I found this video of a centuries old business fascinating.
I love pastels – a medium that I am learning. I am enchanted by the ability of pastels to project a glow that is impossible through other media. This is because pastels are made of pure pigment – with just a tiny amount of binder – the crystalline nature of the pigment particles reflect light, contributing to the glow. Handmade pastels are expensive and beautiful. It is a challenging medium, but I think it is worth putting the effort to learn. Paint every day!
A modest example.
Gunsmoke and Knitting 