I have recently acquired a set of Rembrandt pastels and with Canson paper, the results are very pleasing. However, I have been informed that some pastel colours are fugitive hues and, although very beautiful will fade, rendering the work useless. I had been under the impression that pastel were of a permanent nature - can you enlighten me on this question and tell me which colours are fugitive?

Margaret Evans replies: Pastels are just as permanent if not more so than any other medium because they are pure pigment. For piece of mind, one only has to look at some of the original works by Degas which are over a hundred years old and still as vibrant and beautiful today as the day the were painted. So use the colours you want to, have fun with your work and don't worry. My final advice would be to keep any finished work under glass and away from direct sunlight to help preserve it.