RustyTone handmade pastels are a little different to your regular pastel. "How?" I hear you ask. The difference has something to do with the feel, it has something to do with the colour range, it has something to do with the fact that each stick is lovingly crafted by a fellow pastellist. Every part of the process is done by hand here. The mixing of the pigments, the kneading of the material, the rolling of the sticks... the result is something unusual and unique, a blend of silky smooth application of colour while having a firmness and response in a stick that is slightly smaller and more manageable for the artist.

I designed my pastels specifically for the sanded surface. After becoming frustrated with how quickly some pastels were eaten by the tooth of the paper I set out to develop a stronger pastel, something that could stand up to the punishment I give them in my working process. This resulted in a small series of colours which became a signature of my own works. Over time I began to experiment with the colour mixes, finding many colours not seen in the mainstream ranges and set out to create a kit that would compliment the artist's existing pastel kit while being completely different from it.

All pigments used to produce my pastels carry ASTM ratings of 7-8 so you can trust them to keep the integrity of your works for many years to come.

Here on the site you will find all the current colours in my ranges along with ordering information. For all orders please email me and I can provide you with payment options. I do use paypal for all international orders. For Australian orders I prefer bank deposit or cheque.

I sincerely hope that you enjoy using my pastels as much as I enjoy making them for you... from my hand to yours,

Leigh Rust

Leigh Rust Art Studio