To Know Oil Pastels
...is to love them.
Oil Pastels are a joy to use. They are creamy, color-laden, and make pretty gestural art just by their nature. Anybody who draws and paints knows it's the perfect middle-ground between the two. And if you are a colorist, as I am, WOW, do they have a great pigment load.
The most recent incarnation of Oil Pastels were perfected for Fine Art in 1949. Sennelier consulted with Pablo Picasso, as he was looking for a new medium that met certain criteria he was looking for. He asked for 48 colors and wanted something to paint with that could be as gestural as a drawing medium and as great to work in a Fine Art formula like Oil Paints. And from there, the Oil Pastel as we know it today was born.
I recently made some videos about Oil Pastels, taking care of your finished pieces, and safe storage of your pastels. I thought I would put them all in one place for reference.
I also made a few YouTube Shorts that are tips for Oil Pastels.
Why I Don't Use Cheap Oil Pastels in Under-layers of My Work
Fixatives That Really Work To Prevent Oil Pastel Smudging
How I Store Oil Pastels So They're Safe and Stay Clean
My favorite Oil Pastels, available on Amazon:
Sennelier Oil Pastel Set of 24
Caran D'ache Neopastel Oil Pastels Set Of 24
Paul Rubens Macaron Colors Soft Oil Pastels
My favorite Fixatives for my Oil Pastels, available on Amazon:
SENNELIER D'Artigny Oil Pastel Fixative
SpectraFix Degas Spray Fixative
My best recommendations on books about Art Supplies, available on Amazon:
The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques by Ralph Mayer
The Artist's Handbook by Ray Smith
Artist's Manual by Angela Gair
And on staying healthy and safe while using Art Supplies, available on Amazon:
Artist Beware by Michael McCann
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Some related past articles on Substack that may be of interest:
If you have any questions, comments, or tips, drop them in the comments and we can start a conversation.
I hope this finds you well. Take care of yourselves and one another.
Until next time, Cheers,
Elizabeth
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