Mungyo Soft Pastels

Mungyo (a South Korean manufacturer) is hugely popular in the art world because they offer impressive quality at accessible price points. However, Mungyo produces three distinct tiers of dry soft pastels. Knowing the difference between these lines helps avoid buying the wrong texture or grade for a specific project.

1. Mungyo "Standard" Soft Pastels (Student Grade)

Shape: Square sticks (available in full-length or half-sticks).

Hardness: Medium-hard / firm.

Best For: Beginners, color studies, and underpaintings.

Characteristics: Because of the extra binder, these hold sharp edges for detail work and produce slightly less dust than round pastels. The colors are bright and easy to blend, though they have lower lightfastness compared to the higher-end sets.