Q: I am just starting to learn how to draw and paint, and I
have a limited budget to spend on art materials. Which pastel set would
you recommend?
A: Sennlier produces top-of-the-line pastels, and
many artists save them for the top layer of their artwork. You may want
to start off with hard pastels and pastel pencils because they are less
expensive. The Cretacolor brand offers rich, vibrant colors. I would
also suggest using toned paper because pastels will look more
interesting on a middle-value pastel paper.
--by Camille LaPointe-Lyons