Paul Rubens Oil Pastels 72 Floral Colors - Creamy, Blendable Set

In this review the Paul Rubens Oil Pastels 72 Floral Colors set is assessed for artists who want a wide, jewel-toned palette and a creamy handling experience. The bottom line: this set is best for painters and mixed-media artists who value intense pigmentation and smooth blending, because the pastels layer like oil paint and create rich texture without much crumbling. The review notes the particularly soft feel and strong coverage, and also flags the one recurring customer caveat about oiliness so readers can set expectations before use.

Key Features

• 72 floral colors: A broad, vivid palette that lets artists mix and overlay hues to achieve painterly textures and subtle gradients for drawing and coloring.
• Creamy texture: The soft, smooth formula blends cleanly and allows scraper or smudging techniques without heavy pilling.
• High pigmentation: Intense, opaque color payoff provides strong coverage on paper and other smooth media for vibrant results.
• Comfortable cylindrical shape: The round sticks with paper sleeves are easy to control and resist breaking while you work large or small areas.
• Eco-friendly composition: Formulated from safer materials with good adhesion and reduced fading over time compared with lower quality pastels.

Who It's For

Artists who enjoy layering and tactile surfaces will appreciate this set: illustrators, hobby painters, and art students looking for a comprehensive, budget-friendly range of jewel-like floral tones. The easy blending makes these pastels useful for those who mix media or want painterly effects without switching to wet paints.

Those who need a dry, powdery pastel or who dislike greasy media should look elsewhere; several users mentioned a noticeably oily feel, which can be an advantage for blending but a drawback for very precise, non-greasy finishes or for work on highly textured, absorbent papers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Very high color quality with vibrant, jewel-like tones that layer well.
• Soft, creamy consistency makes blending and scraper techniques straightforward.
• Good value for a 72-color selection suited to students and hobbyists.
• Durable cylindrical sticks with paper sleeves that are comfortable to hold.

Cons

• Some users report the pastels feel greasy or oily, which may require care when working on certain papers.

Specifications

Brand	Paul Rubens
Set size	72 colors
Color range	Floral, jewel-like tones
Stick shape & size	Round sticks, approx 70 mm length and 12 mm diameter with paper sleeves
Finish	Creamy, oil-pastel texture suitable for blending and layering
Materials	High-quality, eco-friendly oil pastel formulation

Our Verdict

For artists seeking a large, economical pastel set with vivid pigments and a buttery feel, this 72-color Paul Rubens kit is a sensible pick because it blends smoothly and produces strong, opaque color. It is especially good for mixed-media work and textural painting, though those averse to oily media should test first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these pastels good for layering?
Yes, the colors are formulated to overlay and mix well, producing a painterly texture when layered.

Do they work on different papers?
They perform best on smoother papers and mixed-media surfaces; very absorbent or toothy papers may reduce the creamy effect.

Will the colors fade?
The set uses high-quality, eco-friendly ingredients designed for good adhesion and reduced fading compared with lower grade pastels.