Pastels
I like to use pastels, especially for animals and their fur. Birds and their feathers are great too.
To be successful as a pastel artist, drawing well is very essential. I fee drawing is far more important in being an pastel artist than any other medium.
The colors are soft when mixed, they may be very vivid or neutral to mix and produce the effect you need.
When I use pastel, I am very intrigued by the illusive power unknown to me. I turn out work completely different than the other mediums I use. Its hard to tell I am the same artist when using pastel.