Best Drawing Pastels of 2026

"My kids absolutely love these oil pastels. The colors are so rich and creamy, and they glide onto paper without crumbling. Blending is effortless and the pigmentation pops on both construction paper and canvas. Cleanup is no hassle at all since they're non-toxic and wash right off with soap and water. This set has everything my daughter needs for her art. I highly recommend these for any creative family!"

"I bought these for my daughter's homeschool art lessons, and she’s thrilled with them! They smear and blend just like quality pastels should, and the colors are fantastic. This set was a perfect addition to our art supplies."

"I tried this 48-piece set hoping for a good experience, and I appreciated the variety of colors, especially the extra white sticks for highlights and corrections. While they’re a bit messier and not quite as blendable as higher-end pastels, they're still lots of fun and a great value for beginners or kids. I’d suggest aprons and a handy sink for cleanup, but overall, they’re enjoyable and make a solid gift for young artists."

"At first, I was unsure about these pastels—they felt too hard and chalky, and some even broke. But after experimenting, I discovered they work beautifully when used wet, blending smoothly and producing vibrant colors. If you're struggling, don't give up—these pastels are truly versatile once you find your technique."

"I reach for these in almost every painting’s early stages. The hard texture means they last a long time, and there’s a decent variety of colors in the set. My only gripe is with the box insert, which isn’t attached and makes organization a hassle. Still, the pastels themselves are a fantastic value and blend well—I’ll definitely be buying more."

"These are ideal for underpainting and detail work—better than other brands I’ve tried, and at a much better price. I love their compatibility with both dry and wet techniques and the way you can break them into smaller pieces without losing usability. The color range, especially for skin tones, is top-notch for both beginners and experienced artists."

"As someone new to oil pastels, I found these super fun and easy to use, with a great range of colors. They were perfect for my intro art class projects and made learning enjoyable."

"I've loved these Cray-Pas since the 1950s in Tokyo, and they're still the wonderfully saturated 'crayons' I remember. I got them for my young relatives—and even kept a box for myself!"

"A friend suggested I try these Cray-Pas for my art, and I was immediately impressed by their creamy feel and bold pigments. While the starter set has enough colors for me now, I could see myself wanting even more variety as I gain experience. The only downside was that the pastels arrived loose in the box and a bit messy, but they’re still a joy to use in my sketchbook and on canvas."

"These pastels are a total bargain for their smooth, soft texture and blend beautifully. The black is perfectly opaque, and while the white isn’t super bright, it excels at blending and creating subtle gradients. For my style of art, this set earns five stars without hesitation."

"After trying brands like Sennelier and Faber Castell, I keep coming back to these pastels. They’re affordable, soft but not too soft, and the color variety is phenomenal. They rarely break, stick to the paper well, and blend easily. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, this brand truly stands out for its quality and value."

"I’m new to oil pastels and did a ton of research before buying. These pastels weren’t often mentioned but totally exceeded my expectations with their softness, easy blending, and solid performance even compared to higher-end brands. The tin box keeps them protected, and with a good color range, they’re a great investment for anyone starting out."

"I love how bright and vivid the colors are, and they're super easy to brush onto my polymer clay pieces. The pigment really makes my projects look amazingly realistic."

"The pencil-shaped design is a lifesaver for me since I'm always dropping art supplies—these are much less likely to break or get lost on my messy desk. I'm even thinking about adding a barrier to keep them extra secure."

"These pastels layer smoothly and work best on textured, sanded paper. They're a nice, compact set for travel or if you want something affordable, although I wish they were a bit bigger and softer."

"I love how smooth and vibrant these oil pastels are. They blend beautifully and offer excellent pigmentation across the entire set. As a beginner, I found the variety of colors and ease of use perfect for experimenting with different surfaces. They’re definitely a great value!"

"When I first opened the box, I was struck by a strong, crayon-like smell, but the colors are impressively bright and blend well. The pastels are very soft and oily, making them easy to apply and mix. Despite the texture being a bit slippery, I find them to be a fantastic option for the price compared to more expensive brands."

"These pastels are super creamy and soft, making layering and impasto techniques effortless. The rich pigmentation and smooth application really stand out. I would recommend them to experienced artists—just be aware that the sticks can be a bit fragile and oily, so I wouldn’t hand them to kids."

"I was genuinely impressed by the wide range of vivid colors and how well these oil pastels blend with water. For the price, the quality far exceeded my expectations. While a metal tin would be a nice touch, the cardboard box is eco-friendly, so it's not an issue for me. I would happily recommend these for art journaling and general creative projects."

"After comparing these with other brands like Mungyo, I found Mont Marte's water soluble oil pastels to be more vibrant and versatile. The color selection is fantastic, and the value is unbeatable. Using a larger palette for scribbling makes the colors even more impressive. They may not be Neocolor II's, but for a budget option, they absolutely stand out."

"As an experienced artist, I appreciate how these pastels offer a beautiful range of colors and are easy to use for both myself and my daughter, who is just starting out. They're comfortable to hold and blend smoothly, making them perfect for artists of any age or ability."

"I purchased these pastels for a community art class, and I was very pleased with the reasonable price, timely delivery, and impressive color quality. The chalk lasted longer than expected, and I appreciated the inclusion of black and white pieces—everyone enjoyed using them!"

"As a beginner, I found these pastels to be soft, easy to blend, and highly pigmented. The variety of colors is fantastic, and although they're on the shorter side, I feel it's a good trade-off for the range provided."

"These pastels are the perfect size for my child to handle. The colors are bright and smooth, and cleanup was simple since they washed out of clothes easily. I recommend grabbing an extra pack of the main colors since they do get used up quickly."