Soft Pastels
You can see/purchase pastels at Utrecht Art Supplies
Soft Pastels are pure pigment, the same pigment used in fine art paints, held together with small amounts of binder. The media does not yellow or deteriorate the way other media (with liquid binders) may. Pastels have been in use since the 16th century and paintings from that era are as fresh as when they were created.
Edgar Degas; The Singer in Green; 1884; pastel on light blue laid paper; "Edgar Degas: The Singer in Green" (61.101.7) In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/61.101.7. (December 2008)
Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917) is an artist who used pastels extensively in the 19th century. Many other artists, such as Today, there are many artist societies devoted to the art of pastels illustrating its popularity.
The pastels are scraped on a surface with tooth, or rough texture, and can be left with visible strokes or blended smooth. A fixative can be sprayed on the painting to help protect it, but a properly framed pastel painting will stay fresh without fixative.
Mary Cassatt; Mother Playing with Child; 1897; pastel on wove paper; "Mary Cassatt: Mother Playing with Child" (22.16.23) In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/22.16.23. (October 2006)
Jean Baptiste Perronneau; Olivier Journu; 1756; pastel on paper, laid on canvas; "Jean Baptiste Perronneau: Olivier Journu (1724–1764)" (2003.26) In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2003.26. (September 2010)
Some information and tutorials about soft pastels:
Pastel Society of America: About Pastels
Reeves Art: Pastels
Appalachian Pastel Society
Old Spanish Trail Studio: About Pastels
Some contemporary pastel artists: