The Pastel Girault Collection of 526 hues was created in 1780. This french product is one of the oldest hand-made soft pastels in the world.
The
actual range has 300 colors : 82 pure colors and 218
shades mixed with white and black or with colors (blended colors). The
original complete range of 526 colors will be available in the future.
The pigments used to make Girault pastels contain no heavy metal.
Girault Legacy: "The Art Of Making Pastels"
Pastels Girault, a cottage industry was created in 1780 and survived by handing down the tradition of making pastels from generation to generation. Christian Petit is as unique as the pastels he creates.It is more than a passion; but a mission for this creator perfectionist to carry the legacy of making pastels.
To understand why Christian is so passionate; one has to turn the clock back in time when George-Henry Petit-- Christian’s grand-father an accomplished chemist-- acquired in 1927 the secret formula from the prestigious Girault family.
As a child, Christian’s preferred game was to dip his hands in the natural pigments and the “paste” while his grand-father and father were creating these unique pastels. And as long as he can remember; Christian has always been fascinated by these brilliant and intense colors.
Henry Petit, Christian’s father kept the tradition alive and instill his son Christian with the legacy of the "Art of Making Pastels". So, it is no surprise if Christian is passionate with what he does.
It is in Montignac, one of the most stunning areas in France, that Christian ameliorates and creates the pastels we all love today keeping the tradition alive.
"I was mixing for days, the natural pigments to reach “my” ideal blue; when one morning while admiring the blue Iris from my garden, to my surprise and joy I realized that the blue, the color of this flower matched the one I created the night before.
"I could not do better than nature itself!. This is how Number 361 was born out the “Blues” ready to dry under the sun and to be admired by pastelists the world over."
Christian is very proud to bring this unique pastel into the 21st century and is very appreciative of all the wonderful paintings created by so many Artists with pastels he so passionately loves and so emotionally attached.
