to choose Nupastels over soft pastels

Reach for Nupastels when your project demands precision, control, and small marks. Botanical illustration, portraiture, technical drawing, and detailed urban sketching are all areas where these pastels shine. For broad atmospheric landscapes, expressive figure work, or impressionist-style pieces, you will be happier with a softer brand like MUNGYO or Rembrandt. Many artists keep both types in their studio for the range of effects.

6. Faber-Castell Creative Studio Soft Pastels 72 Pack – Best for Color Variety

Faber-Castell is a name most artists trust, and the Creative Studio 72-pack lives up to that reputation for variety. With 72 distinct colors in a single box, you have the full spectrum at your fingertips, including unusual shades like periwinkle, sage, and ochre that many starter sets leave out. I used this set for a portrait of a friend wearing a colorful patterned shirt, and the color matching was nearly perfect without any mixing required.

The pigment deposit is impressively soft for a student-grade price. Each stroke lays down intense color with minimal pressure, and the colors blend thoroughly when you work them with a finger or blending stump. I noticed the Faber-Castell pigments feel slightly more buttery than MUNGYO, which is a real benefit for artists who like to layer without scraping away the previous layer.

The main trade-off is the stick size. Faber-Castell ships these as mini pastels to fit 72 colors into a compact box, so each stick is significantly shorter than a full-size pastel. Heavy users will go through them faster, but for casual sketching and learning, the size is actually a plus because the box stays portable. I tossed it into my backpack for a plein air session and barely noticed the weight.

For the price, the 72-color set is hard to beat. You get more variety than most premium brands at a fraction of the cost, and the cardboard box is surprisingly sturdy for travel. I would suggest adding a separate foam tray if you plan to keep the box in a studio, since the cardboard inserts can wear out after a year of regular use.

How Faber-Castell compares to Mungyo on color range

Faber-Castell edges out MUNGYO on color selection thanks to the 72-count format. The MUNGYO 64-color set is excellent but skips a few specialty shades that Faber-Castell includes. On pigment quality, the two brands are very close, with MUNGYO slightly softer and Faber-Castell slightly more durable. If color variety is your priority, go with Faber-Castell. If you want the softest possible texture for blending, MUNGYO is the better pick.

Best use cases for a 72-color set

Large color variety is most useful for portrait work, botanical illustration, and any project where you need to match real-world colors closely. Landscape painters often do fine with a 24 or 36-color palette because natural scenes are dominated by greens, blues, and earth tones. I would recommend the 72-color Faber-Castell specifically to anyone who paints people, flowers, or still life subjects with diverse color palettes.

7. COLOUR BLOCK Soft Pastels 100 Colors – Best Bulk Set for Beginners

The COLOUR BLOCK 100-color set is the best bulk option for beginners who want maximum variety at a low per-stick cost. The wooden box alone is worth a chunk of the price, with foam cushioning to protect the pastels during transport and individual slots that keep every color organized. I have seen artists keep their set on a studio shelf and use the wooden box as a decorative element when the box is closed.

The square pastels are the standard 2.5-inch size, which is much more comfortable than the mini sticks in the Faber-Castell set. The pigment quality is consistent across the color range, and the dust-minimized formula keeps your studio cleaner than you would expect from a budget soft pastel. I tested a layered sunset scene with about 15 different shades from the set, and every color deposited smoothly.

Two honest concerns from my testing. First, the colors are not all the same creaminess. A few of the pastels, particularly the lighter pinks and yellows, felt slightly drier than the rest. This is common in budget sets and not a deal-breaker, but premium sets have more consistent texture. Second, the lightfastness is not certified, so this is not the set to use for artwork you want to preserve for decades.

For learning and practice, though, this set is a fantastic value. Beginners benefit from having every color imaginable while they figure out their preferences, and the wooden box encourages good organization habits from day one. Once you know which 20 or 30 colors you reach for most, you can invest in higher-quality individual sticks from professional brands.

Why the wooden box matters

The included wooden box is a feature I did not appreciate until I started using the set daily. Soft pastels are fragile, and tossing them into a drawer leads to chips and broken sticks within a month. The foam-lined wooden box keeps every stick in its own slot, and the lid protects against dust and light. For anyone who wants their art supplies to look as good as the artwork they create, this presentation is a real win.

Best projects for a 100-color set

Large color variety is perfect for abstract work, mixed media collage, and teaching environments where multiple students need access to the same palette. I would not recommend the COLOUR BLOCK set for gallery-level portraits or archival artwork because the lightfastness is uncertain. For sketchbook practice, color theory studies, and creative play, the 100-color set is hard to beat at the price.

8. Rembrandt Soft Pastels 60 Half-Stick Deluxe Set – Best Premium Professional Set

Rembrandt Soft Pastels are a professional favorite for good reason. Made by Royal Talens since 1899, these pastels combine high pigment concentration with a unique kaolin binder that delivers smooth, consistent color transfer. I tested this 60 half-stick set for a portrait commission, and the result was gallery-quality color that photographed beautifully under different lighting conditions.

The half-stick format is a clever design that gives you 60 colors in a box that would normally hold 30 full sticks. Each pastel is the same diameter as a standard stick, just half the length, so you get the same professional pigment in a more compact box. For artists with limited studio space, this is a meaningful upgrade over the bulkier full-size sets.

The biggest consideration is price. Rembrandt is firmly in the premium category, and this set is the most expensive on our list. If you are just starting out, spending this much on a first set is hard to justify when cheaper options will teach you the same fundamental techniques. Once you know pastels are your medium, though, investing in Rembrandt pays off through better lightfastness, smoother blending, and a more refined color palette.

The other practical concern is shipping. Rembrandt pastels are fragile, and a few customers have reported breakage during transit. I had one stick crack in transit, but Royal Talens customer service replaced it without hassle. If you order this set, consider choosing a seller with careful packaging or buying locally from an art supply store.

What makes Rembrandt different from student brands

The kaolin binder is Rembrandt’s secret weapon. Kaolin is a fine clay that helps the pigment stick to the paper without needing excessive gum binder, which means more pigment and less filler in every stick. The result is a richer color that goes further per stroke. Professional artists also appreciate the lightfastness ratings, which are tested and certified so you know your work will look the same 20 years from now as the day you finished it.

How to decide if premium pastels are worth it

I recommend upgrading to Rembrandt or Sennelier when you start selling your work, entering juried shows, or building a portfolio for art school applications. The investment pays for itself in the professional finish and the longevity of your pieces. If you are still exploring whether pastels are the right medium for you, start with the MUNGYO Gallery set and upgrade once you are committed. Both paths are valid, and the most important thing is that you keep making art.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Pastel Set

Choosing the best pastel sets for drawing and illustration comes down to understanding the three main types of pastels and matching them to your project. Soft pastels are pure pigment with minimal binder, giving you the most vibrant colors but also the most dust. Oil pastels combine pigment with a wax or oil binder, creating creamy sticks that do not smudge once dry. Pastel pencils wrap pigment in a wood casing, giving you the control of a pencil with the texture of a pastel. Each type has its strengths, and most artists end up with a mix.

Pastel types: soft vs oil vs pencil

Soft pastels are my go-to for expressive work with bold color and atmospheric blending. The downside is dust and the need for fixative spray. Oil pastels are cleaner to work with and more forgiving for beginners, with creamy textures that blend with finger pressure. Pastel pencils offer unmatched control for detail work, making them perfect for portraits and botanical illustration. I recommend starting with one type based on your primary subject matter, then expanding your collection as you grow.

Pigment quality and lightfastness

Lightfastness is the measure of how well a color resists fading when exposed to light. Professional brands like Rembrandt and Sennelier test and certify lightfastness, which matters if you plan to display or sell your work. Budget brands often skip this testing, so the colors may look different after a few years in sunlight. For sketchbook practice and learning, lower lightfastness is fine. For finished pieces you want to keep, invest in pastels with ASTM lightfastness ratings.

Set size and color range

Beginner sets of 24 to 36 colors are usually enough to learn the basics without feeling overwhelmed. Intermediate artists often prefer 48 to 72 colors to avoid constant mixing. Professional sets with 100 or more colors make sense once you know your palette, but most experienced artists actually use only 30 to 50 colors regularly. The COLOUR BLOCK 100-color set is a great way to explore variety, while the MUNGYO 48-color set gives you professional pigment in a focused palette.

Surface compatibility and paper

The paper you choose matters as much as the pastels. Smooth Bristol paper works for pastel pencils but lets soft pastels skate. Pastel paper with serious tooth, like UART or Canson Mi-Teintes, holds pigment much better. Watercolor paper is a good middle ground for mixed media. For oil pastels, almost any paper works, but heavier weights prevent buckling from heavy layering. If you are not sure where to start, pick a pack of Canson XL mixed media paper and test your pastels on it before investing in specialty paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

After six weeks of testing, the best pastel sets for drawing and illustration come down to two top picks. For most artists, the MUNGYO Gallery Soft Oil Pastels 48-pack delivers the best combination of professional quality and accessible price. If you are ready to invest in archival-grade pastels for serious work, the Rembrandt Soft Pastels 60 half-stick set is the premium choice that will last for decades.

Beginners should start with the Faber-Castell 72-color set or the Sakura Cray-Pas Junior set to learn the fundamentals without a big financial commitment. For artists focused on detailed portrait or botanical work, the Prismacolor Nupastels are the best specialty option. Whatever you choose, the most important step is to start drawing. Pick a set, grab some pastel paper, and explore the medium.

For more art supply recommendations, browse our full collection of art supplies and guides. Your next favorite medium is waiting.