Blending Made Easy: Oil Pastels 

By Becky Griffith, STEAM Instructor

Oil pastels are a type of art medium that consists of pigment, a non-drying binder, and a non-toxic, non-yellowing wax. They are like soft pastels, but unlike traditional pastels, oil pastels are made with a non-drying mineral oil binder, which gives them a soft and buttery consistency. Let’s look at some key characteristics and features of oil pastels. 

Oil pastels are composed of pigment, a non-drying binder (usually a mixture of mineral oil, a non-drying oil, and a wax binder), and additional additives for texture and color. They have a creamy and buttery texture that allows for smooth and easy application. The soft consistency makes them ideal for blending and layering. Oil pastels are known for their vibrant and intense colors. They can be applied with varying pressure to achieve different levels of color saturation. Oil pastels are a versatile medium that can be used on various surfaces, including paper, cardboard, canvas, wood, and fabric. Artists can layer and mix colors easily, allowing for a wide range of artistic expression. The ability to layer without the need for fixatives makes them convenient for quick and spontaneous work. 

Oil pastels provide a unique and enjoyable drawing and coloring experience. They are a great choice for artists who want a portable and convenient medium that offers the ability to create expressive and colorful artworks. 

Activity 

Materials Needed: 

1. Black Construction Paper 
2. Oil Pastels 
3. Paper Towel 

Steps: 

• Collect your materials to create a wintery, night-time landscape. 
• Set aside the following oil pastel colors: white, brown, light green, dark green. 
• Using the brown oil pastel, draw a thick brown line for the trunk of the tree. Make sure to thicken the line by adding more than one line next to each other, and/or using the side of the oil pastel. 
• Add dark pine needles to your tree using the dark green oil pastel. This can be done by adding loose/non-linear lines in the rough shape of a triangle. Make sure to overlap the tree trunk. 
• Next, add light pine needles to your tree using the light green oil pastel. Overlap the light green oil pastel on top of the dark green and brown oil pastels to blend. 
• One technique to blend oil pastels is to continue to overlap colors. It is ok for your pastels to get dirty because you can use a paper towel to wipe off any unwanted colors. 
• Now it is time for snow!  With the white oil pastel, add loose shapes around your tree to make the tree appear as if snow is falling and collecting on it. 
• Add a ground using the white oil pastel. Add a little brown and green to the ground snow. Snow is white and will reflect the colors around it. 
• Lastly, complete your masterpiece by adding snow fall in the sky. Use varying hand pressure to make smaller and larger snowflakes. 
• Remember to handle your drawing with care. The non-drying mineral oil binder prevents your art from ever really drying. Over time the topmost layer of your drawing may harden, but that does not mean the oil pastel is dry underneath.