How to Learn Oil Pastel Technique

Oil pastels are an art tool that look like crayons, but they are oil-based instead of wax-based. They allow you to blend colors more freely, but they also don't dry or fix completely to paper; so they can be more difficult to protect. Even so, you can use pastels to make very colorful art. All you need to do is learn the techniques. Read on to learn how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Take an oil pastel drawing course through your local community college. These courses can give you the most complete instruction on oil pastel technique. The courses should teach you blending and scraping techniques at least. Once you know how to work with oil pastels, you can practice each technique on your own.
2. Ask a local artist to give you private lessons. This might be most useful if you have already used oil pastels in the past, and you want more information about how to get crisp details using a blending tool or how to use turpentine to blend your work without ruining your paper's surface.
3. Look up specific oil pastel technique on the Internet. "Artshow.com" provides lots of articles and step-by-step demonstrations on how you can use different oil pastel techniques. Artists' websites will also have articles about the technique they used to create an effect in a certain picture.
4. Use a book to learn oil pastel technique. There are many books you can buy from a store or borrow from your local library. These books can give you a good idea about beginning technique; but you should turn to a real teacher to learn more advanced work.
5. Study other oil pastel drawings and try to mimic the technique the artists used to make a certain effect. Some techniques, such as using short lines to make something look as if it were coming toward the viewer, can be gleaned from studying other people's art.

Who Can Help:

• Find Decorators & Designers Here. Compare Up to 4 Quotes, Free Service & No Obligation.