Vibrant Color, and Tips for Loose Still Life Painting in Pastels

Pastels That Deliver: Great Value, Vibrant Color, and Tips for Loose Still Life Painting

24/6/2026

The world of pastel painting is filled with luminous colors, impulsive mark-making, and sheer delight at seeing bold swathes of pigment leap from paper. Yet, if you’re a beginner or even a seasoned pastel enthusiast, you’ve likely faced two big hurdles: the overwhelming cost of building a quality set of colors, and the disappointment of discovering that many “budget” pastels simply don’t perform. Could this set of 72 handmade soft pastels from Lightwish, bridge the gap between price and quality? Let's find out.

The Holy Grail in Pastels: Value Without Compromise:
On the high end, a box can set you back hundreds of dollars; compare that to the Lightwish set, which rings in at about $45 for 72 colors—a price point that screams “student-grade,” but with performance closer to its expensive rivals. This makes it possible for artists to own a wide spectrum of hues without feeling each stroke is costing them dearly.

All too often artists face this compromise: more colors usually mean lower quality, while quality brands force you to make do with fewer hues due to cost. However, the set of Lightwish pastels that I tested dispelled my skepticism—these pastels proved vibrant, offered good pigment intensity, and layered well, all without excessive crumbling or mess. For someone looking for value in both pigment and usability, this set hit a sweet spot.

What to Look for in Soft Pastels
Common issues with cheap pastels—weak color, crumbling, and a frustrating painting experience can leave you feeling cheated. The following list sums up what I look for in soft pastels and what I discovered while painting with the Lightwish pastels.

Pigment Quality: Seek pastels that claim high pigmentation. While budget sets historically lag, the Lightwish set delivered surprisingly vivid results, rivaling higher-end products in chromatic strength.
Texture and Handling: Effective pastels should glide onto the page and allow for layering without falling apart. Many expensive “artist” pastels crumble under pressure, but these stayed intact, offering confidence during application.
Color Range: Even with 72 colors, this set covered landscape and atmospheric shades, earth tones, primaries, and shadows without obvious gaps. This is essential in a single purchase—no one wants to discover mid-painting that the vital sky blue or deep violet is missing.

Tips for Vibrant, Loose Still Life Painting
Soft pastel is a unique medium. You don’t mix colors on a palette; instead, you layer, juxtapose, and let the eye do some blending—a method known as optical mixing. Here are practical tips covered in the video for those aiming for looseness and energy in still life work:

Layer Boldly, but Mind Sequence: It’s tempting to pick up appealing colors at random, but remember to layer light over dark for the most luminous effects. Pastels excel at this, allowing you to punch in highlights atop shadows.
Embrace Imperfection: Unlike oils, soft pastels are about “deconstruction.” Leave gaps, let underlayers show through, and fight the urge to over-render. Vibrancy often comes from restraint and visible mark-making.
Let the Support Help: Use a quality paper. The pastelmat utilized in the demo had just enough tooth, allowing two to three layers before the surface filled up. Too grainy, and you’ll lose control; too smooth, and the layers slip.
Accent with Contrasts: Shadows and highlights are your best friends for excitement—don’t be afraid to lay down a wild blue or a powerful purple to push your contrasts and inject energy.
Keep Things Moving: Avoid fussiness. The most dynamic pastel still lifes are loose, with honest, quick marks. Try to finish a painting in one or two sittings; the speed will translate to vitality.

The Lightwish 72-color pastel set provides a rare blend of quality, color range, and value for money—especially for those starting out or expanding beyond their basic palette. By paying attention to pigment, texture, and color selection, and by cultivating a loose, impressionistic approach, you can make your pastel still lifes sing with vibrancy without breaking the bank. It’s a great moment to loosen up, load up on color, and discover the joys of expressive pastel painting.