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Norrette Moore

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On a family visit, I looked at the Emsworth Art Trail on Sunday.  I voted (to the family) that a picture of a hare, by Kerry Vaughan, was best in show.  There were over 300 pictures I guess, scattered over various venues in the town. https://www.kerrymvaughan.co.uk/wildlife-art/ She demonstrated Panpastels on another wildlife picture, and they seemed wonderful. Applied with a sponge "brush" the blending is very good. So I looked them up and found full sets of £350 upwards, one about £550.  However, I have popped an intro set into my Jacksons shopping basket, along with a pad of pastelmat surface, and some pastel pencils. That's approached £100. I need to give myself a good talking to, before I push the final order button. Luckily, I can't take delivery this week.  Maybe I'll cool off by the weekend. About 5% of the pictures on show, were in oil. Which is sad, imho.
P1080764

Carol .

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When the pastel pans, first, became available they didn't cost so much. I think the 'cool off weekend' may be a good thing. A few of my artist friends are pastel painters and couldn't get to grips with them. But like many art materials it takes time to find the real value of them, and how to use the medium with success. Wow! that's a lot of money for a full set. Thanks for the link.

Edited
by Carol Jones

Norrette Moore

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It is expensive, Carol.  But goes some way to explaining to my non art family, why pieces are expensive. It's not just the time, but the material cost.

Edited
by Norrette Moore

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Ah  the material cost - I saw a paint tube t'other day from Wallace Seymour (a very interesting company, worthy of your investigation) of the new YnMn (or something) blue - £125 for 40ml.....  I think I'll  carry on doing  without it, as I have for around 60 years;  but of course I was tempted.  On  the whole, I  think soft and hard pastels  are still generally affordable, followed by acrylic, while some oil and watercolour prices head into the stratosphere.  Trouble is, once you have dived into oil and watercolour (now there's a thought..) it's really very hard to go back to the old HB pencil or stick of charcoal  - you crave colour; I can't pass by a tube of Cobalt Teal, or French Ultramarine Red  Shade, without heading in their direction like a wolf on the prowl for fresh flesh.  Such is our fate; and at least it keeps the paint makers happy.  
P1080764

Carol .

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I'm often on the prowl for fresh flesh, Robert. My latest desire is for Schmincke; Hordam Ginko watercolour set. 20 half pans, eight are super granulating, from Jackson's. The paint box is a lovely thing to look at, also. As Norrette has said materials are very expensive, and cost has to be taken into consideration when selling.  A little bit of what you fancy does you good, though.

Edited
by Carol Jones

Alan Morris

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On the subject of the cost of art materials.  A full set of Unison small sticks of soft pastels is now somewhere between £1,600 and £2000!
Entwined, abstract

Sandra Kennedy

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How many in a set Alan?

Alan Morris

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How many in a set Alan?
Sandra Kennedy on 06/05/2026 20:19:48
I think 380 colours.  I don’t have them all, but I’m working on it.  I buy some when there on a special offer from Jackson’s.

Alan Morris

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How many in a set Alan?
Sandra Kennedy on 06/05/2026 20:19:48
Oops! Double post sorry.

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by Alan Morris

Entwined, abstract

Sandra Kennedy

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Thanks Alan.

Norrette Moore

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Watching a BBC program - Inside Britain's National Parks, the Northumberland edition was on recently. A ~10 min section was about the Unison company making pastels by hand, mixing, drying them etc.  It was quite seductive! It'll be on iplayer.

Norrette Moore

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Watching a BBC program - Inside Britain's National Parks, the Northumberland edition was on recently. A ~10 min section was about the Unison company making pastels by hand, mixing, drying them etc.  It was quite seductive! It'll be on iplayer. I don't have a cobalt teal...yet.  As I'm heading to the Nat Gall later...I recall theres a Cass Art branch around the corner...

Edited
by Norrette Moore