Comments about Loew-Cornell Oil Pastels:

Oil pastels are similar to crayons. Like all colorful mediums, oil pastels are made of pigments and binders. Pigments are what give the pastels their distinct colors, while the binders hold the pigments together, so you can paint or draw with them. The binders in oil pastels are oils and waxes. Oil pastels vary in hardness and in texture. Some oil pastels are very, very soft (these contain a lot more oil and less wax), while others are quite firm (containing more wax and less oil). (And on a quick note, just like children's wax crayons, oil pastels can also stain clothing.)

THE GOOD:
-Vibrant colors--even very pale tints show up well on paper
-Nice range of colors
-Color lays down evenly
-Sticks are of a good size- measure approx. 2.75" x 0.5"
-Low Price

THE NOT SO GOOD:
-They are too waxy for me, and feel a little like crayons, making them harder to work with and blend in comparison to other softer oil pastels in this price range.

HOW I USE IT:
-I own a full set of 72, and mostly use them for sketching. They are, as I said, harder to blend, so I don't use them that much.

-These will probably work well for kids who are looking to branch out from crayons (very waxy and hard) to something more "painterly." They're a lot softer than crayons, but they're still firm, so they won't slide around too much and cause frustration.

OVERALL:

-Adult beginners might want to try another brand, like Pentel or Sakura Junior Artist. Both brands of pastels cost about as much as the Loew-Cornell do. The pastel sticks in those sets are much smaller, but they have a nicer texture, feel less waxy, and are easier to blend.

-If you're looking for a gift for a child who is looking to try something new from crayons, these might work well.