PITT Pastel Pencils | The Perfect Companion for the Pastel Artist

Pitt artists’ pastel pencils are an oil-free medium that can be used alone or with pastel sticks. They are compact, cost-effective, and highly pigmented, making them ideal for drawing and blending subtle colour transitions. The range is focused on subtle shades and earth tones that are perfect for pastel drawing and complement the Polychromos artists' pastel crayons.

• High-quality acid-free pigments in bright colours, unsurpassed lightfastness
• Vibrant colour laydown
• Perfect for smudging
• Thick 4.3 mm lead
• Suitable for use with fixatives

This article explores the various techniques that can be used to elevate your pastel artwork using pastel pencils, particularly if you have predominantly worked with pastel sticks. Drawing on the expertise of other pastel artists, we will provide invaluable insights and offer guidance on how to sharpen pastel pencils correctly and safeguard your artwork throughout the creative process and beyond.

Characteristics

Hard or Soft:  Hard

Lightfast:  Star/Blue Wool

Costs: RRP £2.20

Colours available: 60

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ADVANTAGES
* Excellent light resistance and vibrancy of colour
* Grease and oil free
* Ideal for fine and elaborate details
* Non Toxic and safe
* PITT pastel pencils are vegan and the wood originates from sustainable sources.
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DISADVANTAGES
* No colour name printed on the barrel, only number and lightfast rating
* Small selection of certain colours red, grey and orange
* More earthy tones, less vibrant ones.
* Pastel pencils can be more susceptible to damage when using a pencil sharpener

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A short video from Faber Castell's YouTube channel showcasing the PITT pastel pencils by artist Don Colley.​

The PITT pastel pencils are a high-quality, lightfast brand created by Faber Castell. Founded in 1761, Faber Castell is a renowned German company that produces premium drawing materials, including the highly regarded PITT pastel pencils. The company has garnered a strong reputation in the industry. It is trusted by artists worldwide for its exceptional products, including the popular Polychromos coloured pencils, Castell 9000 Graphite pencils, and Albrecht Dürer watercolour pencils.

They are an excellent choice for soft pastel artists, allowing for intricate details that enable you to create a more lifelike appearance. Furthermore, blending these pencils is a breeze, whether done by hand or with a blender tool, and they produce less dust than stick pastels, making them a more convenient option for those concerned about workspace cleanliness. Each pencil displays a colour code and star rating system on the barrel. Out of 60 colours, 36 of them have a 3-star rating which indicates that they have a lightfastness of over 100 years. Another ten colours have a 2-star rating, indicating a lightfastness of at least 25 to 100 years while 14 colours have a 1-star rating, denoting a lightfastness of up to 25 years.

Artwork by John Graham - Completed on Clairfontaine Pastelmat paper

​Design and Sustainability

​​Pastel pencils are largely machine-made and the manufacturing process mainly involves the use of specialized machines that carefully blend different materials such as pigment, filler, and binder. These materials are blended to form the 'lead,' which is then encased in a wooden barrel. ​To ensure a steady supply of raw materials, Faber Castell acquires the wood for their pencils from their vast 10,000 hectares of pine forests. These provide the raw material for their pencils and cover 86% of their worldwide wood demand. The meticulous process ensures that every pencil produced is of the highest quality. You can find out more about this HERE.

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Why use Pastel Pencils?

If you want to create highly detailed artwork, pastel pencils can be a great option. Pencils offer much flexibility and can help you achieve incredible detail, making them especially useful for artists who aim to create realistic-looking art. Soft and hard pastel sticks are excellent for creating art, but they are unsuitable for certain styles requiring a high level of detail. In such cases, pastel pencils are a better option for artists who want to capture the intricacies of their work. Reputable art tutor Colin Bradley recommend these as the best pastel pencils on the market. He states, "Faber-Castell’s Pitt range is my favourite. They are reliable and can be sharpened to a fine point, this is really important for detailed work. If there is a fault with them it is that they do not have a large colour range, especially in the grey tones ".

You may also wish to try other brands, such as Derwent and Stabilo CarbOthello, but remember that some brands may feel a little drier or scratchier than others. Expanding your colour palette is possible by owning more than one brand, so consider purchasing open stock and creating your own customised colour palette.

Created solely with soft pastels (Unison)

With the addition of the PITT pastel pencils

Above are two images of the same artwork. The first one was created using only UNISON soft pastels, which provides a smooth and velvety finish. The second image was reworked using PITT pastel pencils, adding fine details and enhancing the overall precision and definition of the piece.

​This tutorial has been crafted to enable users to gain an understanding of the process and replicate it themselves. To experiment with the technique, please refer to the SWALLOW tutorial.

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Opacity and Application

The complete set includes 60 highly opaque colours, providing a broad spectrum of hues suitable for any subject matter. ​They have a very compact lead, which is economical to use. The lead contains a high level of pigment, making the pencils ideally suited both for drawing lines and shading, as well as blending and merging into delicate colour transitions. The colour selection in this range places a particular emphasis on the muted shades and earth tones that are especially important for pastel drawing. They are an excellent choice for soft pastel artists, allowing for intricate details that enable you to create a more lifelike appearance. ​

Faber Castell PITT pastel pencils on Clairfontaine Light Grey Pastelmat

Protecting your Pastel Art

Being mindful of pastel pencils' delicate nature is crucial. Just like pastel sticks, the slightest touch can cause them to smudge. If you habitually rest your hand on the paper while drawing, we highly recommend using a sheet of Glassine paper between your hand and the artwork. This will help prevent unwanted smudging and keep your artwork clean. 

To further protect your pastel artwork, consider using a fixative. A fixative spray is applied to the painting to help set the pastel and prevent it from smudging or dropping off the paper. However, it's important to remember that a fixative can darken the colours and create 'spotting'. To avoid any potential problems, we suggest testing the fixative on a spare sheet of paper first. This will help you determine the amount of spray to apply and from what distance, which may solve such issues. It's also essential to note that many artists choose not to use a fixative. The decision to use a fixative ultimately depends on your personal preference and the specific needs of your artwork. Regardless of your choice, taking the time to protect your pastel artwork is always worth it in the end.

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Sharpening your Pastel Pencils

When purchasing a pencil, pay attention to the length of the tip. This characteristic can reveal the durability of the internal lead. Many manufacturers sharpen their pencils to a short point to minimise the possibility of damage or breakages. PITT pastel pencils 'leads' are compact, which makes them sturdy enough to maintain their shape for intricate tasks while also being soft enough to blend and smudge. Nevertheless, this softness makes them susceptible to crumbling during the sharpening process, so it's necessary to handle them with caution when sharpening.

While some companies market pencil sharpeners tailored to pastel pencils, utilising a sharp blade remains the optimal method for sharpening them, as pencil sharpeners are more likely to cause breakages. To sharpen pastel pencils, employ a craft knife or Stanley knife, pushing the blade down the wood toward the tip of the pastel and away from your person to avoid mishaps. To customise the point to your liking, use a sharpening block or affordable alternative like sandpaper sheets. This technique enables the creation of fine, intricate details.

We provide you with a link to a post by Martin Aveling that explains the correct way to sharpen your pastel pencils, along with videos demonstrating the process.

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SAFETY WITH PASTELS

When working with pastels, it's important to be aware that they can create dust that can be harmful to your health over time. To protect yourself, make sure you're working in a well-ventilated area. Wearing a face mask is also recommended to prevent breathing in the dust. Additionally, you may want to consider purchasing an air purifier to further reduce any potential health risks. If you have asthma or other breathing problems, you may want to avoid working with traditional pastels altogether. Instead, consider using pastel pencils, which create much less dust.

The History of Faber Castell

​Faber-Castell, a company with a lineage spanning eight generations of the Faber family, was established in 1761 by Kaspar Faber, a skilled cabinet maker (1730-84). It is a longstanding industrial company with a reputation for producing quality, innovative products while adhering to traditional values and prioritizing environmental consciousness. The company boasts a leading position as a manufacturer of wood-cased pencils. It offers a diverse range of writing, drawing, creative design, and decorative cosmetics products. Headquartered in Stein, Bavaria, Germany, Faber-Castell has established itself as a prominent and respected name within the industry.

In 1839, Lothar von Faber took over the family business and made history by introducing branded products and elevating the industry standard with his brand name. Today, the eighth generation of the Faber-Castell family, led by Count Anton-Wolfgang von Faber-Castell, is at the helm. Since assuming leadership in 1978, he has been instrumental in the company's growth and global expansion, developing innovative products and pioneering new markets. Count Faber-Castell is passionate about rediscovering and revitalizing classic products with contemporary technology and timeless designs.

If you're curious about the origin of the name PITT, here is an explanation from the Faber Castell website. The name "Pitt" is derived from the English term "clay pit," referring to the earth colours that are mined from the earth. This range is specifically designed to be used for working with contrast areas, such as light-dark or black-white. Contrast artwork is usually created with just one colour (black) and by either shading it or leaving certain areas empty.​
Pitt is a registered trademark of Faber-Castell.

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Other related articles that may be of interest
​

Pastelmat is an ideal paper for Pastellists, find out why!

New to pastels? Need some help deciding where to start?

Unison pastels - probably THE best soft pastel available

Why not try one of our mini pastel art tutorials

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Colour chart and Lightfastness

Faber-Castell uses the Blue Wool standard to evaluate lightfastness. This widely-recognised method employs eight scales to evaluate colour lightfastness, 8 is the level of the highest lightfastness. To ensure ease of understanding, Faber-Castell streamlines the ratings into a user-friendly star system. Each pencil has a star rating that indicates its level of lightfastness, which is the ability to resist fading when exposed to light. This rating is printed on the end of every pencil, making it easy to identify. ​
The Blue Wool standard relates to their star icons as follows:
*** = Maximum lightfastness = 7 ,8 Blue Wool Scale - Maximum fade resistance (100 + years)
** = High lightfastness = 5, 6 Blue Wool Scale - Very good fade resistance
* = Reasonable lightfastness = 3, 4 Blue Wool Scale - Good fade resistance

The colour chart provided below not only lists the name of each colour, but also displays its corresponding star rating. There are 36 colours rated Excellent (3-star), 10 colours rated Good/Very Good (2-star) and 14 rated Fair/Moderate (1-star). Note that many 'jewel' colours Reds, Purplesmany of the greens and the reds/pinks tend to be the least lightfast.

Ten colours have a 2-star rating and 14 have a 1-star rating (previously it was 14). 
Note that the Reds and Pinks are more likely to be the least lightfast, however it is rather surprising that most of the greens have a 1-star rating. The earthy colours like the greens and the browns almost always have the best lightfast ratings. There are 36 colours classed as Excellent, 11 in the Good, Very Good category and 11 classed as Fair/moderate.

NOTE: Prismacolor, Caran d'Ache, Derwent and Van Gogh uses a relatively new lightfastness standard known as ASTM D 6901, but this standard is not as precise as the Blue Wool method. ASTM D6901 was developed in 2003 in conjunction with The Color Pencil Society and only has two scales to evaluate lightfast colors. . The Blue Wool method, which was originally introduced by the textile industry and later adapted for the printing and painting industry.
It relates to Faber Castell's star icons as follows: I = *** II = ** and *

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Colour Sets

Customer Reviews

POSITIVE REVIEWS​

" I'm currently working on a pastel painting and experimenting with a mix of Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils and Derwent Pastel Pencils on Fabriano Ingres paper. While both sets have their own unique color palette, I've found the Derwent set to have more vibrant colors like reds and oranges, while the Faber-Castell set leans more towards earthy tones. Although the performance of both sets is comparable, I have come across some issues with the Derwent pencils breaking easily and being harder to sharpen, even with a Derwent sharpener. On the other hand, the Faber-Castell pencils are more durable and have not broken on me yet. Based on my experience, I think the Faber-Castell pencils are a better choice for me going forward. "

" A great way to use pastels, without the mess. Blend so easy, with great colour vibrancy.They work great with mixed media too. I have used them with prismacolour, ink, markers, etc. They work well over the top, but not so well below. "

​" I have long admired Faber-Castell products for their exceptional quality, and the pastel pencils are no exception. Their fine point makes them ideal for intricate work, but it's important to use a hi​gh-quality sharpener and proceed with care when sharpening. These pencils blend together seamlessly and play well with other mediums such as Polychromos stick pastels and pencil crayons. The ability to purchase them individually is great, allowing you to easily supplement your collection with other colours."​

​NEGATIVE/NEUTRAL REVIEWS​

" Great colours and texture! The only flaw was the need for a colour chart and the names of each colour included. As someone with colourblindness, I struggle to identify certain colours within the red, blue, and green spectrum, but having colour names on the pencil's barrel is crucial. It was disappointing that that is not included, but overall, the quality of the product is very good.​ "

" I’m a huge Faber-Castell fan owning many of their products. I have to admit to being a little disappointed with these, they aren’t quite what I was looking for. They are superb for line work but I don’t find they blend so well or cover evenly when blocking in colour. Admittedly you can use soft pastels to block but on small scale work sometimes it’s easier to use the pencils. Some pencils can be quite scratchy though not all. I don’t regret buying them, but do wish I’d bought a smaller set as there are other pastel pencils I prefer to use more for colourwork. "

" I was not happy with the product and would not recommend it. The wood was tough and tended to crumble when sharpened. The lead came loose from the wood, and two pencils broke during sharpening, making it impossible to complete my work. Unfortunately, my experience with this product left me feeling disappointed. "

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Our opinions on the PITT Pastel Pencils

As an artist, it can be challenging to create intricate details in your artwork using pastel sticks alone. Fortunately, pastel pencils make the process much easier and more effective. While we have experimented with several brands of pastel pencils, we have found that PITT pastel pencils stand out due to their vibrant colours and opaque pigments. It is important to us that we own multiple brands, as this allows us to expand our colour palette.

We have a particular fondness for PITT pastel pencils due to their superior quality and eco-friendly composition. Despite their emphasis on earthy hues over brighter shades, this brand remains a personal favourite.

Finally, it would greatly enhance the user experience if the colour names were printed directly on the pencils, rather than having to cross-reference with a separate chart.

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ANIMAL FRIENDLY:
All Faber-Castell pencils, pens and erasers use inorganic and synthetic materials or materials of plant origin. Faber-Castell have not initiated any animal testing on products or materials for 22 years, and do not use casein glue in packaging. 
ENVIRONMENTAL:
More than 90 % of the wood used for the worldwide production of Faber-Castell pencils come from 100 % FSC-certified forests, and thus originate from responsible sources. They also use PEFC-certified wood as an alternative to FSC-certified wood. Both certification schemes ensure the sustainable management and use for forest resources.

​​Article last updated: October 2023