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The Power of Pastel Pencils for Detail in Western Art
When it comes to using pastel pencils for fine detail while creating realistic Western Art pastel paintings, the right tools make all the difference. The pastel pencils for detail that I use help me capture the texture of denim, the softness of fur, and the fine lines in a cowboy’s hat or a horse’s mane. If you’re a fellow artist or curious about pastel art techniques, this post will give you insight into the pastel pencil brands I trust, as well as some tips for choosing the best pencils for your artwork.
Why Choosing the Right Pastel Pencils For Fine Detail Matters
In the world of Western Art supplies, pastel pencils stand out for their precision and ability to create fine details. For me, these pencils are more than just a medium—they’re essential tools for adding texture and depth to my paintings.
Here’s why selecting the right pastel pencil is so important:
Precision: Pastel pencils offer the control needed for the detailed work to create life-like pastel paintings of Western wildlife, horses, cowboys, and cattle. Whether it’s the glint in a horse’s eye or the folds in a cowboy’s jeans, the finer the detail, the better the pencil needs to be.
Blendability: The right pencil will also allow you to blend pastel pigments seamlessly, achieving smooth transitions and soft effects on your paper or Pastelbord. This is crucial when working with complex Western scenes that require both detailed work and soft backgrounds.
Layering: For those intricate layers of color in a Western background or a horse portrait, you need pencils that can layer without becoming too thick or chalky.
My Favorite Pastel Pencils for Fine Detail and Texture
After years of experience, these are the pastel pencils for fine detail I rely on for my Western pastel paintings. I’ve tested several different brands, and here’s a breakdown of what works best for fine details and realistic texture in my artwork. I’ve also included some alternatives that others in the art community recommend.
Why I Use Them:
Stabilo CarbOthello pencils are my top choice for vibrant, finely detailed work. Their smooth application and rich pigment make them ideal for layering and blending in my Western Art pastel paintings.
These pencils excel for detail work, whether it’s the fine hairs on a horse’s mane or the intricate details of leather in saddles and tack.
Best For:
Adding intricate textures and details
Smooth blending in Western art backgrounds
Vibrant colors for Western scenes
Affiliate Link: Stabilo CarbOthello Pastel Pencils on DickBlick.com
Why I Use Them:
The Faber-Castell Pitt pastel pencils offer precision and control, making them ideal for layering color in detailed areas. I love the ability to create depth and contrast with these pencils, which is essential for capturing the drama of the Western themed paintings I paint.
Faber-Castell Pitt pencils give me a wider range of shades, which is helpful for creating realistic textures like denim and leather.
Best For:
Fine detail work on textures like denim and cowhide
Controlled layering and blending
Detailed features like eyes, clothing folds, and fur
Affiliate Link: Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils on DickBlick.com
Why I Use Them:
For initial sketching, the Blick Studio Drawing Pencils are an essential part of my process. These pencils allow me to lay down light, detailed graphite lines before I apply pastels. They’re affordable, reliable, and perfect for getting the proportions and composition right before diving into color.
These graphite pencils come in a set of 12, providing a great range of options for different sketching needs. While they’re not used for pastels, they’re integral in planning out my Western art pieces.
Best For:
Sketching the framework of my artwork
Mapping out the composition before applying pastels
Creating light guidelines for accurate details
Affiliate Link: Blick Studio Drawing Pencils on DickBlick.com
Getting crisp fine detail with pastel pencils starts with a good sharp point—but not all sharpeners work well for these softer pencils. I use both a Mobius & Ruppert Brass Pencil Sharpener and a Deli AZ71202 Electric Pencil Sharpener, depending on the pencil type and how much control I need. For delicate pastel pencil tips, I prefer the Deli AZ71202 Electric Pencil Sharpener because it sharpens gently and quickly without breaking the core, in my experience, as often as a hand sharpener or other brands of electric pencil sharpeners. I also keep Mobius & Ruppert Brass Hand Pencil Sharpener handy for quick, clean results when working through a lot of sketching or when I’m switching between colors.
**Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find the Deli AZ71202 Electric Pencil Sharpener I currently use for sale on the Internet. However, I’ve included a link (above) to a new brand – the AFMAT Artist Pencil Sharpener – that I’ve ordered and plan to test next, if you’d like to try this one out. I haven’t tried it yet so I can’t recommend it from personal experience. And if you know of an excellent electric pencil sharpener that you’d recommend for pastel pencils, please drop a comment and let me know… I’ll check it out, too.
Tip: I learned early on that pastel pencils are harder to sharpen than regular or colored pencils because they are softer and will break easier if you’re not careful when sharpening or handling them. One thing you can do to help prevent breakage while sharpening is to void dropping your pastel pencils.
I’ve found that having both options on hand helps me avoid frustration and wasted pencils. You don’t need anything fancy, but the right sharpener makes a big difference in how long your pencils last—and how precise your details can be.
One tool I always keep nearby is a Blick Kneaded Eraser, which I use for both graphite and pastel work. Unlike traditional erasers that rub pigment away, kneaded erasers work by pressing, lifting, and blotting the pigment off the surface.
This technique is especially useful with pastel, where rubbing would smear the pigment and damage the paper or board. I shape the eraser to a fine edge or point when I need to lighten tight areas like around an eye or refine a highlight. For broader corrections, I gently tap or roll the eraser across the surface to lift excess pastel without disturbing the underlying layers. It’s a subtle but powerful tool that gives me control and precision in both the early sketch and final detailing stages of a painting.
Affiliate Link: Blick -Kneaded Erasers DickBlick.com
The Faber-Castell Perfection Eraser Pencil is one of my favorite tools for precise erasing and refining fine details in my pastel paintings. Shaped just like a regular pencil, it lets me sharpen the tip to a fine point, making it ideal for lifting out highlights, sharpening edges, or cleaning up small areas without disturbing the surrounding pastel work. It’s especially handy for whiskers, catchlights in the eyes, or tightening up the silhouette of a subject. While it works best on light applications of pastel, it’s a must-have tool for detailed adjustments where control really matters.
Affiliate Link: Faber-Castell Perfection Eraser Pencil
Gray Paper Stumps are a helpful blending tool I keep on hand when I need more control than my fingers can offer—especially in tight or delicate areas. These rolled paper tools come to a soft, tapered point, allowing me to gently blend pastel without smudging outside the lines or muddying the colors. I use them sparingly, mostly to soften shadows, smooth fur textures, or refine edges around eyes or facial features. They’re especially useful when I want to maintain crisp detail while still achieving a soft, natural look.
While it’s not part of my daily pastel work, the Blick Economy White Bristle Brush – Gesso, 2″ earns its place in my studio for cleanup and light dusting between layers. I use it to gently sweep away loose pastel dust or eraser crumbs without smudging my work.
The bristles are just firm enough to lift debris off the surface without disturbing fine detail, and the wide size makes it quick and efficient. For a low-cost, no-frills tool, this brush proves surprisingly useful.
Alternative Pastel Pencil Brands to Consider
While I primarily use Stabilo and Faber-Castell pastel pencils for fine detail, here are a few other brands that other artists swear by. These may be worth exploring depending on your style and preferences.
Caran d’Ache Pastel Pencils: Known for their smooth application and intense colors, these pencils are perfect for Western wildlife art or soft transitions in backgrounds.
Sennelier Soft Pastel Pencils: These are highly recommended for those looking to create bold strokes and rich colors. Though softer than other brands, they can help you achieve amazing texture and depth, particularly in Western landscapes.
Tips for Choosing the Right Pastel Pencils for Your Art
Selecting the right pastel pencils for detail depends on what you’re aiming to achieve in your artwork. Here are a few tips to help you make an informed choice:
For Fine Detail: Go for harder pencils like Faber-Castell Pitt and Stabilo CarbOthello. They allow you to achieve the crisp detail needed for Western portraiture.
For Blending and Soft Textures: Look for softer pencils such as Sennelier or Caran d’Ache to achieve smooth, seamless blending, especially for large areas or soft backgrounds.
For Layering: Choose pencils that offer a smooth layering experience, such as Stabilo CarbOthello or Faber-Castell Pitt. These are especially good when working with Western landscapes or animal textures.
Stocking Up and Saving Money on Pastel Pencils
When I first began creating pastel paintings, I bought pastel pencils in sets to get started. Not only does this give you a wide range of colors, but it’s also more economical than purchasing individual pencils. Once you have your set (or sets) you can order individual colors when they start to run low. I like to stock up on my most-used colors to always have on hand, especially when they go on sale.
The first pastel pencil set I bought was by Stabilo CarbOthello, and I instantly loved working with them. Their smooth application and soft texture suited my detail-focused style right away. Later on, another artist suggested I try the Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils to expand my color range. That advice turned out to be gold. Adding the Pitt set gave me additional shades and subtle color variations that reduced the need to constantly blend colors to find the “just right” tone. I’m glad I invested in both—having a wider selection makes it easier to bring the details in my Western scenes to life.
As for graphite pencils, I originally purchased the Blick Studio Drawing Pencils in a set of 12 for use in traditional pencil drawings. For pastel paintings, I still keep the full set on hand because it includes everything from very soft and dark (8B) to very hard and light (10H) leads. But for sketching in the guidelines on my Pastelbord, I now only reorder a few of the very soft darks and very light shades. I use the light graphite to lay in loose guidelines that are easy to erase, and the darker ones to create what I call “homemade carbon paper”—a time-saving trick I use for lightly tracing key reference points before starting the pastel layers.
Conclusion: Quality Tools to Create Detailed Western Art
Whether you’re just getting started with pastels or looking to refine your craft, using high-quality pastel pencils for fine detail is essential to achieving realistic textures and vibrant color. The pencils I’ve shared have helped me create detailed Western art pieces that tell a story with every pencil stroke.
Explore the links to Dick Blick above to find the pastel pencils that will work best for your next masterpiece. If you’re ready to experiment with these tools, you’ll soon see how they help bring your Western art to life!
Leave a Comment or Ask a Question!
I’d love to hear about your favorite pastel pencils and the supplies you can’t live without! Drop a comment below, or let me know if you have any questions about pastel art techniques or specific tools. I’m here to help!
