i would like to start using pastel pencils and would like to know what pencils are recommendable and which ones do not break constantly when sharpening and i would like to learn to draw wildlife if anyone could recommend a workshop i could do preferable in and around london i would be most grateful

I prefer Faber Castell pastel pencils. They sharpen to a fine point with a craft knife.I find them much better than Derwent. You use them on pastel paper. I also use them on mountboard.

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Hi there,

Faber Castell are good, another is Cretacolour from Bob Elcock's website. You can sharpen these on rough sandpaper, hold the pencil on a slant and turn the pencil as you rub, rubbing off the wood and the pastel pencil at the same time. You can do this with any pastel pencil however the Cretacolour ones are made of soft wood, apparently, and are easier to sharpen. I've tried it with all pastel pencils and it works. You can get a very sharp point ideal for detail. Hope that helps.

Jill