Faber Castell Set of 72 Half Stick Pastels

Although I've been artistic all my life, I'm a beginner to Soft Pastels. I don't have any unsubstantiated expectations from them as it pertains to Faber-Castell. I like that they come with edges instead of being round. I'm glad that half-sticks are available, as I am experimenting, and I don't have to pay for the whole sticks, which might not even get used. I don't know how much better pastels are supposed perform, but the color applies smoothly and the pigment is brilliant.Mainly I'd like to inform you all that they arrived unscathed. Nothing cracked or anything. The contents are in a tray in a solid cardboard box with a sheet of foam under it's lid counterpart that slide tightly into a slip cover. It also has names for all the colors in the box and comes with an insert with all colors available and a few tips on getting started.

I have several sets of soft pastels and pastel pencils. I like to do fine detailed work.These sticks are harder than my handmade pastels and therefor useful for doing details like fur, hair, or eyes when painting human or pet portraits or grass and tree trunks when doing landscapes. I can get a very hard line by breaking them, in fact, much better than my pencils. I like the broad array of colors as well. This has become my "go-to" box. I think the value is very good, but I would also invest in a softer, creamier brand to supplement this set.

Contrary to what's pictured on the cover of the box and contrary to the item description....First of all, pictured box is a dark blue. It says nothing at all about "mini".The pastels arrived and on the front of the box it was stamped "mini". The description states "half sticks".In reality, the pastels are about an inch long. That is NOT a half stick pastel. They're tiny!Seriously disappointed and a bit angry about it. The pastels are simply NOT as advertised. I thought better of Faber-Castell.

I’m so glad I bought these!! Incredibile presentation, great vibrant colors, high quality pastels, with 72 choices of blending the pigments.Thank you so much!!! 💛

For what I wanted they work well . Definitely very dusty compared to other soft pastels . TheFaber are hard for soft pastel. I use them for a starter to cover my board or paper . Then I move to good soft pastels for my major work. That way my high end pastels last longer. Not sure i would buy them again because of the hardness. I really like the Faber pastel pencils a lot.Sample picture is still a wok in progress.

very usefull. Many colours, small size. I sugest not to mix so many and various colours,in one box. I prefers more variations of less colours. For example, a box with variations of browns, greens and skin colours and obviously b&w. Another box with blues, greys, and another with more fantasy colours.

These pastels are so smooth to draw with and to use when coloring and shaving! I will definitely purchase the larger set. The colors are beautiful.

The soft pastels are great but the colors do not match the color selection shown in the picture.