For those of you who’ve never heard of PanPastels before, allow me to fill you in on this revolutionary product! PanPastels were originally founded by Bernadette Ward and Ladd Forsline back in 2007 and were semi-recently acquired by Golden in 2022. When Ward and Forsline initially created PanPastels, they did so with both pastel and mixed media artist in mind. That’s why PanPastels have been specifically designed to come in small, circular pans that can be easily applied with specially created sponges (commonly known as Sofft Tools) allowing for less pastel dust and waste.
And with their buttery smooth application, it’s no wonder why so many artists gravitate towards PanPastels! Despite all of that, there was only one, small problem when it came to the brand. The issue was that not even a single new color has been introduced to the line in the last 10 years. Yet, as of March, Golden has just introduced 53 new colors into the mix!
Ever since Golden acquired the brand, they’ve been listening to artists’ request to add some new and exciting colors. And with each request, Golden has been looking into how to best expand their color palette to include a more comprehensive range of hues and values. As thus, Golden began by noting which colors were absent from the line; taking note of the colors brought to their attention by not only Ward and Forsline, but also from their valued customers.
As a result, Golden has now added Primary Yellow, Primary Magenta, Crimson, Teal, Raw Sienna and Burnt Umber to the roster! But, that’s not all; Golden has also added new “Light” and “Medium” colors to bridge the gap in values between the original color and the “Tint”, “Shade”, and “Extra Dark” variants. Not only does this allow for a more cohesive color range, but it also removes the need to mix your pastels to create tints or shades as you now have a vast selection of pre-mixed colors to choose from!
However, this new inclusion of colors wouldn’t have been possible without removing a few. So say goodbye to Diarylide Yellow Extra Dark, Phthalo Green Extra Dark, and Chromium Oxide Green Extra Dark. It was Golden’s decision to discontinue these three shades due to their similarity to other colors in the line. But, now with the new inclusions to the line, this brings the new PanPastel total (including the metallics, pearlescents, and mediums) to a whopping 147 pastels!
Also, don’t be afraid if some of the packaging and colors look a bit different for the sets. Each set has been reviewed to better fit their themes (i.e. “Landscape”, “Portrait”, etc.) and color palette. And regarding packaging, expect to see larger images and more noticeable content listings. Moreover, in an attempt to cutback on harmful waste, Golden has now switched over to using recyclable paperboard boxes for their larger sets. But don’t worry, none of the formulation has changed for any of their products. You’ll still be getting that amazing, creamy-smooth PanPastel formula that you’re used to!
So, if you’re interested in grabbing any of the new colors hurry in to either our Phoenix or Tucson stores! Come in and check out the new 53 colors and our updated display case. And while you’re in feel free to grab one of our free pamphlets that include all the 147 PanPastel colors! So be sure to stop in and check us out!
sources:
The Story Behind the New PanPastel Colors, https://goldenartistcolors.com/resources/panpastel-new-colors-story
March 27, 2025, GOLDEN Introduces 53 New PanPastel Colors, Delivering More Choices to Artists!, https://goldenartistcolors.com/news/panpastel-53-color-expansion
