Methods For Blending Oil Pastels
- Baby Oil. Your first option for blending oil pastels is to use baby oil. Since oil pastels have oil in their formula,...
- Heat. You can also use heat to blend your oil pastels. No, we don’t mean hold a flame to your canvas or paper.
- Blending Stump. Blending stumps, often referred to as tortillons, are a must-have in many artists’...
Can you use baby oil with oil pastels?
For artists in need of a waxy flow of color, the best way to blend perfectly is using baby oil for the purpose. So, how does this help your blending escapade with oil pastels? The solution is very simple.
How do you blend oil pastels?
Artists may apply, manipulate, and blend oil pastels in a multitude of ways to achieve different effects, hues, and textures. Pre-blend your oil pastels. When you pre-blend your oil pastels, you blend the colors together on a palette prior to applying the materials to your canvas. This method yields one color.
Can you use a cotton ball to color in oil pastels?
Adding turpentine will make pastels dry faster than oil alone. Use a Q-tip or a cotton ball to blend colors. Using a cotton ball with a solvent is great for coloring large areas in your drawing (sky, backgrounds, etc...) Remember that you cannot do detail work in oil pastels!
What is an oil pastel?
Oil pastels are thick, greasy sticks of pigment blended with a mineral oil binder. Their composition makes them extremely versatile and recognizable. Artists may apply, manipulate, and blend oil pastels in a multitude of ways to achieve different effects, hues, and textures. Method 1

How do you mix oil and oil pastels?
1:138:48How to blend with Oil Pastels - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's a good paper to have. Okay so the first way to blend oil pastels is to simply use your finger.MoreIt's a good paper to have. Okay so the first way to blend oil pastels is to simply use your finger.
What is the easiest way to blend oil pastels?
0:053:34HOW TO BLEND OIL PASTELS FOR BEGINNERS Tips & TechniquesYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith a rag or. You can also use a little handy tool called a blending stump these are sold at theMoreWith a rag or. You can also use a little handy tool called a blending stump these are sold at the art supply store on Amazon.
What oil Can you mix with oil pastels?
It might seem like oil pastels and baby oil don't go together at first, but they do! When you go blending oil pastels with baby oil, the two create a unique texture that is perfect for your artwork. The best part is it's so easy to do.
What tool do you use to blend oil pastels?
You can use a cloth to blend pastels, but chamois are even more effective. Chamois is a type of super-soft and flexible leather that is excellent for blending colors with pastels. For large areas, you can wipe or rub the chamois across the surface of your paper.
Can you use oil to blend oil pastels?
Oil blending is a fun technique carried out by simply dabbing baby oil on a cotton swab or cotton ball and use to blend onto the surface over the previously applied oil pastel. You can shmear and smooth out your colours and control which direction you want the blending to go.
How do beginners use oil pastels?
1:027:40The 6 BEST techniques using OIL PASTEL [for beginners] - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow the first one what I'm going to do is. Using the oil pastel relatively lightly. Now. I'm justMoreNow the first one what I'm going to do is. Using the oil pastel relatively lightly. Now. I'm just overlapping. Some of the colors on there your stills to be able to see the whiteness.
Can I use baby oil with oil pastels?
The magic ingredient for oil pastel painting…. That's right; plain old baby oil is where the magic is at. Use a q-tip to add a little baby oil right on top the oil pastel. drawing. The baby oil will liquefy the paint a bit and allow it to spread around nicely.
How do you make oil pastels creamier?
Mineral oil wont dry out but the addition of a small amount of linseed oil seems to give a slightly creamier result. Using a drying oil alone will produce a pastel which dries out over a relatively short time.
How do you thin out oil pastels?
0:182:38How to Dilute Oil Pastels : Art Projects - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen you're going to want to grab a blending tortilla. And just go ahead and dunk that right in theMoreThen you're going to want to grab a blending tortilla. And just go ahead and dunk that right in the paint. Thinner. Because what that will do is when you start blending.
What fixative is best for oil pastels?
Best Fixatives For Pastels ReviewedSennelier Fixative for Pastels. ... Krylon Workable Fixatif Spray. ... Winsor & Newton Artists' Workable Fixative. ... Grumbacher Workable Fixative Spray. ... SpectraFix Spray Fixative. ... Blick Matte Fixative.
What is the best paper for oil pastels?
Best Paper Pads For Oil Pastels ReviewedCanson Mi-Teintes Drawing Papers. ... U.S. Art Supply Pastel Paper Pad. ... Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Pad. ... Sennelier Oil Pastel Card Pads. ... UArt Premium Sanded Pastel Paper. ... Art Spectrum Colourfix Coated Pastel Paper.
What is the best canvas for oil pastels?
Primed canvas boards are a great surface for oil pastels. They're solid and sturdy, letting you grind the sticks in hard without deforming the surface. Archival canvas boards are available, some mounted on museum board and others on hardboard or masonite.
Can you use water to blend oil pastels?
0:2010:27Blending Oil Pastels with WATER?? Testing Water Soluble ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor the under layers I've used water to blend. And for the top layers.MoreFor the under layers I've used water to blend. And for the top layers.
How do you blend bad oil pastels?
To blend oil pastels, start by applying the first color you want to blend to your piece of paper. Then, apply the second color you want to blend next to it. Use the pad of your finger to rub the colors into each other. Alternatively, you can use a tortillon or a color shaper to blend oil pastels.
How do you blend pastels?
Blending can be achieved by gently nudging one pastel stick into the other, often going back and forth. A softer blend can be done by lightly smearing the pastel with your hand or a very soft brush/tool. Note that the more the layers of pastel are smeared, the duller the final outcome may appear.
How do you soften oil pastels?
0:182:38How to Dilute Oil Pastels : Art Projects - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen you're going to want to grab a blending tortilla. And just go ahead and dunk that right in theMoreThen you're going to want to grab a blending tortilla. And just go ahead and dunk that right in the paint. Thinner. Because what that will do is when you start blending.
How to make pastels look white?
1. Apply pastels with consistent pressure. You should apply the same amount of pressure when you’re working with oil pastels to make sure the thickness of the paint on the canvas is consistent. If you apply uneven pressure, this will leave blank, white spots where you used less pressure.
How to blend colors together?
Blend with small, circular motions. After you overlap two colors, go over the overlapping part again with a pastel stick. Use small, circular motions to blend them together. This will make the color transition look more seamless.
How to make ombre colors?
If you are trying to create an ombre effect, put colors close together. They can even overlap a bit. This will make the colors easier to blend and there will a smoother transition between colors. Don’t worry about the colors looking weird because you can fix this once you start blending.
What paper do you use to paint a painting?
Even with paper, you have a ton of different texture and color options. You could use sketching or drawing paper, watercolor paper, or sanded pastel paper that’s specifically made to use with soft pastels. For paper with canvas-like qualities, canva-paper will do the trick. Try not to use poster papers if you want your paintings to last for longer than a few months.
Can you use stretched canvas for oil pastels?
Other canvas boards like stretched canvas and roll canvas may not be the best options for oil pastel paintings. They’re a tad flimsy and not as solid as a primed canvas. If you use a stretched canvas board or roll canvas, you’ll have to be a bit more delicate.
Can you paint on metal?
If you are going to be experimenting with non-traditional surfaces, just know that it’s going to be as easy. You should try painting on wood, metal, or glass once you’re more experienced. Otherwise, you’re just going to be frustrated and you might give up prematurely.
Can you blend oil pastels with your fingers?
To successfully blend oil pastels with your fingers, make sure they are completely dry. Our fingers are actually quite oily, and this can mess up the colors of the pastels. Wet fingers will also affect the paper or canvas quality. You definitely don’t want a deformed canvas!
Important
If you wish to work using an artistic medium that doesn’t need multiple pieces of equipment such as palettes, brushes, or water, using oil pastels is an ideal move. These colors are easy to blend, given their oily texture. It is mostly used in canvas.
Different Ways to Blend Oil Pastels
For artists in need of a waxy flow of color, the best way to blend perfectly is using baby oil for the purpose. So, how does this help your blending escapade with oil pastels? The solution is very simple.
Oil Pastel Blending Tools are Effective
Apart from all the methods mentioned above, you can also use tools such as pastel brushes, pastel shapers, or chamois.
Final Thoughts
When learning about the best ways to blend oil pastels, remember that a fresh pack would work better than an old one. You can definitely renew the pastels with some heating action and oil.
How to mix oil pastels?
This method is used to blend larger areas of color as opposed to smaller areas requiring fine detail work, which would be better achieved with blending. It creates extremely rich tones. Apply one generous layer of oil pastel to your canvas, followed by a second layer of a different color. Add additional layers and blend the pastels together until you achieve the desire d hue.
How to make a painting with oil pastels?
Blend your oil pastels. Apply one color of oil pastel directly onto your canvas. Apply a second color of oil pastel directly next to the first color. Use your tool of choice to blend, or rub, the adjoining edges together until the two edges appear smooth.
What are pastel brushes?
Pastel brushes and shapers are specifically designed for working with oil pastels. Pastel brushes, which come in a variety of sizes and styles, contain hairs on one end. Pastel shapers, which also come in a variety of sizes and styles, have a flat or tapered rubber end.
What is oil pastel?
Oil pastels are thick, greasy sticks of pigment blended with a mineral oil binder. Their composition makes them extremely versatile and recognizable. Artists may apply, manipulate, and blend oil pastels in a multitude of ways to achieve different effects, hues, and textures. Steps.
How to make oily paint?
Use the palette knife to blend or mix the colors together until they form a thick, oily paint.
What to wear when painting pastels?
You may wish to wear rubber gloves or finger clots. These will make it easier for you to keep your hands clean and will protect your fingers from being rubbed raw by the sand on the canvas or in the pastels.
When to use pre-blend oil pastels?
This method yields one color. You may wish to use it when you are trying to create a specific color and or do not wish to risk mixing the wrong colors together on your canvas.
How to blend pastels?
1. lightly color with main color, use WHITE to blend. 2. pure color. 3. lightly color with main color, blend with GREY. 4. lightly color with BLACK, blend with main color. Use this exercise to see the difference of the resulting color when you alter the order of pastels. 1.
What is oil pastel?
Oil Pastels. Oil pastels are very different from the pencils and colored pencils. Oil pastels are made to be very bendable - they are soft, oily and designed to be mixed and spread together on the paper. They are used by professional artists especially for these qualities.
How to color in with a pastel?
1. Color in with WHITE pastel, then use a color pastel and color over, mixing and blending the colors. 2. Color in with your main color (from intense coloring at the top to fading at the bottom). Use White pastel and color over mixing and blending the colors. Compare the difference.
What colors do oil pastels come in?
Try different brands to find the type that works for you. Always get some extra white, tan or grey colors as they are often used to blend with other colors (to lighten the color or to dull it down).
How to mix pastels to get the right shade?
You can mix pastels to achieve the right shade by drawing with one color over another color in circular motion.
What solvents can you use with oil pastels?
By using a solvent (50/50 turpentine and linseed oil) with oil pastels, one can achieve results similar to painting without actually using brushes and paints.
What to use to blend colors?
Use a Q-tip or a cotton ball to blend colors.
How to blend oil pastels?
You can blend the oil pastels by pre-blending in a palette or directly on the paper of canvas. Apply colors next to each other on the canvas, and then take a brush or cotton tip and dip it into some oil in order to blend the colors.
How to make different colors with oil pastels?
Different color hues can be achieved by layering oil pastels. Add your first color layers of pastel and follow up with another layer using a different color. You may want to use a primary color for your first layer. Keep applying layers until you get what you are looking for. How to blend oil pastels while overlaying? You can also consider heavy-pressure or light-pressure blending for different effects.
What is Pentel pastel?
Pentel offers a popular 50-color set of oil pastels that provide vibrant colors to be used by young and old alike. You can easily create blends, color mixes, and great results at a reasonable price. These acid-free pastels can be used on paper, canvas, and board and provide long-lasting effects.
What is oil pastel made of?
Oil pastels come in a crayon or stick form and are made of pigments combined with a binder. The binder is a mixture of waxes and mineral oils, so you get a type of soft and slightly somewhat greasy stick that does not dry. There are other similar drawing mediums like crayons and pastel sticks. There are also different types of pastels including soft pastels (or pastel sticks), hard pastels, pencil pastels, and pan pastels. The differences between oil pastels, wax crayons, and pastel sticks can be seen in the table below.
How many pastels are in Sennelier?
The Sennelier oil pastel set contains 24 highly pigmented oil pastels. These oil pastels can be used on many surfaces including paper, canvas, stone, metal, glass, and wood. These pastels are also great to use for multi-media effects over watercolors, acrylics, oil, and other pastels.
Why are oil pastels so popular?
Oil pastels are so popular because they are so easy to use. However, they can get all over your hands. This can easily be remedied by wiping the pastels off with wet-wipes or by using some baby oil and a paper towel. When you are finished with your oil pastel art piece, however, what is the best way to keep it from smudging?
What is the difference between student grade oil pastels and artist grade pastels?
The main difference between the cheaper student-grade oil pastels and the more expensive artist-grade varieties is the amount of pigment.
