Sennelier Portrait Soft Pastel Set of 48

The Sennelier Portrait Soft Pastel Set of 48 is a refined, professional‑grade palette designed specifically for capturing the subtlety, warmth, and complexity of human skin tones. Made using pure pigments and a traditional natural binder, these extra‑soft pastels are hand‑formed and air‑dried, giving them their signature velvety texture and exceptional colour brilliance.

This portrait‑focused selection offers a wide range of warm and cool undertones, neutrals, earth shades, and shadow colours ideal for lifelike rendering. Each pastel glides effortlessly across the surface, delivering intense colour with minimal pressure and blending smoothly for delicate transitions, soft gradients, and expressive mark‑making.

Sennelier soft pastels are renowned for their high pigment load and luxurious feel, making them perfect for layering, scumbling, and building depth in skin, hair, and fabric. This 48‑colour set provides portrait artists with a versatile, studio‑ready palette suitable for both quick studies and fully developed artworks.

Features

• Extra‑soft pastels made with pure pigments and natural binders

• Portrait‑focused palette for realistic skin tones and subtle shading

• Velvety texture for smooth, expressive application

• High pigment concentration for luminous, vibrant colour

• Hand‑formed and air‑dried for superior quality

• Excellent blendability for soft transitions and layered effects

• Suitable for paper, card, pastel board, and textured surfaces

• Expanded 48‑colour palette for detailed portrait work

Best For

• Portrait and figure artists

• Realistic skin tones, undertones, and subtle shading

• Layering, blending, and tonal transitions

• Expressive mark‑making and soft gradients

• Beginners and professionals wanting a comprehensive portrait palette