Ochre paddocks, red dirt, bark, brick and old timber. The Art Spectrum Soft Round Pastel Six Pack in Autumn Earths collects six warm earth colours, from bright Yellow Ochre to deep Burnt Umber, in hand made artist quality soft pastel.

Earth colours do the quiet heavy lifting in almost every landscape and portrait, which is why this is one of the first six packs we suggest to anyone starting a pastel kit.

What Is in the Autumn Earths Six Pack

Colours in This Set

• Yellow Ochre P (540P)
• Caput Mortuum T (554T)
• Raw Sienna P (544P)
• Burnt Sienna N (548N)
• Greenish Umber N (579N)
• Burnt Umber D (552D)

Colours as listed by Art Spectrum. Art Spectrum notes that colour selections may vary.

The mix of strengths here is clever. Burnt Umber D is the darkest grade Art Spectrum makes, the N shades are deep, and Caput Mortuum T is a tinted, dusty violet brown. That gives you a full light to dark ladder of warm neutrals in one small box.

Like every Art Spectrum soft pastel, these are made in Australia by the family owned Melbourne company that has been making artists' colour since the early 1960s. Greenish Umber is the sleeper hit. It is brilliant for gum leaves in shadow, olive skin tones and anywhere a straight brown looks too hot.

Why We Love Autumn Earths

• Essential colours. Ochres, siennas and umbers appear in nearly every subject.
• Darkest grade included. Burnt Umber D gives you deep, rich darks.
• Great for skin. Caput Mortuum T and the siennas are lovely in portrait shadows.
• Hand made. Lightfast pigments, triple milled for a velvety finish.

How We Use Earth Pastels

Lay in darks with Burnt Umber and Greenish Umber first, then build mid tones in the siennas and finish with Yellow Ochre in the lit areas. Keep strokes light early on, so the paper's tooth stays open for later layers.

They look gorgeous on warm Colourfix grounds and on our other pastel papers and pads.

Questions About the Art Spectrum Autumn Earths Pastel Set