Quick answer: Yes, Sennelier oil pastels are widely regarded as among the best artist-grade oil pastels available. They are exceptionally soft and creamy, heavily pigmented and capable of rich layering, which is why many painters treat them as “painting with sticks.” The trade-offs are price, fragility and a softness that can feel messy, so they suit committed artists better than casual sketchers or young children.
People asking whether Sennelier oil pastels are good usually want to know two things: are they worth the high price, and will they behave differently from the student pastels they already have? This guide explains what makes the brand distinctive, its strengths and limitations, how it compares with other oil pastel lines, and techniques that make the most of its very soft texture. It is based on the brand’s published information and established reputation, not a personal test.
What Makes Sennelier Oil Pastels Different
Sennelier is a Paris art supply maker founded in 1887, with a shop on the Quai Voltaire that historically served many well-known painters. Its oil pastels are closely tied to Pablo Picasso: the company developed artist-quality oil pastels around 1949 after Picasso asked for a stick that could work on many surfaces without preparation.
Characteristics usually associated with Sennelier oil pastels:
- Very soft, buttery texture. Softer than most other oil pastels, closer to lipstick than crayon.
- High pigment content. Strong, saturated color that covers well.
- Wide color range. Including metallic and iridescent colors.
- Multiple sizes. Standard sticks plus larger “Grand” sticks for big work.
- Works on many surfaces. Paper, card, canvas, wood and primed board.
These qualities also explain why oil pastels are often discussed alongside professional oil painting kits: at artist grade, they behave more like paint than drawing material.
Is Sennelier Oil Pastels Good? Strengths
Color intensity
The heavy pigment load gives intense color in a single pass, without the waxy, translucent look of cheaper sticks. Colors stay bright when layered rather than turning chalky.
Blending and layering
Softness lets colors blend with a finger, paper stump or color shaper. Layers can be built thickly, and light colors can sit on top of dark ones, which is difficult with harder pastels.
Painterly effects
Because the pastel is so soft, it can be smeared, scraped with a palette knife (sgraffito), and even softened with odorless mineral spirits or a blending medium to create washes.
Versatility of surface
The pastels adhere to most textured surfaces. Many artists use them on sanded pastel paper, heavy drawing paper, gessoed board or canvas.
Sennelier Oil Pastel Limitations
- Price. They cost noticeably more per stick than student brands. Sets can be a significant investment.
- Fragility. The soft sticks break and squash more easily, especially in warm conditions.
- Heat sensitivity. In a hot car or a sunny window they soften further and can melt or deform.
- Fine detail. The softness makes crisp, fine lines harder. Many artists pair them with a firmer oil pastel for details.
- Messiness. Hands, tools and nearby areas pick up color easily.
- Never fully hard. Oil pastels do not dry the way oil paint does, so finished work stays slightly soft and needs protection.
Sennelier vs Other Oil Pastels
| Brand / line | General texture | Grade | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sennelier | Very soft, creamy | Artist | Rich layering, painterly work, large pieces |
| Caran d’Ache Neopastel | Soft but firmer than Sennelier | Artist | Blending with more control, details |
| Holbein Artists’ Oil Pastels | Smooth, medium-soft | Artist | Balanced handling, wide palette |
| Mungyo Gallery Artists’ | Soft | Artist / value | Good softness at lower cost |
| Pentel Arts and similar | Firmer, waxier | Student | Practice, kids, sketching |
Many artists mix brands: a firmer oil pastel for under-layers and lines, then Sennelier on top for final, saturated color. Soft over firm is easier than the reverse.
Who Should Buy Sennelier Oil Pastels
Good fit
- Artists who want painterly, layered oil pastel work
- Painters who want a portable alternative to oil paint without solvents
- Illustrators and mixed-media artists who value strong color
- Anyone frustrated by waxy, weak student pastels
Probably not the right first choice
- Young children, due to cost and fragility
- Beginners who mainly want to sketch quickly or draw fine lines
- Artists who work in very hot environments without climate control
Best Surfaces for Sennelier Oil Pastels
| Surface | Why it works | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sanded pastel paper | Grips many layers | Uses up pastel faster |
| Heavy drawing or mixed-media paper | Affordable, easy to find | Fewer layers before saturation |
| Oil pastel paper | Designed to resist oil migration | Limited color choices |
| Gessoed board or canvas | Rigid, archival, painterly feel | Choose a toothy gesso |
| Wood panels | Durable base for mixed media | Seal or prime first |
Avoid thin, smooth printer paper. Oil from the pastel can seep into untreated paper over time, so a primed or oil-resistant surface helps for work you want to keep.
Techniques That Suit Very Soft Oil Pastels
- Light first layer. Block in shapes with gentle pressure so the surface tooth is not filled immediately.
- Build from firm to soft. If using several brands, start with firmer sticks and finish with Sennelier.
- Blend with tools. Use a color shaper, paper stump or soft cloth to keep hands cleaner and blends smoother.
- Scumble lights over darks. Drag a light color lightly over a dark layer for broken, textured effects.
- Use sgraffito. Scratch through a top layer with a palette knife or toothpick to reveal color below.
- Thin with solvent sparingly. A brush dampened with odorless mineral spirits can turn pastel into a thin wash on primed surfaces.
- Clean sticks often. Wipe the tip with a paper towel to remove other colors picked up while blending.
A Starter Approach to Sennelier Oil Pastels
Because Sennelier oil pastels are an investment, it helps to start in a way that teaches you how they behave before committing to a large set.
- Choose a limited palette. Begin with 8 to 12 colors: a warm and cool version of each primary, white, a dark (such as a deep blue or brown rather than pure black), and one or two earth tones. Mixing on the paper teaches more than reaching for a pre-made shade.
- Get one larger white. White is used for tints and highlights more than any other color. Some artists buy the larger stick size for white alone.
- Pick one surface to learn on. A pad of heavy mixed-media or oil pastel paper is affordable and predictable. Try sanded paper later to see how many more layers it accepts.
- Do a swatch chart. Make a small square of each color, then a strip where each color is layered over every other. This shows which colors cover and which are more transparent.
- Practice blending methods. Try finger blending, a paper stump, a silicone color shaper and a brush with a little odorless mineral spirits. Each gives a distinct texture.
Sennelier Oil Pastels vs Soft Pastels: Not the Same Thing
Sennelier also makes soft (dry) pastels, and the two are easy to confuse. They behave very differently:
| Feature | Oil pastels | Soft (dry) pastels |
|---|---|---|
| Binder | Oils and waxes | Small amount of gum or binder, mostly pigment |
| Texture | Creamy, smeary | Powdery, dusty |
| Dust | Little dust | Produces pigment dust |
| Layering | Builds thick, paint-like layers | Relies on paper tooth |
| Protection | Oil pastel fixative, glass | Workable fixative, glass |
| Solvent use | Can be thinned with mineral spirits | Can be wet with water or alcohol for underpaintings |
If you want minimal dust and a paint-like feel, oil pastels are the choice. If you want delicate, airy color and very fine gradations on toned paper, soft pastels may suit better.
Combining Sennelier Oil Pastels With Other Media
Oil pastels play well with a few other materials, provided the order is right.
- Over acrylic. An acrylic underpainting on board or canvas dries quickly and gives oil pastel a good base. Oil pastel should go on top, never under acrylic.
- With oil paint. Oil pastel can be worked into oil paint layers or used on top of dry oil paint for texture and accents.
- Watercolor resist. Drawing with oil pastel and washing watercolor over it creates a resist effect, since the waxy pastel repels water.
- Graphite and charcoal. Light preliminary drawing in graphite or vine charcoal works, but brush off excess charcoal so it doesn’t muddy the colors.
How to Protect and Store Sennelier Oil Pastel Work
Oil pastels never cure completely hard, so finished pieces need protection.
- Frame behind glass with a mat. The mat keeps the surface from touching the glass.
- Use an oil pastel fixative. Sennelier and others sell fixatives designed for oil pastels. They add a protective layer but don’t make the surface fully hard.
- Interleave with glassine. When storing unframed work, put glassine or silicone paper between pieces.
- Store sticks cool and flat. Keep sets away from heat sources and direct sun.
Are Sennelier Oil Pastels Worth the Money?
For artists who want maximum color and a painterly feel, Sennelier oil pastels are generally considered worth the price. The difference from student pastels is noticeable in how they layer and blend. For sketching or occasional use, a mid-range artist pastel may provide better value. A practical approach is to buy a small set or a few open-stock colors in shades you use most, then expand once you know you enjoy the soft texture.
Working in Warm or Cold Conditions
Temperature changes how these pastels feel more than most art materials. In a warm room the sticks become softer and smear more readily, which helps blending but makes crisp marks harder. In a cool room they firm up slightly and give more control. If the sticks feel too soft, rest the box in a cooler spot for a while before working. If they feel stiff, hold a stick in your hand for a minute to warm it.
Sennelier Oil Pastel Sizes and Sets
The standard Sennelier stick is roughly finger-sized, which suits small and medium work. The larger Grand sticks hold far more pastel and are better for big surfaces or covering broad areas quickly, though they are less precise. Sets range from small introductory boxes to large collections, and specialized sets focus on landscapes, portraits or iridescent colors.
Open-stock sticks are sold individually by many art retailers. That makes it easy to replace a heavily used color such as white or a favorite blue without buying a whole new set. For most artists, a modest set plus a handful of open-stock replacements is more economical than the largest box.
Common Mistakes With Soft Oil Pastels
- Pressing hard on the first layer, which fills the tooth and leaves no room for more color.
- Leaving sticks in a warm place, causing them to soften or deform.
- Working on thin, unprimed paper that lets oil seep through.
- Expecting crisp fine detail from very soft sticks without a firmer pastel or tool.
- Stacking finished work without interleaving, which smears it.
FAQs
Are Sennelier oil pastels good for beginners?
They can be, if budget allows and the beginner wants rich color. However, their softness takes some getting used to, and a firmer pastel may be easier for early practice.
Do Sennelier oil pastels dry?
Not fully. They stay slightly soft, which is why framing behind glass or using an oil pastel fixative is recommended.
Can you use Sennelier oil pastels on canvas?
Yes. They adhere well to primed canvas, and many artists combine them with oil paint on the same surface.
Can I use Sennelier oil pastels with oil paint?
Yes. They are compatible with oil paint. Apply them over dry or tacky oil paint rather than under thick oil layers.
Why are Sennelier oil pastels so soft?
The formula uses a high proportion of oils and waxes relative to binders that firm other pastels, giving the creamy texture.
How should I clean oil pastel off my hands and tools?
Wipe with a dry paper towel first, then use soap and warm water. Baby oil or a gentle hand cleaner can help with stubborn residue.
Final Thoughts
Sennelier oil pastels are good for artists who want paint-like richness in stick form. Their softness and pigment strength set them apart, while the cost and fragility mean they reward deliberate use. If you are considering oil paint alongside oil pastels for a professional practice, our review of oil painting kits for expert artists covers complete sets suited to serious work.
