PASTEL CRAYONS

Pastel crayons have been used as a drawing medium since the 15^th century. The term "pastel" is derived from the Italian word "pasta" (dough), because in the past pigments used to be kneaded into a dough with the aid of a binding agent.

Ingredients:

• Colour pigments

• Fillers (clay, calcium carbonate, pumice powder, quartz powder, kaolin)

• Binding agents (e.g. cellulose derivates)

The ingredients are kneaded together and pressed into the particular shape.

Pastel crayons are dried, as the sensitive colour pigments would otherwise become charred due to the intense heat generated during the firing process.