Art Supplies

The first oil pastels were invented in Japan just after World War I. Improvements such as paraffin, stearic acid, coconut oil and stabilizers transformed the original waxy crayon into something...

Oil pastels are used for drawing and painting. They combine the best properties of crayons (smooth, easy application) and pastels (bright, pure colors). Oil pastels are a fairly new art medium...

When framing pastel drawings, use archival tape to adhere the piece to the back of a mat, mount the piece on backing board and lay glass and the decorative frame around the entire piece. Create a...

Oil pencils are made from pigment, wax and oil, then encased in wood. They're related to both colored pencils and oil pastels (that is, the pastels made from the same ingredients as oil pencils...

Many artists find store-bought oil pastels to be too expensive, but luckily there are ways to make them at home. With the homemade product artists have more control over the color and the shape....

I worked with pastels for years before realizing the danger of ingesting and inhaling toxic materials from the pastel dust.

Soft pastels are like sticks or blocks of soft chalk containing pigments. They can be difficult to work with because they crumble easily and can smudge. However, they produce brilliantly colored...

Creating pastel art opens a door to limitless creativity. There are several different types of pastels available. The best way to determine your favorite pastel medium is by experimenting. You...

A good oil pastel set is a wondrous thing to work with. However, many starving artists must consider cost before deciding which materials to buy. And even if you can afford to choose from the...

Spray fixatives prevent smearing and loss of particles when applied over various drawing mediums. The final application helps preserve and protect the artwork. Artists debate whether fixatives...

Chalk pastels combine pigment with a binder. They are generally found in a stick form to create an opaque drawing tool. When misted or added to water, chalk pastels have the potential to achieve a...

One of the most important decisions you make when purchasing pastel supplies is choosing a surface to draw or paint on. Many manufacturers market specialty papers designed specifically for pastel...