Company Background
Daler-Rowney is the UK's leading art supply, founded nearly two
centuries ago. The company`s excellent products are carried in
many U.S. stores, but not as aggressively merchandised as other
brands.
Daler-Rowney's catalog -- which can be explored, in full, on their
web site, is vast, colorful and full of good ideas. The company's
Rowney oil colors are very well-regarded, and the same can be
said for Rowney water colors. Excellent papers, too, including
The Langton watercolor paper.
(click here)
Product Background
The first thing you should know about Rowney pastels is that they're
about as thick as a pencil-- so they feel different from other
pastels, easier to control, good for detail work-- but without
significant trade-offs.
The line is built from about 48 main colors, and an average of
about 4 tints per color, for a total of 194 pastels all together.
Getting Started with Rowney Pastels
While it is possible to begin with a box of half-sticks (24 for
around $35), you'll get more of a feel for the product line if
you experiment with more colors. Several sets of 36 sticks are
available for about $70-- coose the general assortment, or one
specially-made for either portrait or landscape. If you are working
with a 36-set, it's best to go for a specialty set. To really
experience this line, 48 pastels would be my target.
For this reason, you might also consider purchasing, say, $100
worth. That ought to buy your own custom assortment of four dozen
pastels. (Rowney's pre-packed boxes go from 36 to 72 with no stop
at 48 or 60).
Rowney's half-stick assortment is built of thicker pastels and
a color range basic to landscape or portrait work. It contains
24 half-sticks and costs up to $40.
Getting Serious about Rowney Pastels
For about $175, you can buy a solid assortment with 72 colors
in a durable wooden box. This set, with representations of just
about all main colors and variations, is one step away from the
mother lode of 144 sticks in a nice wooden box for just over $300.
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