Originally introduced in 2007 by co-creators Bernadette Ward and Ladd Forsline, PanPastel colors are professional artist quality soft pastels packed in a unique pan format, and are applied using specially formulated micropore sponges, known as Sofft Tools. This format and application technique offers many benefits to artists, such as being able to uniformly apply color to a surface and the ability to mix and blend soft pastel color like paint.
Although Berni and Ladd fostered PanPastel into an important companion product for pastel and mixed media artists alike, they felt this unique soft pastel color product line had not yet reached its full potential. The acquisition of PanPastel by GOLDEN in 2022 was rooted in a shared goal between Berni, Ladd, and GOLDEN: to ensure the PanPastel brand will flourish and grow.
After taking a couple of years to familiarize ourselves with the unique characteristics of PanPastel and the innerworkings of the production process to ensure those unique characteristics are retained, we were finally ready to broach the subject of expanding the color offering.
There have been no new PanPastel colors introduced in over 10 years, leaving artists yearning for more. Therefore, our goal for the expanded palette was to satisfy artist requests and provide a more comprehensive range of hues and values. We began the process by identifying the colors that were notably absent from the line, including: Primary Yellow, Primary Magenta, Crimson, Teal, Raw Sienna and Burnt Umber. Not only have these colors been frequently requested by artists, but they were even noted as gaps by Bernie and Ladd. Once these notable colors were identified, we then reviewed the entire offering to identify additional gaps in hue and value, evaluating multiple trials of each color option to curate a palette we are confident brings the greatest range and utility to artists. At the end of this selection process, we had identified 53 new colors to be added, a greater than 50% increase in colors!
Throughout this process, we also identified a few colors to be discontinued: Diarylide Yellow Extra Dark, Phthalo Green Extra Dark and Chromium Oxide Green Extra Dark. All three colors were very similar to other colors in the line, and their discontinuation allowed for additional new colors to be introduced.
With this larger, more comprehensive color palette available, we then took the opportunity to review all of the PanPastel sets. Artists with Signature Sets were provided samples of new colors; most chose to update the contents of their set to include any new colors that enhanced the usefulness of their color palette. Likewise, our internal team of Materials and Applications Specialists reviewed each set and updated contents with new colors to curate the ideal collection of colors for each intended use (Landscape, Portrait, etc.). With updated contents established, we turned to packaging design. Artists will soon see updated set packaging at retail featuring large application images and a more prominent listing of contents, helping them to quickly identify the content and utility of each set. Lastly, hanging sets will now use recyclable paperboard boxes in place of the current clear PET plastic or plastic bags, making them more environmentally friendly.
Since the beginning GOLDEN has been a company committed to engaging with artists. Through listening to their ideas and needs, and sharing a dialogue about how we might create a new tool for them, our most innovative and exciting ideas come to life. Introducing 53 new PanPastel colors is just one example of the shared success that resulted from collaboration with the artist community!
