Pastel is pure pigment, the same pigment used in all art media. It is the most permanent of all mediums when applied to conservation ground and properly framed. Pastel has no liquid binder that may cause the surface to darken, fade, yellow, crack, or blister with time. Pastel from the 16th century exists today, as fresh as the day they were painted.

     Pastel does not at all refer to pale colors, as the word is commonly used in cosmetic and fashion terminology. The name pastel comes from the French word "pastiche" because the pure, powdered pigment is ground into paste with a binder and then rolled into sticks. The infinite variety of colors in the pastel palette range from soft and subtle to hard and brilliant.

     An artwork is created by stroking the sticks of dry pigment across an abrasive ground, embedding the color in the "tooth" of the paper, sandboard canvas, etc. If the ground is completely covered with Pastel, the work is considered a pastel painting; leaving much ground exposed produces a Pastel sketch. Techniques vary with individual artists. Pastel can be blended or used with visible strokes. The medium is favored by many artists because it allows a spontaneous approach.

     A particle of pastel pigment, seen under a microscope looks like a diamond with many facets. Therefore, pastel paintings reflect light like a prism. No other medium has the power of color or stability. Pastel does not oxidize with the passage of time.

     Historically, Pastel can be traced back to 16th century Germany. Its invention however is attributed to the beginnings of Cro-Magnon man. The earliest known cave paintings belong to Grotte Cosquer in the south of France. these paintings along with many others show that Pastel was the medium of choice 20,000 years ago.

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