How to Use Oil Pastels

Oil pastels are like crayons but have pigments that are bound by wax and oil, instead of just wax.  This allows oil pastels to hold more pigment. Further, oil pastels are more versatile than crayons because with them, you can use additional tools like heat, mineral or baby oil, or a palette knife.

Messier

Since they are softer than crayons, oil pastels lend themselves using your fingers or a palette knife as an extra tool. For example, you can use your fingers to blend different colors. 

Oil pastels are like crayons but have pigments that are bound by wax and oil, instead of just wax, which allows oil pastels to hold more pigment. Further, oil pastels are more versatile than crayons such as by using additional tools like a heat, mineral or baby oil, or a palette knife.

Softening with baby oil

Mineral oil and non-toxic baby oil can be used to soften the oil pastels as they are applied to the paper, which allows paint brushes to be brought into play for blending and other tactics. 

Sgrafito

For older children and adults, the sgrafito (Italian for ‘scratch’) technique can be used. For example, layer oil pastel colors and use palette knife to scratch parts of the darker colors off to reveal other colors beneath. 

Heat

We recommend this technique for adults.  Use waxed paper and an iron to heat the colors on the paper for cool shapes, patterns, and shadows.

Color Swell Oil Pastels

Check out Color Swell Oil Pastels and more at our online store here.