Company Background
These pastels are handmade by an artist in Cincinnati, Ohio (you
can order toll-free: 800-375-8232). In a relatively brief period
of years, these products have become enormously popular because
of a vast color range (390 so far), high quality, color rendition,
and a substantial anti-crumbly feel unusual in soft pastels.
Packaged sets are endorsed by some of the best-known pastel artists,
including Bill Creevy, Chritina Debarry, and Rosalie Nadeau. These
and other artists' work appear on the cover of each package.
ArtWorks pastels are not found everywhere. Rochester Art Supply
displays the full line in their store; both Rochester and Dakota
sell individual sticks and sets by mail and web.
(click here)
Product Background
There are 60 basic colors, or mass tones. The mass tone is identified
by the color number followed by a ".0" suffix. Lighter
colors are identified by progressively higher numbers. Most mass
tones are supplemented by about a half-dozen lighter shades, hence
the 390 color total.
The good news here-- beyond the coolness factor of a tiny Ohio
company successfully competing against century-old worldwide institutions--is
the depth and intelligence of the color range, and the sheer fun
of colors like eggplant. French Roast, Church Mouse, Tosca, and
both Cindy and Perry Winkle.
Getting Started with Artworks
Pastels
The fresh approach extends to the way that the boxed sets are
put together.
Boxed sets are available with either 18 ($50), 39 ($100) or 78
colors ($190). You can buy a general, landscape, or portrait set
in any of these three sizes.
Best bet to start: 39 assorted. Especially good on blues and earth
tones, also nice for portrait colors.
Getting Serious About Artworks
Pastels
Dakota Pastels does a great job packaging special sets of Artworks
products. They sell a dark set, a flesh tone set, and other unique
assortments.
For those with a boundless appetite for color and unlimited cash
on hand, Dakota's complete set of 390 sticks for $750 is spectacular.
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