What it is and who it’s for\nThese H & B Pro Soft Pastel Pencils come in a sturdy metal tin and offer a 72-colour spectrum designed for artists who want the feel of soft pastels with the control of a pencil. The set is pitched at both professional artists and keen hobbyists who aim for realistic portraits, landscapes, and nuanced colour transitions. If you prioritise smooth application and easy blending, this could be a practical addition to your studio kit.\n\n## Core features you might notice\nThe pencils are built around a premium 4mm extra-soft mineral-based core, which provides a velvety, buttery application. The pigment is described as high quality, acid-free, and lightfast, aiming to resist fading over time. The cores are set in robust basswood, which is reinforced to withstand sharpening and multiple layering sessions. On paper, this combination tends to deliver soft gradients and painterly effects, especially when you blend with fingers or a stump.\n\n## How it performs in practice\nOn first use, you’ll likely notice the smoothness and ease of layering. The chalk-based nature means you can achieve seamless transitions between colours, particularly useful for portraits where skin tones require subtle shifts. The ability to blend wet or dry methods offers flexibility for mixed-media techniques. However, it’s worth noting that extreme blending may slightly mute the edge definition you’d get from harder pencils.\n\n## Pros and cons in real-world use\n- Pros: extensive 72-colour range, soft yet controllable core for precise shading, good blending capacity, durable construction in a metal tin with added protection, suitable for portraits and landscapes, pigment designed to stay vibrant with lightfast qualities.\n- Cons: not every shade will feel equally creamy, a few light or highly saturated colours may require additional build-up. Some artists might prefer a softer or heavier application for large areas, which could lead them to complement with other media.\n\n## Ideal user and best use cases\nThis set suits professional artists who need accurate tonality and smooth gradients, as well as serious hobbyists who want a reliable, durable coloured pencil system for portraits, soft landscapes, and subtle textures. It’s particularly handy for artists who value a blend-friendly core and a respectable colour life.\n\n## Who might want to pass on this set\nIf you primarily work in fine, highly defined line work or require the brightest, most saturated pencils for bold graphics, you might find the mid-range brightness and blendability not perfectly aligned with your typical workflow. In such cases, a more rigid or higher-contrast option could be preferable.\n\n## What to check before buying\n- Confirm you’re happy with the 4mm core balance between softness and control.\n- Consider whether you’ll use the full 72 colours or if a smaller, more targeted palette would suffice.\n- Think about storage and portability: the metal tin is robust for on-the-go use, but size and weight are relevant if you travel light.\n\n## How it compares to the broader options\nCompared with standard wooden-colour sets, these pencils offer more blending flexibility without sacrificing the precision of a pencil. They sit between traditional hard pastels and typical graphite pencils in terms of feel, appealing to artists who want painterly effects with cleaner edges. If you’re weighing up, this set tends to work well for portraits and landscapes where soft transitions matter more than ultra-bright saturation.\n\n## Practical example of use\nYou might start a portrait with lighter tones to map the face, then layer mid-tones and build depth with the darker colours. The blending capability lets you soften seams where shadows fall, creating a natural skin-tone progression without heavy layering.\n\n## Is it worth it?\nIf you value a versatile, blend-friendly pencil system that resembles soft pastels but keeps the control of a pencil, this H & B 72 Pro Soft set is worth considering. It’s not necessarily a budget option, but for steady use in portraiture and landscapes, it offers a coherent workflow.\n\n## FAQ\n- Do these pencils work well with wet techniques? Yes, they are compatible with both wet and dry drawing techniques for versatile use.\n- Will all 72 colours show up evenly on standard drawing paper? Broadly, yes, though some light tones may require careful layering for true intensity.\n- Are these suitable for beginners? They can be used by beginners, but the soft core and blending approach may be more rewarding for those developing blending techniques rather than someone seeking quick, bold marks.
