Oil pastels are a great way to create something quickly and easily, even if you aren’t a great artist! The best way to start is by grabbing a thick paper such as a mixed media notebook or some cardstock and a pack of oil pastels with the standard colors that you will need.
Some things to remember when getting started:
- First things first, what is an oil pastel? Pastels are a mix of pigment, oil, and wax, and are non-drying.
- You do not need anything other than your pastels and your hands! No brush, no fuss. You can blend pastels with your fingers.
- You can create layers with pastels, but only from light to dark colors. Start out by using your lighter colors and then progressively moving towards the darker ones. If you switch this up, your masterpiece may get muddy.
- Keep a stash of paper towels nearby to clean up your hands as you go and so your colors don’t mix together when you don’t want them to!
Now that you’ve gathered your supplies and learned the basics, you’re ready to get started!
- Start by lightly outlining your shapes with either pencil and then lightly erasing it or by using a light tan pastel
- Use your desired colors to fill your shape starting from the lightest colors to the darkest
- Use a white pastel to blend your colors together, or use oil or your fingers. All produce different results, it just depends which look you prefer!
Most importantly, have fun! Pastels are an easy and portable option for making a quick drawing this summer. Don’t worry if you prefer to do things “incorrectly” and explore the artform :)
You can find our entire selection of oil pastels available here.