Company Background

Manufactured for a century in Holland, Rembrandt is a very popular pastel brand from a Dutch company called Talens. The company makes a wide range of other art products, including Rembrandt oils.

Distribution is widespread, products and prices are welcoming to beginners and quite acceptable to experienced artists.

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Product Background

Rembrandt manufactures over 200 pastels with just over 40 basic colors which are darkened one step, and, typically, lightened in three steps. The typical color, then, is a seies of five shades based on each of the 40-plus colors in the range.

Rembrandt pastels are slightly longer than other European brands. This, plus a low per-stick price of around $2.60, enhances their popularity.

Getting Started with Rembrandt Pastels

The very best place to start is with with a substantial set of 60 half sticks priced around $50. Lots and lots of colors, coverage For every sort of project, and the halves average out to less than a dollar apiece.

Incidentally, that set is probably the single best anyone just starting out with pastels. The more conservative box of 30 half sticks, typically $35-40, is fine, but the box of 60 is just an irrestistable deal.

Many people initiate their pastel painting career with Rembrandts. Before buying a setblarger than, say, 60 halves, it is wise to compare the china clay binder and pigments used in Rembrandts with the more costly formulations associated with Sennelier, Scmincke, Unison, or Townsend. There is a discernable difference that matters to some artists, not at all to others.

Getting Serious About Rembrandt Pastels

Often, a store will run a sale on some box of Rembrandts. The sale that matters is the one that sells a wooden box of 150 Rembrandt pastels for $200 or so (regular price at Dakota is $239, a fine deal). Look for the box of 225 for around $350 or so. Again, lots colors for a low price.

Sets of 45, 60, and 90 landscape and portrait pastels are also available at very reasonable prices.

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