Sennelier - Sennelier : Soft Pastel
Sennelier: Collaboration in Colour Since 1887
Sennelier has been at the heart of French art materials since 1887, celebrated for its exceptional range of artist quality colours.
Founded by Gustave Sennelier near the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the brand began by sourcing the finest pigments across Europe. Over time, Sennelier developed its own paints to meet the unique needs of artists.
Notable artists who have used Sennelier paints include Cézanne, Gauguin, and Van Gogh. They would often seek specific shades that Sennelier would carefully create for them.
In 1949, Henri Sennelier, Gustave’s son, introduced the first professional quality oil pastels. This was in response to Pablo Picasso’s request for a versatile medium he could apply to any surface. These oil pastels, made with a blend of waxes and oils, remain popular for their creamy texture, vibrant colours, and ability to be used on a variety of surfaces without cracking. Sennelier also makes a range of Oil Sticks. You can learn about their differences in Oil Sticks vs Oil Pastels on Jackson’s Art Blog.
Today, Sennelier offers a vast array of high quality art materials, including oil paint, acrylic, watercolour, soft pastels, tempera, and dry pigments. Sennelier’s dedication to artistry and innovation continues to inspire artists worldwide, making it a trusted choice for both tradition and creativity in colour.
‘Sennelier’s strength lies in having always been receptive to artists. Meeting them, listening to them, and transforming their wishes into quality products – this is what has always been at the heart of Sennelier’s savoir-faire.
We never launch a product that doesn’t solve an artist’s problem. Artists would like ecological additives? We created “Green For Oil“. Oil paints aren’t drying quickly enough? We created “Rive Gauche”, an oil paint that dries twice as fast as the others. Tubes of acrylic paint are not very practical? We created “abstract “, an acrylic paint in a transparent pouch, which doesn’t allow air to enter and reduces waste.’
- Yves-Marie Salanson, Artistic Director of Sennelier