Pastels

Best Pastels in Denmark: Where to Buy, How to Choose, and Top Picks from Penstore & Computersalg

Why pastels still belong in every artist’s toolkit

Pastels are like color in its purest, most immediate form — vivid, tactile and forgiving. They let you draw with paint and paint with a pencil, making them a favorite for quick studies, portraits, landscapes, and highly expressive work. If you've ever wanted to layer soft, dusty colors one moment and then make a bold, buttery stroke the next, pastels deliver that musical range. They’re addictive: once you get the feel of a warm color melting into a cool shadow with a fingertip or a blending stump, it’s hard to go back to anything else.

Types of pastels and when to use each

Soft pastels

Soft pastels are rich in pigment and low in binder, which gives them their signature velvety texture and brilliant color payoff. They’re great for vibrant landscapes and portraits where color blending and subtle gradation matter. Keep in mind they’re dusty and fragile, so you’ll want good paper with tooth and a plan for preservation (fixative or framing under glass).

Hard pastels and pastel pencils

Hard pastels and pastel pencils are ideal for details and fine lines. They have more binder, which makes them less crumbly and perfect for underdrawing or adding crisp accents over softer layers. They pair beautifully with soft pastels when you need definition without losing that pastel charm.

Oil pastels and water-soluble oil pastels

Oil pastels use an oily binder that results in creamy, buttery strokes that don’t dusty-smear like soft pastels. They behave more like paint: you can blend them with solvents or a palette knife, and some brands offer water-soluble oil pastels that expand possibilities for washes and glazing. They’re less delicate for transport and ideal when you want textured, impasto effects.

PanPastels (pan-style pastels)

PanPastels come in compact pans and are applied with soft sponges or tools — think of them as the paint-like cousin of powdered soft pastels. They’re excellent for large evenly-toned areas, glazing, and smooth backgrounds. If you hate dust and love blending large surfaces quickly, pan pastels are worth trying.

Top brands and product lines to watch for

Not all pastels are created equal. Some brands are legendary for color richness and lightfastness: Rembrandt and Sennelier for traditional soft and oil pastels, Caran d’Ache for versatile Neocolor II water-soluble sticks, Blockx for artisan soft pastels, and PanPastel for their pan system. Staedtler and less expensive student lines give great value for beginners. When shopping in Denmark you’ll find many of these names available via specialist retailers like Penstore and mainstream sellers such as Computersalg.

Where to buy pastels in Denmark: Penstore and Computersalg explained

Penstore — specialist variety and premium options

Penstore caters to a broad array of writers and artists and often stocks premium lines like Blockx soft pastels, Caran d’Ache Neocolor II, PanPastel pans, Sennelier oil pastels and specialty sets. If you’re chasing specific colors, limited editions or professional-grade materials, Penstore is a smart first stop. They mix both classic artist-grade sticks and reliable student options so you can find supplies that match your budget and ambitions.

Computersalg — surprising range for hobbyists and students

Computersalg might sound like a tech shop, but their art supply selection can be unexpectedly handy for hobbyists: think Staedtler Carat pastels, Rembrandt soft pastel sets in portrait and landscape selections, and water-soluble oil pastels. They’re a good choice when you want popular sets at competitive prices and a straightforward online shopping experience without wandering through specialty shops.

Other Danish stores worth checking

Besides the two above, also consider Panduro Hobby for accessible craft-focused pastels and local independent art shops for curator-picked specialist grades and advice. Bookstores like Bog & Idé sometimes stock student pastel sets and accessories, while local galleries and art schools often have a list of trusted suppliers. Visiting a physical art shop can be invaluable: you can feel the texture, test the color intensity, and get hands-on recommendations.

How to choose the right pastel set: a practical buying guide

Choosing a pastel set is both practical and emotional — you want the best pigment you can afford but not more than you’ll use. Start by deciding if you need soft, oil, or pan pastels. Beginners often do well with a medium-sized soft pastel set (~24–48 colors) that offers a broad palette without overwhelming you. Look for lightfastness ratings (ASTM or manufacturer notes), pigment richness, and whether colors are labeled clearly. Pay attention to binder type: more binder = less dust but also less vibrancy. If you’re buying online from Penstore or Computersalg, read user reviews and check images; product pages often list pigment codes and color names that help you match what you already own.

Essential accessories that transform pastel work

Good pastels are just the beginning. Invest in a few key accessories: quality pastel paper with substantial tooth (Canson Mi-Teintes, Pastelmat), blending stumps and soft sponges for nuanced transitions, a spray fixative for finished pieces, and storage boxes or trays to keep sticks from breaking or contaminating one another. Knife tools, palette knives for oil pastels, and brushes for PanPastel application all expand technique possibilities. Proper framing materials—spacers, acid-free mats and UV-protective glass—preserve your work long-term.

Techniques to get the most from your pastels

Want to go beyond scribbles and accidental beauty? Try this: start with an underpainting (watercolor or diluted acrylic) to establish values, then block in large shapes with soft pastels. Use harder sticks for details and edges, and reserve pastel pencils for hair, eyelashes, and fine marks. Blend gently with a stump or soft tissue to avoid overworking the surface. Layering is your friend: light over dark for glow, dark over light for depth. For oil pastels, experiment with palette knives and solvent blending for painterly textures. And don’t forget negative drawing — drawing the light spaces instead of the shadows can produce luminous results.

Preservation: how to protect and frame pastel pieces

Pastels remain fragile unless protected. Fixatives can stabilize pigment but may alter color intensity; use a workable fixative between layers or a final archival fixative sparingly. The safest long-term strategy is to frame under glass with a spacer so the pastel doesn’t touch the glass. Use acid-free backing and mats to prevent discoloration. If you sell or gift pastel work, a frosted or UV-filtering glass adds professional polish and longevity.

Environmental and safety considerations

Pastels can contain pigments flagged as toxic (especially older artist-grade colors like some cadmiums or certain chromates). Always check material safety sheets and work in a ventilated area, especially when sanding or using solvent-based fixatives. Wearing a dust mask during heavy blending sessions and cleaning your workspace with a damp cloth instead of blowing dust away reduces airborne particles. When possible, choose brands that provide safety information and avoid ingesting or inhaling pigments — a little caution goes a long way in protecting your health.

Making the most of Penstore and Computersalg offers

When shopping at Penstore or Computersalg, compare product descriptions, pigment lists and customer reviews. Penstore is often the better choice for rare colors, professional lines like Sennelier and Blockx, and PanPastel campaigns; Computersalg can be practical for solid starter sets and value buys like Rembrandt sets or Staedtler options. Keep a wish list and watch for sales on both sites — pastel sets can be pricey, and catching a discount makes upgrading easier. Lastly, if you’re starting out, try a small set from one brand and build gradually rather than buying a huge cheapest set that stifles exploration.

Recommendations for beginners, hobbyists, and pros

If you’re a beginner, go for a mid-range soft pastel set (24–36 colors) plus charcoal and a mid-toned paper. Hobbyists should expand into oil pastels or PanPastels to explore mixed media techniques without immediately committing to professional-priced full ranges. Pros and semi-pros benefit from investing in artist-grade sticks (Sennelier, Rembrandt, Blockx) and a thorough range of neutrals and earth tones; these pigments layer and blend with exceptional lightfastness and subtlety.

Tips for testing pastels before you buy

When possible, test pastels in-store: rub a swatch on a scrap of the same paper you plan to use and compare lightfastness if available. If shopping online, look for close-up images and customer photos. Try to identify pigment numbers (e.g., PR108) to understand what’s actually inside a stick — two brands can label the same color name very differently. Sampling single sticks (if the seller allows) is an economical way to discover favorites without buying full sets.

Final thoughts: let color lead the way

Pastels are wonderfully democratic: inexpensive student sticks can produce beautiful studies, while professional lines reward investment with pigments that sing. Whether you shop Penstore for curated artist supplies or browse Computersalg for accessible sets, a little experimentation and the right accessories will make your work shine. Think of pastels as musical instruments: you can play a simple melody on a basic model or compose a symphony with a full orchestra — both are art.

Conclusion: Choosing the right pastels combines personal taste, budget, and the type of work you want to create. Use Penstore and Computersalg as starting points, explore local art shops and specialist retailers, and prioritize quality where it matters most — pigment and lightfastness. Above all, experiment freely and let your hands guide the colors.