Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels: A Deep Dive into Their Qualities
An Introduction to the Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels
Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels, sometimes labelled as Hashi, are a popular choice among artists looking for a balance between quality and affordability. Produced by Mungyo, a South Korean company based in Gimhae-si, these oil pastels have carved out a niche in the art supply world, appealing to beginners, students, and professionals alike. This article dives into their origins, features, performance, and quirks, offering a straightforward look at what makes them tick—warts and all—so you can decide if they’re right for your creative needs.
The History of the Mungyo Company
Mungyo, a Korean manufacturer with a history of producing art supplies, is behind the Gallery Oil Pastel line. Exported to over 50 countries, these pastels are often sold under different names like Hashi, likely due to regional distributors or marketing choices. The naming can be confusing—Hashi might appear on Amazon listings, alongside Mungyo packaging and Gallery. Regardless, they’re the same product: vibrant, non-toxic oil pastels made in Korea, designed for a range of artistic applications.
Who are they for?
Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels are a great fit for artists who want vibrant, blendable pastels without breaking the bank. They’re ideal for students, hobbyists, and professionals on a budget who value versatility and don’t need guaranteed lightfastness. If you’re creating art for sale or long-term display, the lack of lightfastness data might give you pause, and you may want to explore brands like Caran d’Ache. But for sketching, experimenting, or teaching, these pastels deliver solid performance at a fraction of the cost of premium brands.
Key Characteristics
Quality: Student |
Colours: 120 |
Hard or soft: Medium-soft |
Lightfast rating: None |
Costs: ££ - £££ |
Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels are known for their medium-soft, creamy texture, which sits between the buttery softness of high-end brands like Sennelier and the firmer, less blendable student-grade options like Sakura Cray-Pas. Available in sets from 12 to 120 colours, they come in standard, metallic, and fluorescent shades, offering a wide palette for experimentation.
Here’s a breakdown of their key traits:
- Colour and Pigmentation: The pastels deliver vivid, opaque colours thanks to high-quality pigments with minimal binders. They’re great for bold strokes or subtle gradients, though some artists note that certain shades (like darker blues) can feel less consistent in application.
- Texture and Blending: Their smooth, slightly oily consistency makes blending easy, whether with fingers, blending stumps, or solvents like mineral spirits. They’re versatile enough for techniques like layering, scraping, or impasto, but they can leave a sticky residue that requires thorough hand-washing.
- Surface Compatibility: They work well on paper, canvas, wood, or even cloth, with textured surfaces like watercolour paper providing good grip and smooth mixed media paper enhancing blendability.
- Safety: Non-toxic and AP-certified, they’re safe for artists of all ages, including kids.
- Packaging: Sets come in cardboard boxes or, for the 72 and 120-colour sets, a wooden case. Foam or plastic trays keep the sticks secure, and larger sets include a swatch card for colour planning.
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Strengths:
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Limitations:
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Performance and Applications of Gallery Oil Pastels
Performance and Value of Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels
Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels are widely appreciated for their balance between affordability and quality. With a 48-colour set average price at £27.00 on Amazon, they offer an accessible option for artists seeking rich pigmentation and smooth application without the premium price tag of high-end brands. Reviews frequently highlight their soft texture and effortless blending, making them a solid choice for both beginners and experienced artists looking for an adaptable pastel range.
Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels are widely appreciated for their balance between affordability and quality. With a 48-colour set average price at £27.00 on Amazon, they offer an accessible option for artists seeking rich pigmentation and smooth application without the premium price tag of high-end brands. Reviews frequently highlight their soft texture and effortless blending, making them a solid choice for both beginners and experienced artists looking for an adaptable pastel range.
A look at four oil pastel brands—(Left to Right-Top to Bottom) Sennelier, Caran d'Ache Neopastels, Haiya and Mungyo Gallery
How do Mungyo Gallery compare to other Oil Pastel brands?
Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels hold their own against competitors, but they’re not perfect for every artist:
- Sennelier: Softer and more luxurious, Sennelier pastels are a professional favorite but cost significantly more. Mungyo is a budget-friendly alternative with slightly less softness but comparable vibrancy.
- Caran d’Ache Neopastels: These offer similar quality with potentially better lightfastness, but they’re pricier. Mungyo is a solid middle ground for those not ready to splurge.
- Paul Rubens Haiya: Some artists find Mungyo’s consistency and pigmentation superior, with Paul Rubens feeling less reliable across colors.
- Sakura Cray-Pas: Mungyo outperforms Sakura’s student-grade Expressionist line in softness and pigment strength, making it a better pick for serious hobbyists.
Opacity Test on Black Paper: Mungyo's Strengths
To test opaqueness on black paper, four student-grade oil pastel brands—Mungyo Gallery, Haiya, Pentel Arts, and Giotto Olio Maxi—were compared. The results highlighted Mungyo Gallery’s superior coverage, particularly in yellow-based colours, where other brands struggled with transparency:
- Mungyo Gallery – The most opaque, holding up extremely well for its price.
- Paul Rubens Haiya – Less consistent across colours but still performed better than Pentel and Giotto.
- Pentel Arts – Noticeably transparent, especially in lighter shades like yellows.
- Giotto Olio Maxi – The least opaque, performing poorly in comparison to the others.
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Production and Availability Considerations
Unlike some competitors, Mungyo does not offer individual oil pastel sticks for purchase, limiting artists’ ability to replace frequently used colours. Their pastels are generally sold in pre-packaged sets, meaning essential shades like black and white cannot be replaced separately unless a full set is repurchased. There is some indication that Mungyo may offer select colours in multipacks, as a box of six white pastels appears in an official product image on their website. However, despite this visual reference, these multipacks are not widely available for purchase, and it remains unclear whether other shades—such as black or primary colours—are offered in similar formats. Attempts to locate these sets through retailers have proven difficult, suggesting that availability may be either restricted or inconsistent.
We reached out to Mungyo via Instagram on 14th May 2025 regarding this issue and are currently waiting for a response. Any updates will be added here as soon as they become available.
We reached out to Mungyo via Instagram on 14th May 2025 regarding this issue and are currently waiting for a response. Any updates will be added here as soon as they become available.
Lightfast Qualities and Colour Chart
Mungyo does not provide official lightfastness ratings for its Gallery Oil Pastels, and no mention of permanence appears on its packaging or website. This suggests that longevity is not a primary focus for this range, likely in favour of keeping costs accessible for students and hobbyists who may prioritise vibrant application over archival durability. While some artists may prefer pastels with confirmed lightfastness for professional or long-term work, Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels still offer rich pigmentation and smooth blending, making them well-suited for studies, sketchbook work, and short-term projects. Additionally, pieces created with oil pastels can be protected using several methods, including:
While archival longevity may not be guaranteed, artists can still take steps to ensure their work remains well-preserved under controlled conditions.
- UV-Resistant Fixative Sprays – Helps seal the pastels and reduce smudging while also providing a layer of protection against fading.
- Glass Framing – Using UV-protective glass prevents light exposure, helping maintain vibrancy over time.
- Proper Storage – Keeping artworks away from humidity and direct sunlight reduces potential pigment deterioration.
While archival longevity may not be guaranteed, artists can still take steps to ensure their work remains well-preserved under controlled conditions.
Conclusions
Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels offer an impressive balance of affordability, vibrancy, and usability, making them a solid choice for artists seeking a budget-friendly yet high-performing pastel option. Their smooth application and strong pigmentation allow for expressive work, while their versatility makes them suitable for studies, sketchbook use, and creative exploration. Whilst, certain limitations—such as the lack of official lightfastness ratings and absence of open-stock availability—mean they may not be the best fit for artists focused on long-term archival work or those needing selective colour replacements, they hold their own against competitors within the student and mid-tier market.
With careful handling and protective measures—such as fixatives, proper storage, and UV-protective framing—works created with these pastels can still maintain their vibrancy over time.
Ultimately, Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels deliver excellent value for their price, catering to those who prioritise quality without the premium cost. For artists who appreciate rich colours and smooth blending but aren’t necessarily concerned with archival longevity, they remain a practical and accessible choice.
With careful handling and protective measures—such as fixatives, proper storage, and UV-protective framing—works created with these pastels can still maintain their vibrancy over time.
Ultimately, Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels deliver excellent value for their price, catering to those who prioritise quality without the premium cost. For artists who appreciate rich colours and smooth blending but aren’t necessarily concerned with archival longevity, they remain a practical and accessible choice.
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WE CANNOT CONFIRM IF THIS PRODUCT IS VEGAN-FRIENDLY
Generally, some oil pastels may include animal-derived binders or waxes, such as beeswax or tallow-based compounds, though many modern formulations use synthetic alternatives. Without direct confirmation from Mungyo, it’s unclear whether their pastels fall into either category. We have contacted Mungyo via their Instagram account, if we get a reply, we will update this information |
