I received these with the care that Dakota pays to handling their packages (bubble wrap and packed boxes) and in quick service! I'm so lucky to live in WA, but they pack and ship so fast! Well, these are my first Diane Townsend pastels. They're beautiful and strongly pigmented. I've been able to find a use for each color in my recent five or six landscapes. I love the texture also. I've used them on unsanded paper and it's true that the pumice does scratch the surface and adheres well. They also work well on sanded surfaces. But I really love these rich colors, so much. They're a must have for my landscapes now.

This Damp Earth set is wonderful! It has become a surprising standout star in building my landscape paintings. The colors are rich and read very well. They can be applied with equal ease at any point in the painting, from the early "ground" layers to final enhancements. This set is one of my must-haves for landscape work.

These pastels have some grit and go onto the paper quite well. I can also use them to make some interesting marks. The colors work well in the woods or near rivers and streams.

Exactly as I had heard in reviews, these Townsends are soft but have an odd grit to they. Go on smoothly and work well with other pastels and the surface. Color is true ans saturated. Size is about average; we'll see how long they last. This collection was as pictured, but be aware that backlit screen views of color are always a bit more vibrant than the reality.

Colors are beautiful and they arrived on time and in great shape. Can’t wait to use them!

Loved the colors perfect for Maine landscapes. Took them to class and one or two others in class were impressed and considering purchasing them.. in addition the pastels themselves are a good texture.