In 1949, Henri Sennelier started developing a range of artists' quality pastels for the famous cubist Pablo Picasso. Picasso was looking for a pastel with intense colour that could be applied directly and freely to a wide variety of surfaces. As a result, Sennelier created an oil pastel with a soft, creamy quality with all the intensity and vibrancy of conventional oil colours. Unlike oil colours, Sennelier oil pastels are made using a unique combination of non-aggressive oils and waxes so they can be used on almost any surface—including paper—without cracking or effecting the substrate. As oil pastels do not ever completely dry and remain heat sensitive, it is recommended that oil pastel works are sealed with an oil pastel fixative. Artists quality oils pastel, very soft and buttery. All colours are 100% lightfast. Sennelier Oil Pastels - 6 Iridescent Colours Contents: 111 Aluminium 114 Rich Gold 115 Red Copper 32 Golden Pearl 123 Transparent Blue 125 Iridescent White Apply colours directly or mix colours before blending with a rag or your finger. Dilute colours with mineral spirits or turpentine and blend them with a brush.Seal the paper first with gesso if necessary. Use in mixed media, applying over watercolour, oil or acrylic paint.Colours may be sculpted with a pre-heated palette knife. After heating, adhere and inlay pigments, sand, sawdust, wood, paper, glass or metal into the moist colour.