NEW PRODUCT: Caran d'Ache hard dry pastels and pencils

This is to let people know that the Swiss company Caran d'Ache will be releasing a new line of hard and dry pastel sticks and pastel pencils in April in 2012.

© Astrid Volquardsen

German pastel artist Astrid Volquardsen (Astrid Volquardsen pastellbilder 'Malerin des Lichts' ) has been in touch to tell me about them and to highlight the fact that she has two posts on her blog which relate to the new line

Last year I was asked to test some prototypes and from this a very nice working relationship has evolved and I was able to see the production site in Geneva and wrote a report about this on my blog A visit at Caran d’Ache / Pastel Pencils . The company was very much interested in the opinion of pastel artists all over the world and to create a line which meets the needs of pastel artists.

She has now written a review of the NEW Caran d'Ache Pastels which highlights why pastel artists might be interested in them - see Caran d’Ache Pastel Pencils and Pastel Cubes.  In it she demonstrates how they work on a variety of different papers as well as identifying the characteristics which she really likes.

Astrid told me that she usually works with Sennelier; Unison, Terry Ludwig and was very surprised by the quality of these new hard pastels from Caran d'ache.  She's now convinced they're a worthwhile addition to our collection of pastel supplies.

You can also see a video of somebody working with the hatrd pastels and pencils on the Caran d'Ache website - click "Pastel - Preview"

The cubes and pencils are being released in April 2012 and can be obtained in

• France: www.magasinsennelier.com

• Germany: via the website www.boesner.com or at various branches of boesner

• Switzerland: www.gerstaecker.ch

I'm adding links into my resource site Pastels - Resources for Artists - and will be looking for them in the art supplies shops when they are introduced.  Now you know to look out for them too!