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Great American Handmade Pastel - Bismarck 2, 235.2

Pastel

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  • Blick Art Materials
    $4.60 USDShop
    Recorded Oct 21, 2026, 12:43 PM UTC

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Product details
Blick SKU
21925-4602
About this product range

Great American Art Works’ owner is a chemist, and his initial research into pastel production focused on the materials and methods of established companies. He soon discovered that old techniques produced old pastels! By employing new materials, techniques, and equipment, he eventually discovered the right combination of ingredients and methods.

Today, Great American Art Works handmade soft pastels are recognized the world over for their excellence. Richly pigmented, these pastels have superb brilliance of tone. The Full Stick pastels measure 1/2" x 2-1/4" (1.7 cm x 5.7 cm), and the Half-Stick pastels measure 1/2" x 1-1/8" (1.7 cm x 2.8 cm). Shapes of pastels may vary.

Sets are designed by accomplished pastel artists, each set is arranged in a reusable cardboard box adorned by artwork inspired by the selection within.

__Try Me sets include a random assortment of pastels selected by Great American Art Works. No two sets will be alike. Color substitutions in other sets may occur at the discretion of Great American Artworks.__

Pigment information

General reference notes about pigments can describe other media (such as oil). They do not verify this product’s exact formulation or behavior.

Prussian Blue

Pigment code
PB27
Type
inorganic
Chemical name
ferric ferrocyanide/iron(III)-hexacyanoferrate(II)
Chemical formula
Fe7(CN)18(H2O)x or C6FeN6H4N
Properties
Prussian Blue is a semi-transparent, deep cyan-blue with a greenish undertone and a very high tinting strength unequaled by most pigments. It is similar to Phthalo Blue unless mixed with white, when it gives up intensity and becomes smoky. It can behave erratically and less reliably in oil and watercolor form depending on its manufacture. For permanent painting Phthalo Blue is considered a more reliable choice.
Permanence
Prussian Blue is lightfast and permanent in all techniques except for fresco. When mixed with Zinc White in watercolor or tempera form, it fades upon exposure to light and completely regains its chromatic strength in the dark. Modern manufacturing techniques have made this tendency less of an issue in recent years
Toxicity
Prussian Blue is moderately toxic if ingested. It will emit toxic hydrogen cyanide gas if heated, exposed to ultraviolet radiation, or treated with acid.
History
"The first of the modern pigments," Prussian Blue is the first artificial pigment with a known history. It was discovered by accident in 1704 by the Berlin color maker Heinrich Diesbach, who was trying to create a pigment with a red hue by mixing iron sulfate and potash. The potash Diesbach purchased from a local laboratory had been contaminated by animal oil and blood during previous experimentation. The resulting mixture yielded a very pale red that changed to purple and then deep blue when he tried to concentrate it. Since previous blue pigments came from lapis lazuli, an expensive stone, Diesbach’s discovery was extremely important for artists of the time.
Description
Berlin Blue, Bronze Blue, Iron Blue, Paris Blue, Paste Blue. Celestial Blue, Monthier Blue and Soluble Blue are varieties of Prussian Blue. Blue Lake is a reduced or let-down variety of Prussian Blue. Chinese Blue, Milori Blue, and Steel Blue are the three highest grades of Prussian Blue.

Mars Black

Pigment code
PBk11
Type
earth
Chemical name
iron oxides
Chemical formula
FeO or Fe2O3
Properties
Mars Black is an opaque black with a strong and cool masstone, a slightly warm tint, and a warm brown undertone. It is not as black as Ivory Black, but it dries more quickly and has three times the tinting strength. Mars Black is normally the only black available in acrylic form and that is safe to over paint. It can be used in all media without reservation and is widely used as an alternative to Lamp Black and Ivory Black.
Permanence
Mars Black is very lightfast with excellent permanence.
Toxicity
Mars Black has no significant hazards and is the only major black pigment considered non-toxic.
History
The word Mars refers to the Roman god of iron and war. Mars Black was developed in the early 20th century from inorganic, synthetic iron oxide.
Description
Black Iron Oxide, Iron Black, Magnetic Oxide, Mapico Black, Mineral Black. Sometimes labeled as Vine Black.

Calcium Carbonate

Pigment code
PW18
Type
inorganic
Chemical name
calcium carbonate
Chemical formula
CaCO3
Properties
Calcium carbonate, the mineral constituent of chalk, is a low tinting strength, inexpensive white pigment that is often used is a buffer and filler. Because of its low tinting strength, it is overwhelmed by other colors. It is used in gesso and other coatings to give the surface more tooth, a desirable characteristic for some painting techniques.
Permanence
Calcium carbonate is lightfast. Like all carbonates, it reacts with strong acids
Toxicity
Calcium carbonate is completely non-toxic, and is used in many food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products. However, excessive consumption is not recommended.
History
Naturally occuring chalk deposits have been mined since prehistoric times. Rocks and minerals that contain calcium carbonate include aragonite, calcite, vaterite, chalk, limestone. marble, and travertine. Calcium carbonate is the principle component of lime, used in many agricultural and industrial applications.
Description
Chalk

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