Dakota Art Supplies: The World's Premier Destination for Pastel Artists

Dakota Art Supplies (also known as Dakota Pastels) is the premier specialty retailer for pastel artists in the United States and arguably the world. Operating from Denver, Colorado since 1988, the company has spent nearly four decades building an unmatched reputation among pastel painters by doing something that few art supply retailers attempt: focusing its entire business on a single medium. While general art supply stores carry pastels as one category among hundreds, Dakota has built its identity, inventory, expertise, and community around the singular mission of serving pastel artists with the deepest possible selection, the most knowledgeable guidance, and the most comprehensive understanding of what pastel painters actually need.

This laser focus on pastels has made Dakota an essential resource for pastel artists at every level—from beginners discovering the medium for the first time to internationally recognized professionals whose work hangs in museums and galleries. The company's combination of exhaustive product selection, genuine technical expertise, exceptional paper and surface offerings, and active community engagement creates a resource that no general art supply retailer can match in the pastel category.

Why Specialization Matters in Pastels

Pastels are a medium that rewards informed material choices more than almost any other. The differences between pastel brands are not subtle—they vary dramatically in softness, pigment concentration, color range, handling characteristics, and price. A Sennelier soft pastel behaves entirely differently from a Unison Colour pastel, which behaves differently from a Schmincke pastel, which behaves differently from a Terry Ludwig pastel. Understanding these differences—and knowing which pastels are best suited for specific techniques, styles, and artistic goals—requires the kind of deep, specialized knowledge that only comes from years of focused experience.

Dakota's staff possess exactly this knowledge. They can discuss the relative softness and pigment load of different brands, recommend specific colors for landscape, portrait, or abstract work, advise on building a versatile palette from scratch, and help experienced artists expand their collections in directions that will genuinely enhance their practice. This level of expertise is simply unavailable at general art supply stores, where pastels represent a small fraction of the overall inventory and staff knowledge is necessarily spread across dozens of media.

The Deepest Pastel Selection Available

Dakota's pastel inventory is extraordinarily comprehensive. The store carries professional-grade pastels from virtually every major manufacturer, including Sennelier, Unison Colour, Schmincke, Terry Ludwig, Mount Vision, Great American, Rembrandt, Nupastel, Conte, and numerous other brands. The selection spans soft pastels, hard pastels, pastel pencils, oil pastels, and specialty pastels, with color ranges that extend far beyond what general retailers stock.

This depth of selection matters because pastel artists often need very specific colors. Unlike painters who can mix custom hues on a palette, pastel artists work with pre-made sticks, and having access to a wide range of colors—including subtle variations in value, temperature, and saturation—directly affects the quality and nuance of the finished work. Dakota's inventory ensures that artists can find the specific colors they need, whether they're looking for a particular earth tone for landscape work, a specific skin tone for portraiture, or an unusual hue for experimental compositions.

The store also carries pastel sets at various price points, from starter sets for beginners to comprehensive professional collections. The staff can advise on which sets offer the best value for different skill levels and artistic goals, helping artists make informed investments in their pastel collections.

Pastel Papers and Surfaces: The Critical Foundation

One of Dakota's most significant strengths is its exceptional selection of pastel papers and surfaces. Experienced pastel artists understand that the surface is at least as important as the pastels themselves—the wrong paper can undermine even the finest pastels, while the right surface can elevate the entire painting experience.

Dakota carries an extensive range of sanded papers (including UART, Pastelmat, and Fisher 400), textured papers designed specifically for pastel work, pastel boards with various surface textures, and specialty surfaces that offer unique working properties. The staff can explain the differences between these surfaces in practical terms—how they affect pastel adhesion, layering capacity, blending behavior, and the overall look and feel of the finished work.

For pastel artists who are experimenting with different surfaces or who want to understand how surface choice affects their results, Dakota's combination of deep inventory and expert guidance is invaluable. The ability to discuss surface options with someone who genuinely understands pastel painting—and who can recommend specific papers based on your technique, style, and goals—is a resource that simply doesn't exist at general art supply retailers.

Online Reach with a Denver Home Base

While Dakota's Denver retail location serves local customers and visitors to Colorado, the company's primary reach is through its comprehensive online store at DakotaPastels.com. The website serves pastel artists worldwide, offering the full inventory with detailed product descriptions, color charts, and the kind of technical information that helps artists make informed purchasing decisions from a distance.

The online store is organized intuitively, allowing artists to browse by brand, color family, surface type, or price point. Shipping is reasonably priced, and the company's customer service is knowledgeable and responsive—staffed by people who understand pastels and can answer technical questions via phone or email.

For the many pastel artists who do not live near a specialty pastel retailer—which is most pastel artists, given the rarity of such stores—Dakota's online presence provides access to a level of selection and expertise that would otherwise be completely unavailable.

Community and Education

Dakota actively participates in the pastel art community beyond retail. The company hosts workshops and demonstrations at its Denver location, supports pastel exhibitions and organizations, and maintains connections with pastel artists and societies worldwide. The company's educational resources—including online guides, technique tips, and product comparisons—help artists develop their skills and make informed material choices.

This community engagement reflects Dakota's understanding that its success is tied to the health and growth of the pastel art community as a whole. By supporting artists, promoting the medium, and providing educational resources, Dakota invests in the creative ecosystem that sustains its business.

The Bottom Line

Dakota Art Supplies is the definitive resource for pastel artists. The company's singular focus on pastels, combined with the deepest product selection available, exceptional paper and surface offerings, genuine technical expertise, and active community engagement, creates a specialty retail experience that no general art supply store can match. For anyone serious about pastel painting—whether you're building your first set or expanding a professional collection—Dakota is an essential and irreplaceable resource.