Sennelier 40 Half Pastel Portrait Boxed Set - Soft, Highly Pigmented

Our review of the Sennelier 40 Half Pastel Portrait Boxed Set finds it best suited to portrait artists and mixed-media painters who want richly pigmented, travel-friendly pastels. The single biggest reason to buy is the unusually soft, naturally air dried sticks that lay down luxurious color with minimal pressure, making skin tones and subtle blends easy to achieve. In practice these half-sticks offer a compact, portable selection without sacrificing the deep pigment and buttery feel prized by experienced pastelist and portrait students.

Key Features

• Soft, air dried sticks: The naturally air dried, uncompressed formulation produces an extra soft texture that delivers lush color with a gentle stroke.
• Half-stick format: Half-sticks reduce weight and size for convenient travel while still providing a wide portrait color selection.
• High pigment purity: Made with high quality, pure pigment so colors remain vibrant and layer well over varied surfaces.
• Multi-surface use: These pastels work on canvas, paper, metal, wood, stone and glass, enabling mixed-media experimentation.
• Acid free composition: The acid free pastels help preserve artwork longevity when used on archival supports.

Who It's For

Portrait artists, studio painters and art students who favor a buttery, blendable medium will appreciate this set for its easy layering and wide portrait palette. The compact 7x8 in package and half-stick size also make it practical for plein air portrait studies and travel sketching.

Those who need extremely hard, structural sticks for heavy impasto or who require a guaranteed non-breakable formula may want to look elsewhere, since some customers report variable breakability and these soft pastels can crumble with heavy pressure.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Exceptional softness and blendability that make subtle transitions simple to achieve.
• Rich, pure pigments that produce vibrant, lasting color across mixed media surfaces.
• Compact half-stick set that is travel friendly without sacrificing a portrait palette.

Cons

• Soft texture can lead to occasional breakage or crumbling for artists who press hard.

Specifications

Brand	SENNELIER
Set Size	40 half sticks
Package Dimensions	7x8 in
Paste Type	Naturally air dried, uncompressed oil pastels
Surfaces	Canvas, paper, metal, wood, stone, glass
Archival	Acid free
Made	Imported

Our Verdict

The Sennelier 40 Half Pastel Portrait Boxed Set is recommended for portraitists and mixed-media artists who value buttery softness and intense pigment in a travelable format; its rich colors and easy blending deliver strong value. Buyers who need extremely hard pastels or who consistently apply heavy pressure should consider a firmer alternative, but for color quality and ease of use this set is a solid investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these pastels good for mixed-media work?
Yes. They layer well over oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolor and adhere to many surfaces including canvas and glass.

Will the half-sticks break easily?
They are extra soft and some users report breakage or crumbling under heavy pressure, so gentle handling is advised.

Are the colors permanent and archival?
The pastels are made with high quality pigments and are acid free, which supports longevity when used on archival supports.