my luv for the creamy, vibrant quality of Schminke soft pastels endures!
mike ishikawa11/16/2025 10:41 AM
"smooth but tough"
They are extremely smooth, but can take a hard mark without breaking
mike ishikawa9/15/2025 8:07 AM
"fantastic"
Consistant, every stick is the same, silky smooth. There are no hard ones in their lineup.
Danessa Morrow8/4/2025 2:44 AM
"Schmincke pastels review"
Quickly became a favorite and would absolutely purchase again. They're velvety smooth and perfect for finishing touches. Dakota violet has become my new favorite for shadow. Had I known i would love it that much, I would have bought more. Dakota pastels also did a wonderful job replacing a stick when the quinacridone violet 48B crumbled in my hand and all over the floor after I unwrapped it. I've used it frequently since this. Easily the top soft pastels brand!
wayne singer6/10/2025 12:07 PM
"pastel"
great
mike ishikawa3/29/2025 7:30 AM
"creamy"
I love the consistantance of the pastels, they are soft and creamy, and go over many layers of pastels without a hitch.
Hollis Hill3/24/2025 12:25 PM
"Love these new pastels"
Love the ultra soft Schmincke pastels, and the rich colors!
Mary Vastola12/13/2024 4:55 PM
"Ooo so soft like a creamy dream"
Omg I purchased a white and the dark violet (eggplant) color. Both drop so much beautiful color with no effort.
Michael Thompson8/20/2024 6:50 AM
"Pastel"
As always, Schmincke pastels are absolutely beautiful colors!
Very easy to work with.
Doug Garey8/16/2024 9:09 AM
"Pastel"
I really appreciate the help getting quality pastels and paper for from Dakota pastel.
Easy to order and vital because I live nowhere near a brick and mortar art store.
Hobby lobby doesn’t count. They don’t have good pastels or paper. Less than helpful.
LaDonna Kruger8/12/2024 9:05 AM
"Schminke pastels"
Schminke’s are like butter. So beautiful to use! Love them.
Peggy Braeutigam6/2/2024 5:34 PM
"Whitest of Whites"
For more years than I can remember when I want that very white, white pastel stroke at the end of a painting I reach for Schmincke white. No matter how many or few layers of pastel I’ve used the Schmincke will stay in place and remain sparkling white no matter what paper I’ve used.
Terrilynn Dubreuil3/10/2024 4:52 AM
"finish line"
Schmincke pastels have a buttery softness that helps bring a painting to the finishing line! And the colors are lightfast and as pure as you can get.
Carol1/22/2024 6:50 AM
"Onscreen color representation"
The actual (in-person) color of this pastel is exactly the same as the color on the screen! I wanted only this one pastel, and I got it from you! Wonderful! I’m pleased with my own eyesight, my selection, and with your color representation!
Ralph Klapis6/1/2023 7:05 AM
"Great colors, great service"
The quality and feel of Schminke pastels is unquestioned, and I really like these additions to my selection of blues. I also want to commend the way that Dakota packed them, very securely and with a lot of care, taking the extra step of grouping them by hue and placing them so the individual color labels were clearly visible. It really makes a difference, and it is this kind of service that makes Dakota very special.
margaret mormino5/29/2023 7:41 AM
"hit the highlights"
I use these to finish the highlights. Extra creamy, brilliant colors
Pamela Shaver4/9/2023 4:56 PM
"Schmincke Pastels"
Your care with packaging is truly appteciated.
Cynthia8/28/2022 1:15 PM
"Schmincke Pastels"
I love these pastels. They are rich in pigment and layer nicely over other pastels.
Jeanne Conant8/2/2022 7:50 AM
"Excellent pastel"
I bought 5 full sticks. It’s the first time using the Schminke brand of pastel for me. I have heard very good things about them from well known professional pastelists. If you’re looking for a very soft pastel, this brand has you covered. Buttery soft, rich bold pigment, and easy to use. They take care in packaging the pastels also. Cushioned inside of a foam-lined box then bubble wrapped, no breakage….until I accidentally drop one on the floor or break it intentionally!
I will purchase these again.
Diane Breuer7/17/2022 1:28 PM
"Award Pastels"
Thank you so much for choosing my rooster, Casanova, for an award, which is why I ordered the Schmincke pastels. They are exactly what I wanted. They arrived very quickly and were in perfect condition.
Jackie Nash7/8/2022 4:35 AM
"Schmincke pastels"
This product is very soft so I pick larger areas to work with it. Still learning about the different pastels. It seems to be of nice quality.
Katherine Hix4/11/2022 4:13 AM
"Fantastic service and shipping"
I recently ordered several individual Schmincke soft pastels to help fill gaps in my color selection. They were beautifully packaged and arrived quickly. Dakota Pastels' website is well-designed such that was easy to see the colors and choose the ones I needed. I'll definitely order again.
Rebecca Willis3/25/2022 4:15 AM
"Schmincke Trail"
I just wanted to see what all the hype was about. Everyone seems to rave about the Schmincke brand. I love their large range of colors. I’ve used them a little but not enough to say they are a got to for me yet. But they are nice soft….but not as creamy as the Blue Earth.
Bruce Trentham3/17/2022 6:59 PM
"My main go to pastels"
My main go to pastels. Could have a
greater range of light values.
Jim landis2/4/2022 10:19 AM
"Reputation validation"
I have read about these pastels for over 30 years but have never held one. I wasn’t able to hold out any longer and purchased a few sticks to replenish some other brands...all I have heard is true! These pastels are a pure pleasure to use, the softness, the intensity of color, the uniformity of texture, it’s all there-every testimony I have read or heard has been verified.
Bev in LA1/31/2022 6:04 PM
"Beautiful Quality Pastels"
Every color of Schmincke pastels I have tried is creamy and rich. These pastels are really outstanding and a pleasure to work with.
Peggy Lanahan1/22/2022 7:51 AM
"Artist"
Love schmincke!
Laurie H1/15/2022 7:19 AM
"Great Colors!"
I have a few Schminke already, but not a lot. These pinks were exactly what I needed for a specific painting. Their quality is good, soft enough for what I do, and a good price. I need to look into Schminke more often.
BCrist10/27/2021 5:00 PM
"Beautiful Quality Pastels"
I bought several Schmincke pastels and I am very pleased with the quality of the product and with the entire online shopping experience with Dakota. I am just getting back into pastels but remembered that I liked Schmincke. I was not familiar with Dakota but decided to give them a try, and was glad that I did. The color charts on their website seem pretty accurate, the pastels were beautifully packed - no breakage, and everything shipped quickly.
Cynthia8/2/2021 9:06 AM
"Schmincke Review"
These are wonderful soft pastels. They make laying easy because a light touch will lay down color without smudging the layer of pastel underneath. Love them.
Leda Manfre8/2/2021 3:24 AM
"Schminke individual"
Great
Peggy Nichols6/4/2021 9:23 AM
"Schmincke pastels"
I have used Schmincke pastels for many years. They are excellent. The are soft pastels but they hold their shape when drawing, much like Unison pastels. I work mostly figurative so I pretty much know the palette I need for the figure. I prefer buying individual sticks, rather than sets. The sets usually do not have everything I need. I highly recommend Schmincke to any artist who is thinking about working in pastel. Really excellent brand.
Bruce Trentham6/3/2021 12:44 PM
"Schmincke Individual"
My go to pastels. Soft. Reasonable range of color but could have more lighter colors. Goof numbering system.
Paul Harman5/27/2021 4:30 PM
"Schminke Pastels are Terrific."
Schminke a pastels are superb colorfast pastels with wonderful softness. They have a huge selection of colors. I love using them for building clouds and also for final highlights.
Sally4/12/2021 8:28 AM
"Great pastels"
These pastels are wonderfully soft, and provide the spice to highlight a painting.
jeanne f hobert3/6/2021 4:20 AM
"PERFECT"
Schminckes are my favorite and so is Dakota Pastels!
May Garcia9/26/2020 3:24 PM
"Schminke Individual Pastel"
I bought the lemon yellow for a workshop. I had never tried Schminke pastels before. It applies so smoothly and is a beautiful subtle light yellow hue that the workshop artist recommended for snow paintings. If needed, I would definitely try Schminke again. Thank you!
Michael Hartley9/3/2020 4:57 AM
"So buttery soft!!"
I love the buttery softness of Schmincke pastels. They are wonderful for adding finishing touches to a painting.
Stardust Creations7/3/2020 8:36 AM
"One of my favorites !"
Always confident when buying Schmincke pastels, soft/buttery and long lasting.
Kath Ryan6/12/2020 5:27 AM
"Free testing to find brand: Schminke"
Lady couldn’t have been nicer. Like my neighbor. Thank you so much!😎✨☺️
Jackie Stoy4/27/2020 9:50 AM
"Schminchke Individual White"
Creamy and beautiful pastel!
Marti Walker4/17/2020 10:11 AM
"Soft and creamy application yet sturdy sticks!"
I got an award of 18 Schminke pastels and was delighted to find that, in unwrapping their paper label, I did not find a single break or divot or irregularity in any of them, top to bottom. I have brands I will not use anymore (eg. Sennelier) which have broken and fell as I unwrapped, leaving me with almost nothing to use in a +$4 stick! Schminckes are the opposite - I have ordered many Individuals now and never have had a stick break on me by accident. They are the frosting on the cake of my paintings and I love them even for softly applied glazes!
Carla Hinton4/9/2020 7:02 AM
"individual pastels Schmincke"
The quality of pastel is very good. The delivery very timely. I have some difficulty getting the colors I want especially the very dark tones. May have the wrong maker.
Nancy MacLachlan3/8/2020 7:07 AM
"Schminke individual"
I was unable to find a source in the US to order individual pastel sticks. So happy that Dakota does that! The ordering process was clear and simple. Thank you!
Lori Goll9/20/2018 4:57 AM
"Love Schminckes"
Arrived promptly in good shape. I love these creamy pastel sticks!
MMontague9/9/2018 4:10 AM
"Too soft?"
Unfortunately these pastels are so soft that one of them fell apart when I carefully took the paper off and the other I ordered broke in pieces. Love the colors but wish there was a little more binder in them.