BLOCKX soft pastels are handmade in Belgium from pure pigments, following the same tradition established by the company’s founder in 1844. Four successive generations of family members have combined traditional methods with modern chemistry to create pure, permanent, lightfast, and stable artist-quality colors. Soft and velvety, formed into sticks and handmade, these dry, non-crumbling pastels offer excellent coverage. BLOCKX soft pastels can be applied to any surface, though they are especially enhanced when used on paper designed for pastel drawing. Offering vibrant, bright, and fresh shades, BLOCKX pastels are ready to use, can be diluted with water, and are completely lightfast.