Legendary Color, Professional Performance—Now in Beautiful Sets
Sennelier Oil Pastels are widely regarded as the world’s finest, originally created in 1949 at the request of Pablo Picasso. Seeking a professional-quality medium with the immediacy of a crayon and the expressive range of soft pastels, Picasso turned to Henri Sennelier, who crafted a creamy, richly pigmented pastel that could be used on virtually any surface—paper, canvas, wood, metal, and more.
Today, Sennelier Oil Pastels remain the gold standard, combining intense pigment loads with a synthetic binder and mineral wax for an ultra-smooth texture that never hardens, cracks, or yellows. These acid-free pastels adhere to any support without the need for priming and are highly lightfast, ensuring your work remains vibrant for generations. Available in curated sets—perfect for landscapes, portraits, and still life—each collection is housed in sturdy cardboard or elegant wood boxes, ideal for studio use, travel, or gifting. Whether you're working in mixed media or plein air, these pastels are ready for any creative journey.
Key Features
- Creamy, soft texture with rich, pure pigments
- Outstanding opacity and lightfastness
- Acid-free and non-yellowing—no priming required
- Apply to paper, canvas, wood, metal, and more
- Compatible with solvents and blending mediums for wash effects
- Available in Standard and La Grande sizes
- Beautifully packaged sets designed for specific subjects and travel
Perfect For
- Sketching and drawing in bold, vibrant color
- Mixed media and layering with other materials
- Artists seeking a solvent-free, travel-ready medium
- Creating on nontraditional surfaces without preparation
- Plein air painting, studio work, and professional applications
- Gift sets for students, professionals, or collectors
