The Schmincke Dry Pastel Starter Set (10 pieces) is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to try dry pastels for the first time. The set includes 10 handmade pastels in a wide range of shades—from light and vibrant to dark and deep tones—and provides a solid foundation for exploring the technique.

Each pastel is shaped into a convenient square Shape, making it easy to work on both large and small areas of your artwork, and the set comes in a handy storage box that protects the pastels from dust and damage.

Schmincke dry pastels (Series 17) are handmade, extra-soft artist pastels made from pure pigments with a minimal amount of binder. The complete range includes approximately 200 shades, and each primary color is typically available in several shades: a pure, full-tone color (D), a variant with added black (B), and three lighter shades with increasing amounts of white (H, M, and O). The pastels have a velvety-soft, matte surface and are known for their high lightfastness.

About Schmincke

Schmincke was founded in 1881 by the paint chemists Josef Horadam and Hermann Schmincke in Germany. The company’s first product was the oil paint “Mussini,” developed based on traditional resin-oil paint recipes from the Italian artist Cesare Mussini. In 1892, Josef Horadam developed a new type of liquid-cast watercolor, which he named after himself—the cornerstone of what is now the Horadam Aquarell series. More than 140 years later, Schmincke is still guided by the company motto “Meliora cogito” (I strive for the best), and Horadam Aquarell remains one of the most highly regarded watercolor lines among professional artists worldwide.