Real examples of soft vs hard pastels: practical examples for better drawings

Let’s skip the theory and go straight to the easel. Here are real examples of soft vs hard pastels: practical examples you’ll actually recognize from your own drawing sessions.

Example 1: Drawing a sunset sky

You’re painting a big, glowing sunset over the ocean.

• You start with hard pastels to lightly block in the horizon line, the shape of the clouds, and the rough placement of the sun. Because hard pastels keep a sharper edge, you can sketch those lines without filling the paper’s tooth too fast.
• Then you switch to soft pastels for the intense oranges, pinks, and purples. Soft sticks release more pigment, so those colors feel almost velvety and luminous across the wide sky.
• At the end, you might grab a hard pastel again to sharpen the edge of the sun or suggest distant buildings along the shoreline.

This is one of the best examples of how the two types work together: hard for the structure, soft for the glow.

Example 2: Portrait with smooth skin and sharp eyes

You’re working on a head-and-shoulders portrait.

• First, you use a hard pastel in a neutral color to lightly sketch the placement of the features: eyes, nose, mouth, hairline. Think of this as using a colored pencil, but with more coverage.
• Next, you block in skin tones with soft pastels. Their creamy texture lets you blend subtle transitions in the cheeks and forehead with your fingers or a blending tool.
• For the iris, eyelashes, and catchlights in the eyes, you return to hard pastels or pastel pencils. They’re better for tiny, precise marks that would be hard to control with a chunky soft stick.

Here, the example of soft vs hard pastels is clear: soft for blended areas like skin, hard for crisp details like eyelashes and pupils.

Example 3: Urban sketch with buildings and signage

You’re capturing a city street with storefronts and traffic lights.

• You lay in the perspective lines and building edges using hard pastels. Their firmness helps you keep corners sharp and windows aligned.
• Then you bring in soft pastels for the sky, reflections in windows, and atmospheric effects like haze or late-afternoon glow.
• For lettering on signs or thin wires in traffic lights, you again lean on hard pastels or pastel pencils. They can carve out thin, readable lines that won’t collapse into fuzz.

This is a strong example of soft vs hard pastels: practical examples show that hard pastels behave almost like drawing tools, while soft pastels feel more like painting tools.

Example 4: Tree studies and foliage

You’re drawing a cluster of trees in a park.

• You begin with hard pastels to map the trunk, main branches, and overall canopy shape. The sticks let you switch easily between line (for branches) and flat side strokes (for shadow shapes).
• For dense foliage and dappled light, you reach for soft pastels. You tap, scumble, and layer different greens, yellows, and blues to create a rich, broken color effect.
• When you need to suggest individual twigs or blades of grass, you go back to hard pastels to scratch in those finer accents over the softer layers.

Again, this example of soft vs hard pastels reinforces a pattern: hard defines, soft enriches.

Example 5: Fast life drawing gesture vs finished figure

You’re in a life drawing class.

• For quick 1–2 minute gestures, you might prefer soft pastels. They let you make bold, sweeping strokes that capture movement and mass quickly.
• For a longer 20–40 minute pose, you might start with a hard pastel to block in proportions lightly, then switch to soft pastels for modeling form and volume.
• At the end, you may use hard pastels to refine edges along the contour of the figure, define fingers, or suggest hair strands.

This is one of the best examples of soft vs hard pastels: practical examples show that your choice can shift depending on whether you’re chasing energy (soft) or accuracy (hard).

Example 6: Mixed-media sketchbook page

You’re working in a sketchbook that already has ink or watercolor on the page.

• You use hard pastels sparingly to add quick color accents over pen drawings—maybe a red stop sign, a blue jacket, or a warm shadow.
• On heavier paper, you might layer soft pastels over dry watercolor washes to punch up the color in the sky or foreground.
• Because soft pastels are dustier and more intense, you’ll often use them in smaller areas or at the end so you don’t smudge your whole sketchbook spread.

In this case, a real example of soft vs hard pastels is about control: hard pastels are tidier and easier to combine with other media, soft pastels are your “big impact” tool.

Example 7: Abstract color fields vs graphic shapes

You’re experimenting with abstract work.

• For large, blended color fields and gradients, you rely on soft pastels. You can layer multiple hues, blend with your hand, and create smooth transitions or smoky textures.
• To cut sharp geometric shapes or lines through that soft color, you grab hard pastels. You can drag a hard stick across the surface and get a crisp, graphic edge.

Here, the examples of soft vs hard pastels show a nice contrast: soft for atmosphere and mood, hard for structure and rhythm.

How soft vs hard pastels actually feel and behave

Now that we’ve walked through several examples of soft vs hard pastels: practical examples from real drawing situations, let’s talk about how they feel in your hand.

Soft pastels:

• Feel buttery or velvety.
• Leave more pigment on the paper.
• Are easier to blend into smooth transitions.
• Can create intense color quickly, but also produce more dust.

Hard pastels:

• Feel firmer and sometimes scratchier.
• Release pigment more slowly, so they’re better for light sketching and fine lines.
• Are great for layers underneath soft pastels, because they don’t fill the tooth as fast.

Many artists treat hard pastels like the “pencil” stage and soft pastels like the “paint” stage. Most professional pastel sets are built around this idea, and you’ll see it reflected in advice from art schools and museum education departments (for example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s education pages on drawing media: https://www.metmuseum.org/learn/learning-resources).

Layering strategy: using both types in one artwork

A lot of beginners think they have to choose between soft and hard, but the best examples of soft vs hard pastels: practical examples usually show both in the same piece.

A common workflow looks like this:

• Start with hard pastels for a light sketch and first color block-in. This keeps the surface open for more layers.
• Build mid-tones and rich color with soft pastels, using the side of the stick for broad areas and the tip for smaller shapes.
• Refine edges and small accents with hard pastels or pastel pencils on top of the soft layers.

In 2024–2025, you’ll see more artists sharing this layered approach on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, especially in pastel communities that focus on landscapes and portraits. Many art educators emphasize using harder sticks first to preserve tooth, then moving to softer brands later in the process.

If you’re curious about materials and want to understand how different pigments and binders affect pastel hardness, the Smithsonian’s art conservation resources and similar museum education sites (for example, the National Gallery of Art: https://www.nga.gov/education.html) can be helpful background reading.

Surface and paper: when soft vs hard pastels behave differently

The same stick can feel totally different depending on the surface.

On smooth paper (like regular drawing paper):

• Hard pastels glide fairly easily and work well for sketching and light shading.
• Soft pastels can feel slippery and may not grab as well, so you’ll hit the paper’s limit faster.

On sanded or textured pastel paper:

• Soft pastels shine. The tooth grabs a lot of pigment, so your colors look rich and layered.
• Hard pastels can feel scratchy, but that can be useful for drawing lines over thick soft pastel layers.

Many pastel artists in 2024–2025 are using sanded papers designed to handle multiple layers; this makes the examples of soft vs hard pastels even more interesting, because you can keep alternating between them without the surface breaking down.

Health and safety notes when using soft and hard pastels

Both soft and hard pastels create dust, though soft sticks typically produce more. While most modern pastels are considered safe for normal studio use, it’s smart to follow basic precautions:

• Work in a well-ventilated space.
• Tap your work to remove excess dust instead of blowing on it.
• Wash your hands before eating or touching your face.

For up-to-date information on pigment safety and general art-material health questions, you can check resources like the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus (https://medlineplus.gov) or consult educational safety guidelines from universities (for example, materials safety pages on major art school websites).

FAQ: real-world questions about soft vs hard pastels

What are some good beginner-friendly examples of soft vs hard pastels used together?

A simple landscape is one of the best examples. Use a hard pastel to sketch a horizon, tree trunks, and a path. Then switch to soft pastels for the sky, distant hills, and soft grass. Finish with hard pastels to sharpen the tree edges and add small flowers or fence posts.

Which should I buy first: soft or hard pastels?

If you’re on a budget and want versatility, start with a small set of hard pastels or pastel pencils plus a few soft pastels in key colors (a warm and cool version of each primary). That gives you a real example of how each type behaves without overwhelming you.

Can you give an example of when soft pastels are a bad choice?

Soft pastels can be tricky in a tiny sketchbook or on very smooth paper where you need lots of detail and don’t want smudging. In that situation, hard pastels or pastel pencils are usually easier to control and less messy.

Are hard pastels better for beginners than soft pastels?

Not automatically, but many beginners find hard pastels less intimidating because they feel closer to colored pencils or charcoal. Soft pastels can feel wild at first. That’s why examples of soft vs hard pastels: practical examples often pair them—using hard for structure, soft for expressive color.

Do professional artists actually use both, or just soft pastels?

Plenty of professional pastel artists use both. Many start with harder sticks or pastel pencils for the drawing stage, then move to softer sticks for the color and final layers. If you look at demonstrations from established pastel societies and museum workshops, you’ll see this pattern repeated in video tutorials and live demos.

The big takeaway from all these examples of soft vs hard pastels: practical examples is simple: you don’t have to pick a side. Hard pastels give you clarity and control; soft pastels give you richness and drama. When you let them share the same page, your drawings get the best of both worlds.