O.k. I head to my local Hobby Lobby today to pick up some pastels like I have read about here and the myriad of choices confused me!!! Oil pastels, soft pastels, semi-hard etc. What the hell do I need??? I thought they were in powder form but all I saw is sticks?? Please advise guys I need your help

The art store pastels you want are the chaulk ones. These you can test yourself if the box they are in is not marked cleary. If you can scratch them with you finger nail and produce some powder, you're in business. Otherwise they are the oil ones which are no good.

There are other "versions" of pastels that are pre-powdered from Mig and MMP, though they cost more but are a more refined powder than what you can normally produce with the art store pastel sticks.

I use a piece of 220 or 440 fine sandpaper to make my pastel powder. Fine enough for me.

HTH

Another option is Carried by Micro-mark.. called Doc O'Briens Weathering powders. Its a set of 12 colors for about $20.. more pricy than chalks but they come ready to use and are very finely ground.. Much finer than the pastel chalk powder I make myself.

I don't know how they stack up with mig powders as I havn't used those yet. overall I think they are a bit cheaper than mig's.

Also with pastel chalks it gets messy making your own poweder so be sure to do it over some scrap paper.

Most craft stores also sell very small plastic containers for painters. I know A.C. Moore sells one that has a snap on lid for .19 cents.. very good for keeping your powder till ready to use.

one last thing. Pastel chalk powder is mixable just like paint to make custom colors.. I mix up the chalk powder with a toothpick till I get it blended together..

The place where I bought mine, they call them soft pastels, some call them chalk, but most call them soft cause you can scratch the powders off them easily.

You can tell they come in rectangular tubes that look like pieces of chalk, the earth tones, and gray tones are what you need.

Alpine imports is where I bought mine, they have a link on the home page if your interested, they sell pretty cheap for the both sets.
Kerry

agreed..i use the dry chalks..scrapping them wif a knife..in fact the dry ones are smoother than the oil chalks

I scrape mine with the edge of a #11 blade into one of those little condiment containers you get with Chinese take out. The powder is contained and by varying the pressure, I get to control how fine the powder is. You can also blend colors, much as you would with paint.

As long as you don't get the Oil Pastels, I think you would generally be OK with them. The ones I use are called "Soft Pastels" and I got them at Michael's.

i use the mig pastels.
but thye are like 4 dollars a jar.
so if i get 4 jars its like 16 dollars.
so just get the Doc O'Briens Weathering powders.
they are a 3 dollars more and they come in more colors. plus they last a long time.

I use MMP powders, Mig pigments, Doc O'brians, as well as artist pigments. These can be had at a good art store, come in small vials, and are ment to be added to oils or what not to mix ur own paint. The can be used just like anyother mdeia for weathering.