In response to the toxicity of regular pastels, Pan Pastels are a low-dust alternative that apply with an applicator or brush, like paint. Just like any other medium, the most exploitation of materials happens on a colored ground. With only a few colors, a spectrum can be implied.
Intrinsically necessary is the color black, and more specifically, the interference/mediums in black. These are super sticky, rich blacks with metallic interference in a range of scales. I mean that they sparkle and the glitter size varies. If a person purchased only one Pan Pastel ever, I would suggest an interference black - I have incorporated this material into other dry media compositions with great results. The stickiness emboldens the main materials and deepens the black-point.
Even better than a toned, textured charcoal paper surface; is application to papers colored and textured by glitter. Application by brush flows just like paint, holds without fixing. The look can range from an ink-watercolor effect to any style of painting. Because of the glitter, the interference of the surface makes working very quick, our minds read the interference as what is not there, and the viewer will insert information that is not described by the artist. I would recommend this as a fun, easy way to knock out draft compositions of form.
Basic Shapes in Charcoal on Glitter Paper