Pastels are sticks of pigments
mixed with a binder.
A pigment is a colored material
that cannot dissolve in water.
The binder is a substance that holds materials together (like gum).
The colors of pastels are very vivid
and close to reality;
that is because the pigments are natural.
The pigments in the pastels help the artist blend and smudge the color.
Pastels were popular in the Renaissance.
They were also very common in the 18th century.
Pastel are not easy to use.
There are many techniques and little room for errors!
