Do pastels mean light colors?
No. That word pastel is a term more known in the fashion and cosmetic industry that implies soft, light colors. In the art world, pastel is a medium in which the full value range (from lightest lights, medium tones all the way to the darkest darks) is available. Colors are often more vibrant than oils for example because of the saturation of pigment (no liquid binder diluting the pigment). Originally pastels were used to sketch with. Since the 1800’s artists created entire paintings from this medium and as the years have gone by, it has become more and more popular among both artists and collectors.
