These pastel sticks are stiffer than traditional soft pastels, but retain the same rich, creamy pigments needed for better blending and shedding.nupastels are sturdier than normal soft pastels which means less breakage and easier clean-up.beneficial for artists at all expertise levels, especially those with an interest in illustration or tightly-rendered illustrations.because they can be used wet or dry, it's a two-for-one deal - mix them with water or odorless mineral spirits to create a cool effect.