Conté à Paris Pastel Pencil - Black (Pack of 2)

When experimenting with colours and effects, it is great to have the opportunity to buy just one or two to try out before, perhaps, investing in  a set .Some pop up as part of the 'Amazon Add-On Programme', from time to time, and are worth looking out for, in my opinion.In use, I find there is a degree of 'grittiness', but they do lay down a thick layer of colour, when required.When new, the smooth, round-barrelled pencil measures in just short of 17 cm.The pencil diameter is around 8.5 mm and the core about 5 mm.Embossed in silver colouring, on one side is the COLOUR CODE & NAMEIf not into 'shaving', a large-holed sharpener is required.Packs to consider, at Amazon include: CONTÉ À PARIS SKETCHING PENCIL ~ ASSORTED (PACK OF 6) CONTÉ À PARIS PORTRAIT PASTEL PENCIL ~ ASSORTED (PACK OF 6) CONTÉ À PARIS BRIGHT HUES PASTEL PENCIL ~ ASSORTED (PACK OF 6) CONTÉ À PARIS LANDSCAPE PASTEL PENCIL ~ ASSORTED (PACK OF 6)

This pencil arrived simply packed and in perfect condition.These are by far my favourite pastel pencils.I have several shades and like them all.They blend easily, can be sharpened to a decent point, and are true to the shades.They last really well especially if you use fixative on top.I tend to use these a lot in my life drawing.Very happy to recommend.

I really like these, they are easy to draw with and feel good. I bought them in both black and white, and I use them for drawing shapes on painted surfaces,unpainted surfaces and some materials such as interfacing, calico etc. They don't work on every single fabric, it's trial and error, but they do work on many. They show up well and are easier to handle than chalk is for instance. They are much 'fatter' than normal pencils so you need a pencil sharpener that can accommodate this.

I think that conte pastel pencils have changed in some way recently and I don't know how. I love the softness of them but I am finding that they have got bits of " grit " or something that feels like " glass " in the end of the leads. It scratches the paper and if using an expensive paper like pastelmat it will cause indentations in the paper which you cannot remove. It is annoying but obviously not annoying enough to stop me buying them. I have also notice that some of them seem to keep breaking all the way down the leads when sharpening with a scalpel. Don't know why I'm still buying them really - it's just that I love their colours and I love the softness.

Arrived broken pastel. Arrive time I attempt to sharpen the astel instantly breaks apart. I also bought the light grey version and it does not do this. Only issue is with the dark grey I think the pastel inside the encil may be shattered down the shaft. Shame as the colour is exactly what was required.

This is not quite the colour pencil I thought it was. The colour is good but it feels like you can’t see where you have coloured properly from all the excess dust it creates.

Used to create my current cards. Quality product!

Love the colour and gritty pastel texture