Sennelier Oil Pastel Sets

Gustave Sennelier opened the doors of the Maison Sennelier at 3 Quai Voltaire in 1887. This Parisian landmark faces the Louvre on the Left Bank, just around the corner from the École des Beaux Arts. Artists like Cézanne, Gauguin, Monet, Bonnard, Soutine, Picasso, Modigliani, Kandinsky, and Dali made this place a historic rendez-vous. A place where the most celebrated names could find the finest colors available for artists.

Guided by the advice and aesthetic vision of his Impressionist friends, Gustave Sennelier created a range of 100 oil colors, which were soon followed by full ranges of vibrant watercolors and egg tempera. Sennelier egg tempera was used in some of Chagall’s most beautiful works. Gustave Sennelier’s relationship with these turn of the century masters was so close that painters like Cézanne painted in Gustave’s garden. Sennelier’s range of extra-soft pastels “à l’écu” became Degas’ favorite and a large range of unique dark hues, specially crafted for him, remain in the range today. In 1910, this unparalleled selection reached over 700 separate colors. This expansive line has since been consolidated into the definitive selection of 525 colors we know today.

In 1936 Sennelier followed the burgeoning avant-garde movement that was taking shape at this time and opened a second store in the Montparnasse quarter of Paris. Today, the Montparnasse store serves artists who are still faithful to the spirit of Montparnasse’s storied past. In 1947 Picasso approached Henri Sennelier to create a completely new medium that had the qualities of vivacity, luminosity and unctuosity in an easy to apply stick form. The result was Sennelier’s oil pastels, which instantly became the standard of quality for this medium. The unusually wide range of greys in the oil pastel palette is Picasso’s imprimatura and legacy. Sennelier also offers a full line of papers in blocks, pads and albums which were the favorites of the masters of 20th century art. Especially famous is the La Carte pastel board which uses special ingredients in the surface, giving it an unique soft tooth ideal for use with pastels.

Today, Henri’s son Dominique is the third generation to direct the Maison Sennelier, and the legacy of tradition and innovation continues with the development of Tinfix Design silk dyes, a 56 color range which is the evolution of the original Tinfix line created in the 1950’s. Recently, a line of artist grade oil sticks made from the same ingredients as Sennelier oils was created for contemporary expressive techniques, allowing painters to apply the paints by hand. Like his grandfather Gustave, Dominique Sennelier holds store hours, and is available to help artists visiting the store with any questions on materials.

The essential factor in all this history is a passion for color, embodied in Sennelier’s choice of pigments used in its color ranges. Sennelier circles the globe to find classic pigments such as cobalt, cadmiums and Italian earths that possess qualities that are both beautiful and unique. Rare and precious pigments such as genuine cinnabar, lapis lazuli, gamboge, malachite, verdigris, and bismuth white are the jewels of the Sennelier collection, as well as exquisite natural colorants such as madder and indigo. Sennelier offers a veritable treasure chest of legendary painting mediums and resins such as Dutch Gloss, Turner Transparent and Satin Varnish Medium, as well as true European Venetian Turpentine and a special Maroger Medium formula. Sennelier can provide the artist with whatever materials he or she may need, no matter how esoteric or historic they may be.

Sennelier’s expertise in colors and art materials is surpassed only by their passion for them. Sennelier has been a resource for artists since the era of the Impressionists, and that tradition continues today for all customers of the Maison Sennelier.

Set of 6, Iridescent - This starter set of 6 Iridescent Oil Pastels is the perfect size to explore Sennelier's rich iridescent colors. This oil pastel set includes one each of Aluminum, Iridescent White, Golden Pearl, Red Copper, Rich Gold and Transparent Blue

Set of 12, Iridescent - These shimmering, rich tones are a perfect addition to any studio. Used cold - even from the fridge - these oil pastels are still smooth like lipstick. This oil pastel set includes one each of Aluminum, Black, Golden Pearl, Iridescent White, Pale Gold, Red Copper, Red Gold, Reddish Brown Gold, Rich Gold, Rich Pale Gold, Transparent Blue and White.

Set of 12, Starter - This strong introductory palette provides a great foundation of color. Because Sennelier oil pastels are made with special oil, artists are free to work on paper without having to treat the paper first. This oil pastel set includes one each of Black, Burnt Umber, Cinnabar Green Yellow, Delft Blue, French Ultramarine Blue, Green Medium, Lemon Yellow, Mandarin, Pale Blue, Permanent Intense Red, White and Yellow Ochre.

Set of 24, Landscape - These robust, rich tones are a perfect addition to any studio or for drawing in plein air. This oil pastel set includes one each of Burnt Sienna, Charcoal Blue, Chrome Brown, Cinnabar Green Deep, Cinnabar Green Yellow, Cinnabar Yellow Brown, Delft Blue, Gray Green, Light English Red, Mars Black, Mummy, Naples Yellow, Phthalo Green Light, Pine Green, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Red Deep, Sap Green, Sap Green Light, Sky Blue, Venetian Red, Violet Ochre, White, and Yellow Deep.

Set of 24, Universal - The assorted colors included in this set allow work in a range of subject matter. Artists will be free to create when the spirit moves them, without having to take time to mix or thin paints or prepare a canvas. This oil pastel set includes one each of Azure Blue, Black, Brown Madder, Burnt Umber Raw Umber, Celadon Green, Celestial Blue, Cinnabar Green Yellow, Delft Blue, French Ultramarine Blue, Geranium Lake Light, Gray Green, Green Medium, Lemon Yellow, Mandarin, Pale Blue, Permanent Intense Red, Pine Green, Red Brown, Reddish Brown Gray, Ruby Red, White, Yellow Deep and Yellow Ochre.

Set of 36, Plein Air Wooden Box - A selection of 36 luminous colors, all packed neatly into a wood foam-lined box that is great for organizing and protecting the sticks when traveling. This oil pastel set includes one each of Blue Gray, Bordeaux, Celadon Green, Chinese Orange, Cold Gray, Earth Brown, Flesh Ochre, French Ultramarine Blue, Geranium Lake Light, Gold Brown, Gray Green, Indian Blue, Indigo Light, Lemon Yellow, Mars Black, Mars Orange, Midnight Blue, Moss Green, Naples Yellow, Olive Green, Pale Blue, Pale Pink Madder Lake, Parma Violet, Phthalo Blue, Pine Green, Prussian Blue, Red Brown, Red Light, Ruby Red, Titanium Buff, Violet Gray, Violet Ochre, White, Yellow Deep, Yellow Gray and Yellow Ochre.

Set of 48, Universal - The broad color palette in this set allows for greater flexibility in whatever you choose to draw. A great gift for oil pastel artists or oil painters looking to add a new dimension to their work. This oil pastel set includes one each of Azure Blue, Barite Green, Black, Blue Gray, Bright Yellow, Brown Madder, Burnt Umber, Celadon Green, Celestial Blue, Chinese Orange, Cinnabar Green Yellow, Cobalt Violet Light, Cold Gray, Delft Blue, Earth Brown, French Ultramarine Blue, Geranium Lake Light, Gray Green, Green Medium, Indian Blue, Lemon Yellow, Luminous Yellow, Mandarin, Mars Black, Medium Gray, Midnight Blue, Naples Yellow, Olive Green, Pale Blue, Parma Violet, Permanent Green Light, Permanent Intense Red, Phthalo Blue, Pine Green, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Red Brown, Red Light, Reddish Brown Gray, Rose Ochre, Royal Blue, Ruby Red, Venetian Red, Violet Ochre, White, Yellow Deep, Yellow Gray and Yellow Ochre.

Set of 50, Picasso Wooden Box - Sennelier has taken the original colors that Picasso chose for his color palette and put them in a lovely wooden box set. You're assured a great selection of colors from a grand master. This oil pastel set includes one each of Azure Blue, Barite Green, Black, Blue Gray, Bright Yellow, Brown Madder, Burnt Umber, Celadon Green, Celestial Blue, Chinese Orange, Cinnabar Green Yellow, Cobalt Violet Light, Cold Gray, Delft Blue, Earth Brown, English Gray, French Ultramarine Blue, Geranium Lake Light, Gray Green, Green Medium, Indian Blue, Lemon Yellow, Luminous Yellow, Mandarin, Mars Black, Medium Gray, Midnight Blue, Naples Yellow, Olive green, Pale Blue, Parma Violet, Permanent Green Light, Permanent Intense Red, Phthalo Blue, Pine Green, Prussian Blue, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Red Brown, Red Light, Reddish Brown Gray, Rose Ochre., Royal Blue, Ruby Red, Venetian Red, Violet Ochre, White, Yellow Deep, Yellow Gray and Yellow Ochre.

Set of 72 - This set of 72 oil pastels features 24 additional colors added to the standard set of 48. This expanded set allows work in a wider range of subject matters and greater flexibility in whatever you choose to draw. A great gift for oil pastel artists and oil painters. This oil pastel set includes one each of Ash Blue, Azure Blue, Barite Green, Black, Blue Gray, Blue Violet, Bordeaux, Bright Yellow, Brown Madder, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Celadon Green, Celestial Blue, Charcoal, Chinese Orange, Cinnabar Green Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Violet Light, Cold Gray, Coral, Earth Brown, Flesh Ochre, French Ultramarine Blue, Geranium Lake Light, Gold Yellow, Gray Green, Green Medium, Green Yellow Light, Indian Blue, Indigo Light, Lemon Yellow, Light Gray, Luminous Yellow, Mandarin, Mars Black, Medium Gray, Midnight Blue, Moss Green, Naples Yellow, Olive Green, Orange Ochre, Pale Blue, Pale Pink Madder Lake, Parma Violet, Payne's Gray, Permanent Green Light, Permanent Intense Red, Phthalo Blue, Phthalo Green Light, Pine Green, Prussian Blue, Purple, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Red Brown, Red Deep, Red Light, Reddish Brown Gray, Rose Ochre, Royal Blue, Ruby Red, Sap Green Light, Sepia, Titanium Buff, Turquoise Blue, Venetian Red, Vermilion, Violet Ochre, White, Yellow Deep, Yellow Gray and Yellow Ochre.

Set of 120, Wooden Box - Picasso himself chose the first 48 original colors, including eight distinct grays. Metallic and iridescent colors were added in the 1980s. Sennelier has again expanded its colors in 2003, and this luxury wood box set contains every single one of them. This oil pastel set includes one each of Aluminum, Ash Blue, Azure Blue, Barite Green, Black, Blue Alizarin Lake, Blue Chromium Green, Blue Gray, Blue Violet, Bordeaux, Bright Turquoise, Bright Yellow, Brown Madder, Brown Ochre, Brown Pink, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Celadon Green, Celestial Blue, Cerulean Blue, Charcoal, Charcoal Blue, Chinese Orange, Chrome Brown, Chrome Green Medium, Chrome Red, Chromium Green Deep, Cinnabar Green Deep, Cinnabar Green Yellow, Cinnabar Yellow Brown, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Green Light, Cobalt Violet Light, Cobalt Violet Light Hue, Cold Gray, Coral, Delft Blue, Earth Brown, English Gray, Flesh Ochre, French Ultramarine Blue, Geranium Lake Light, Gold Brown, Gold Yellow, Golden Pearl, Gray Deep, Gray Green, Green Medium, Green Yellow Light, Havana Ochre, Indian Blue, Indigo Light, Lemon Yellow, Light English Red, Light Gray, Luminous Yellow, Mandarin, Mars Black, Mars Orange, Medium Gray, Midnight Blue, Moss Green, Mummy, Naples Yellow, Nickel Yellow, Olive Brown, Olive Green, Orange Ochre, Pale Blue, Pale Gold, Pale Pink Madder Lake, Parma Violet, Payne's Gray, Permanent Green Light, Permanent Intense Red, Phthalo Blue, Phthalo Green Light, Pine Green, Pink, Prussian Blue, Prussian Green, Purple, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Red Brown, Red Copper, Red Deep, Red Gold, Red Light, Red Violet, Reddish Brown Gold., Reddish Brown Gray, Rich Gold, Rich Pale Gold, Rose Ochre, Royal Blue, Ruby Red, Sap Green, Sap Green Light, Sennelier Brown Light, Sepia, Sky Blue, Terra Cotta, Titanium Buff, Transparent Blue, Transparent Medium, Turquoise Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Venetian Red, Vermilion, Violet Alizarin Lake, Violet Gray, Violet Ochre, Viridian Green, White, Yellow Deep, Yellow Gray, Yellow Lake and Yellow Ochre.