Production process soft Pastels

Mixing the ingredients

Using a mixer the dry raw materials are mixed with water to a semi-wet mass from which the pastels can be pressed. This mixing should be carried out with the greatest of care. If the mixing is done for too long, too short, too quickly or insufficiently, then the final colour will be different from the standard colour, or hard pieces may get into the pastel which may cause scratches in the painting. As the water absorption for each batch cannot be predicted accurately, and because the right amount of moisture is crucial, the pastel maker determines the consistency of the mass for each colour by hand. It is only after years of experience that such a skill is perfected.