Tried & Tested: My Honest Review of 4 Top Oil Pastels and Crayons

There’s nothing quite like getting your hands on a fresh set of pastels or crayons — the colours, the texture, the possibilities. I’ve recently been testing out four popular sets available from The Art Shops, and I wanted to share my honest thoughts, along with how I’ve been using them in my own work.

Here’s a breakdown of what I found, what I liked

…and how I think each one shines best depending on your style or subject matter.

🎨 1. Sennelier Artists Oil Pastels > See here

Best for: Final layering, rich expressive work, and painterly textures.

I’ll be honest — these feel like luxury in stick form. The Sennelier oil pastels are incredibly soft and creamy, almost like working with lipstick. The pigment is intensely rich, and they blend effortlessly with either your finger or a paper stump.

They’re perfect for:

• Bold mark-making and layering (especially on textured pastel paper or canvas board).
• Expressive landscapes or still life work where you want colour and energy.
• Mixed media pieces, especially on top of acrylics or collage.

One thing to note: they’re so soft that fine detail can be tricky, and they’ll smudge easily — but that’s part of the charm if you like a looser style. I found them best used towards the end of a piece, almost like finishing strokes in oil painting.

🖍️ 2. Faber-Castell Oil Pastel Sets > See here

Best for: Beginners, sketchbook use, and learning how to build colour.

These were a pleasant surprise. They’re harder than the Sennelier pastels, which makes them ideal for outlining, blocking in colour, and doing rough studies. The colour payoff isn’t as intense, but it builds well with layering — especially if you work from light to dark.

Where they shine:

• Sketchbooks and quick studies.
• Classroom settings or on-the-go sketching.
• Practice work where you’re focusing on shape and form rather than texture.

They’re great value and a really good place to start if you’re experimenting with oil pastels for the first time. They don't feel messy, and the sticks hold their shape well — perfect for more controlled mark-making or line work.

🖌️ 3. Caran D’Ache Neocolor II (Water-Soluble Crayons) > See here

Best for: Sketching, underpainting, and adding pops of watercolour-like effects.

These are not oil pastels, but they do sit in that same creamy-crayon family — and they’re brilliant. What makes them different is that they’re water-soluble, so you can draw with them like a crayon, then activate them with a wet brush to create washes and blends.

They’re perfect for:

• Loose sketching and colouring over pencil work.
• Illustration, journaling, or anything where you want to go from dry to wet media easily.
• Mixed media pages — I love using them alongside ink and fineliners.

They give you a lot of control. You can outline a shape, wash over it with a brush, and then go back in with more layers. If you’re someone who likes the spontaneity of watercolour but with a bit more grip and layering, these are ideal.

🖍️ 4. Caran D’Ache Neoart Aquarelle 6901 > See here

Best for: Large-scale expressive work and bold, fast applications.

These are the chunkier, bolder cousin of the Neocolor II crayons — water-soluble again, but in a thicker stick with stronger pigment. They're made for covering large areas quickly and feel somewhere between a pastel and a solid watercolour stick.

Best used for:

• Bold sketching and underpainting before working in acrylic or gouache.
• Life drawing or plein air work where speed and gesture matter.
• Backgrounds and textured washes — lay down colour and sweep over with water.

I found them a little too chunky for small sketchbook work, but if you’re working on A3 or larger, they’re a dream. Great for loosening up your style and letting go of precision.

🎯 Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for rich colour and painterly impact, Sennelier is hard to beat. For sketchbook work or beginners, Faber-Castell is a brilliant starting point. If you want that wet/dry flexibility, the Neocolor II crayons are my go-to. And for big, bold work? The Neoart 6901s are worth a spot in your studio.

Whatever your style, it’s always worth trying something new — you might just discover your new favourite tool.

🛍️ Want to try these out for yourself? Pop into our Ilkley or Northallerton shop, or browse the full range online at theartshops.co.uk