Pastels are an inexpensive and fun way to play with blending. They are a wonderfully hands-on tool, as much of the shading can and should be done with one’s fingers. They can produce crisp lines or dots, or soft blended shapes. Pastels can be used to add variation in texture to a multi-media artwork.

The picture above was done using chalk pastels. Oil pastels are another option and can often be found at the dollar store for very little money. The vivid colours provided by pastels make them an especially big hit with young children. As well, they can be used on black or coloured paper without changing the colour of the pastels.

A gallery walk part way through the making process is an excellent way for students to check out other techniques or styles that they may want to experiment with.