Oliepastels

These blend so smoothly you can layer and smudge without any of that waxy drag I've had with cheaper sets. The color payoff is seriously rich, and a whole piece done with them still looks as bold as the day I made it.

The colors glide on so smoothly and are almost buttery to work with, and the vibrancy really holds up even after layering. I've left a finished piece in my sketchbook for two weeks now and the tones still look as punchy as the day I drew them, which is exactly what I need for my commissions.

The pigment payoff is genuinely impressive—each stroke lays down intense color that stays true on the paper without fading. I've been layering them for a landscape piece and the depth I'm getting is better than pastels I've used at twice the price.