Assessment of Caran d’Ache Neoart 6901 Oil Pastels

On listening to that Caran d’Ache was increasing their already intensive line of wonderful merchandise with some new pastels, I used to be very excited! I’m a giant fan of Caran d’Ache and their merchandise – notably their Luminance color pencils, Neocolor II watersoluble wax pastels, and Neopastel oil pastels. I used to be intrigued to see how the Caran d’Ache Neoart 6901 oil pastels would examine to each, and the way they’d work as a part of a mixed-media apply.

Caran d’Ache Neoart 6901 Oil Pastels

Assessment of Caran d’Ache Neoart 6901 Oil Pastels

Glorious Lightfastness Score

The large plus to those new Caran d’Ache Neoart 6901 oil pastels is that they’re the primary wax and oil pastels to fulfill ASTM D-6901 requirements, guaranteeing distinctive lightfastness for as much as 100 years.

Examined within the Arizona desert, the vary of 48 colors provides superior lightfastness, with 34 LFI (finest lightfastness) and 14 LFII (excellent lightfastness) scores. That includes 75% single pigment or bi-pigment formulations, Neoart 6901 units a brand new benchmark in pastel efficiency.

I examined the set of 12 assorted colors, which features a number of important colors to get began, together with six single-pigment colors. 9 of the colors are LFI-rated, and three are LFII.

Caran d’Ache Neoart 6901 Oil Pastels

Bodily Qualities of the Caran d’Ache Neoart Oil Pastels

The pastels have an uncommon however very pleasing octagonal form for straightforward dealing with. The Neoart oil pastels are aimed toward professionals, artwork college students, and passionate creatives. They’ve a mushy texture, and a silky look. The pigment focus feels very excessive – the color lays down flat and simply on first use. They’ve the softness of a wax pastel, like Neocolor II, however with a barely richer color payoff just like the Neopastel.

This set is available in a sensible cardboard storage field containing the next colors: White, Black, Brown Ochre, Everlasting Crimson, Russet, Manganese Violet, Ultramarine, Lemon Yellow, Purplish Crimson, Spring Inexperienced, Chrysocolla Blue, and Darkish Phthalocyanine Inexperienced.

Caran d’Ache Neoart 6901 Oil Pastels on Jackson’s Watercolour Block 300 gsm Scorching Press Pure White

I examined the Neoart pastels on each Jackson’s Watercolour Block 300 gsm Scorching Press Pure White, and Jackson’s Watercolour Block 300 gsm Chilly Pressed (not) Pure White. They laid down simply on each forms of paper as you’ll be able to see from my swatches, displaying the feel a little bit extra on the chilly pressed paper as is to be anticipated.

Though Caran d’Ache states that the pastels don’t crumble below stress, you do get slight flecks of product coming off when utilizing – extra so when utilizing on the chilly pressed paper because of its rougher floor.

Caran d’Ache Neoart 6901 Oil Pastels on Jackson’s Watercolour Block 300 gsm Chilly Pressed (not) Pure White

Evaluating the Neoart Oil Pastel to the Watersoluble Neocolor II and the Wax-Based mostly Neopastel

Compared to Neocolor II, they really feel fairly comparable, extra so than in comparison with the Neopastel. They sit effectively on the web page, and they don’t smudge should you rub your finger over right away, not like the Neopastel which smudges simply. They usually go over each other very effectively, even white covers all the colors as you’ll be able to see from my checks.

If you lay colors excessive of one another they mix ever so barely. They’re nearer to the Neocolor II than I anticipated. Maybe on a private stage, I believe I hoped for them to take a seat nearer to the Neopastel, however I assume it’s a really private desire on the way you prefer to work.

Utilizing the Pencil Mixing Medium

Utilizing Jackson’s Pencil Mixing Medium, I examined the Neoart pastels individually on the new pressed paper. They mix effectively, feeling and giving the feel of an alcohol marker when thinned down.

I then examined each extra freely on each forms of papers to see how the colors would combine. They appeared to work higher on the chilly pressed paper – not forsaking a ‘shadow’ of pigment and mixing extra fluidly.

Easy methods to Use Caran d’Ache Neoart 6901 Oil Pastels in a Sketchbook or on the Go

The sticks are sturdy and are solely 68 mm in size so very simple to tackle the go. They don’t appear to be as doubtlessly messy as an oil pastel product when it comes to rubbing towards different colors or melting within the warmth. I believe they’d work very properly on location, or in a sketchbook when out of the studio. I shall be taking just a few colors with me so as to add to my pencil case. The small field with foam insert is useful to retailer them, however I don’t really feel it’s essential to hold them in there for location drawing. I’d really feel assured including them to my Neocolors II in a small tin or pencil case.

Combined Media Strategies with Caran d’Ache Neoart 6901 Oil Pastels

I’ve examined them fairly a bit with completely different media on each forms of paper. I don’t prefer to observe strict guidelines when it comes to how I take advantage of my media – I get pleasure from utilizing a resist method for instance, by utilizing paint over a waxy materials. On this case, you’ll be able to see after I’ve utilized a Pentel Pigment Brush Pen and a few Holbein Acrylic Gouache paint over the Neoart pastels to create a resist and provides an fascinating texture.

The Neocolor II and Neopastel work effectively when layered over and below the Neoart pastels. Colored pencils carry out equally over them as they do over Neocolor IIs. Some colors (the darker ones) work higher and you must apply fairly a little bit of stress to see the pencil color.

I’ve additionally proven how effectively the colors match to Luminance pencils I already personal. I anticipated nothing much less from the Caran d’Ache vary, to be trustworthy, however it’s beautiful to see what an important match their pigments are, Particularly because it’s exhausting to decide on colors from laptop display swatches. Should you personal some Luminance pencils, you possibly can swatch these and make certain of ordering the best color within the Neoart pastels because the pigments are precisely the identical. Or in case you have a selected favorite Luminance pencil, you possibly can check out a brand new materials in the identical acquainted shade.

Should you already personal and benefit from the Neocolor II, I’m assured you’ll love these. If, nevertheless, you like a a lot softer, extra buttery really feel of a Neopastel, then I believe these shall be an excessive amount of on the facet of easy and waxy for you.

They do have an important vary of colors – quite a bit matching straight your favorite colors from the Luminance vary. I like to purchase supplies like this individually, so though the packing containers are useful and work out a greater value per pastel, I nonetheless favor the liberty of curating my very own palette. Should you already personal some Neocolor II pastels, then with the ability to add some paler, extra muted colors to your palette, I believe is welcome.