Short answer
For opaque pastel color on paper, rocks, wood or dark backgrounds, choose pastel acrylic paint markers: Posca sells pastel sets in its medium PC-5M and extra fine PC-1MR tips, and Artistro and Shuttle Art sell pastel dual tip brush sets. These are markers, not the chalky soft pastels or waxy oil pastels artists also call pastels.
Pastel paint markers worth a look on Amazon
Pump-action and no-pump pastel sets, each listing checked by hand.
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uni Posca 5M medium pastel markers, set of 7
Seven pastel colors in Posca’s medium reversible tip, water-based paint the listing says is ACMI certified, mixable and layerable.
- 7 pastel colors
- PC-5M medium tip
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Posca PC-1MR paint markers, extra fine 0.7 mm, soft color 8 pack
Soft colors in Posca’s extra fine pin tip, for detail and small lettering over pastel fills.
- 8 soft colors
- 0.7 mm extra fine
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ARTISTRO 24 pastel dual-tip acrylic paint marker pens
A 1 mm fine tip plus a 1 to 5 mm brush on cotton nibs that need no pumping, per the listing.
- 24 pastels
- Brush and fine tips
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Shuttle Art 28 pastel brush and fine tip acrylic paint markers
Twenty-eight pastel colors with a 1 to 5 mm fiber brush and a 1 mm fine tip; no shaking or pressing needed, per the listing.
- 28 pastels
- Brush and fine tips
Each pick links to an Amazon listing we checked by hand. Prices, colors and pack sizes change on Amazon, so check the listing before you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Pastel paint markers, pastel acrylic markers and pastel paint pens
Those three phrases usually mean the same thing: opaque water-based acrylic paint in light colors, in a marker body. They come in two mechanisms:
| Mechanism | Examples | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pump action | Posca PC-5M pastel, PC-1MR soft color | Strong opacity, sit on top of rock and dark paper | Need shaking and priming |
| Cotton core or direct ink | Artistro pastel dual tip, Shuttle Art pastel brush | Ready to use, brush tips for lettering | Less opaque on dark grounds |
In Sarah Renae Clark’s comparison, Posca scored highest among pump-action markers, and Shuttle Art’s standard direct-ink acrylic markers placed second overall in that group, though she found their tips flimsy; she did not test the pastel sets specifically (comparison).
Pastel markers versus soft and oil pastels
Pastel media, after Wikipedia’s pastel article
| Medium | What it is | Feel | Fixing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pastel paint markers | Opaque acrylic paint in a pen | Clean, flat color | Seal if handled or outdoors |
| Soft pastels | Powdered pigment with little binder, in sticks | Velvety, blendable, dusty | Frame under glass or spray fixative |
| Oil pastels | Pigment in an oily, waxy binder | Buttery, dense, intense | No fixative needed |
| Water-soluble pastels | Soft pastel with a water-soluble binder | Blends to washes with water | Treat like watercolor |
Definitions from Wikipedia’s pastel article: a pastel is powdered pigment plus a binder; soft pastels smudge and need protecting, oil pastels do not need fixative. Posca also sells a separate POSCA Pastel line alongside its markers.
How to use pastel paint markers
- Dark paper first: pastels look their best on black or navy. Plan two thin coats on dark grounds.
- Shake longer: light colors carry a lot of white pigment that settles.
- Layer pastel over bright: a pastel highlight over a saturated base adds depth; let the base dry first.
- Outline last: a fine black or white line around pastel shapes keeps them crisp.
- Rocks and wood: pump-action pastels cover best. See paint pens for rock painting.
Pastel marker project ideas
- Kawaii characters and stickers on black paper.
- Spring and Easter designs on eggs, rocks and wood.
- Bullet journal headers in mint, peach and lilac.
- Pastel florals on dark canvas.
More ideas in marker drawing ideas and acrylic marker art ideas.
Related marker guides
All paint marker types: paint markers. Brush sets: brush tip paint markers. Brand deep dives: Posca and Artistro.
Questions people ask
What markers do artists use?
It depends on the work. Illustrators use alcohol markers for smooth blends, lettering artists use brush pens, and painters, muralists and rock painters use opaque acrylic paint markers such as Posca or Molotow. For pastel color specifically, paint markers are the best fit, because opaque pigment keeps light colors bright on any background.
What are pastels in art?
In art, a pastel is a medium made of powdered pigment and a binder, usually shaped into sticks. Soft pastels are high in pigment and blend easily but dust and smudge; oil pastels are buttery, dense and do not need fixative. Pastel also names a family of pale, soft colors, which is what pastel markers refers to.
What tools are good for oil pastel drawing?
Paper with some tooth, such as pastel or heavy drawing paper, a set of oil pastels, blending stumps or a paper towel for smoothing, a palette knife or toothpick for scratching through layers, and baby wipes for clean fingers. Oil pastels can be thinned for washes; they do not need fixative, unlike soft pastels.
Which brand of soft pastels is considered the best?
There is no agreed best, and we have not compared soft pastel brands or found an independent test to cite. Professional soft pastels differ mainly in softness and pigment load, so many artists buy a few singles from different makers and keep the ones they like. For pastel colors in marker form, see the picks on this page.
What are pastel markers?
Markers in light, soft colors. Most are acrylic paint markers with opaque water-based paint, such as Posca’s pastel and soft color sets, Artistro pastel dual tips and Shuttle Art pastel brush markers. Some brush pen and alcohol marker brands also sell pastel sets, but those are translucent and will not show on dark paper.