Oil Pastels? Aren't those only for kids?

My name is Shrushti Hathi and I like drawing with the help of oil pastels. Like many people, I was first introduced to oil pastels in elementary school art class after which we were supposed to learn painting with water colors. I have recently started drawing with oil pastels and I definitely think it is worth the try.. When I show my drawings, people often have a hard time identifying the medium, and when I tell them, they’re still surprised. Often, they’ll say: “Oil Pastels? Aren’t those only for kids?" 

Oil pastels are easy to use, and they’re not just for kids. Yes, there’s a learning curve- a drawing done in oil pastel usually needs a little development to look good, and that can scare people away. But there are huge benefits to using oil pastels. Oil pastels are cheap, easy to clean, easy to transport, easy to control, and perfect for artists of all ages and skill levels.

Unlike oil painting, an oil pastel can be done quickly, with very little mess and next to no accessories (oils, solvents, etc.) and doesn’t require dry time. This makes them great for travel. Oil pastels start out very cheap and extremely versatile:

• They can be used on paper, on wood, and on canvas.
• They can be used alone or as part of mixed media compositions.
• They can be used for realistic representational art or abstracts.
• They can be built up, scraped down, scratched off and started over.
• They can be used dry like crayons or chalk pastels, or wet like paint, using oil mediums.

There are various oil pastel quality which makes them easy or difficult to use Low quality oil pastels are waxier/harder, high quality pastels are oilier/creamier. Oil Pastel can be used on various substrates and surfaces: different kinds of paper, canvas, primed wood panel. Blending is basically the first thing you’ll need to master when using oil pastels. It’s the difference between smooth gradients and blocks of color. It allows you to create depth and shading. 

In my next post I will be talking about some tricks and tips to use oil pastels, ways to blend the colors as it is all about shading in addition to the type of drawings beginners should try...Ultimately, however, the best way to learn about Oil Pastels is to try them yourself!