The word "pastel" comes from the French word "pastiche." Pastels are made of pure color pigment and a binder. The powdered pigment is mixed with a small amount of resin or gum and then molded into stick form. Because pastels have a minimum amount of binder, it is considered to be the purest form of pigment that can be used in a painting. If the pigment were mixed with an oil medium, it would become oil paint. Pastel is the most permanent of all media, for it never cracks, darkens or yellows.

If the ground, or paper, is covered completely with pastel, the work is considered to be a painting. Much of the paper will show through in a pastel sketch.

Degas was the most prolific Pastelist, and its champion, for he raised it to the full brilliance of oil.

Pastels are often confused with chalk which is nothing more than a dyed limestone or calcium carbonate.

Pastels were first used in the 16th century.