Conte A Paris have been manufacturing some of the finest artists' materials available for more than 200 years. Many artists and grand masters have used Conte A Paris products because of the selection of pigments, light fastness, and the exceptional brightness and purity of the colours. Conte offers a traditional range of Pastel Pencils & Crayons. The exceptional diameter of the Conte A Paris pastel pencil (5 mm) lead gives genuine freedom of creation and has an unrivalled feel. The pastel is a perfect pencil companion to soft pastel because it's lead is slightly harder with less pigment. In contrast with soft pastels, pastel pencils should not be added in successive layers of colors, but used as pure colors laid out in patchwork fashion side by side (so as not to dull the shades). It is recommended that the barrel alone should be sharpened with a knife and the lead shaped with a scraper or sandpaper. Conte Care Crayons are baked with kaolin clay and are firmer than soft pastels, which means they work well on smooth paper as well as textured surfaces. Because they are firm and square they give accurate and energetic strokes when the edges of the sticks are used, you can shape Conte Crayons to a chisel tip with sandpaper for detailed work, drag them flat on their sides for various shading techniques or to cover large areas and the sticks can be broken for easier use. Sticks are 2 1/2" long x ^1/4" square (63 mm x 6 mm). Assorted Set of 18 (Includes: 12 assorted coloured crayons including 1 each of White, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Red, St. Michael Green, Dark Green, Light Blue, Dark Ultramarine, Yellow Ochre, Bistre & Black, 3 pastel pencils including 1 each of Royal Blue, Black, Vermilion, 1 Kneaded Eraser, 1 blending stump and 1 tortillion.) in a blister pack.
