Welcome to OilPastelTechniques.com. My name is Eric and I created this site specifically to discuss oil pastel techniques, oil pastels tips, tricks and different styles you can use with your drawings and paintings in oil pastels.

Artist Eric D. Greene
Quick bio about me, I am an artist and was introduced to oil pastels in school in 2009. This was in a drawing class, and although I honestly wasn’t excited about learning to use oil pastels at first, after our first couple assignments, I realized the potential of using oil pastels and fell in love with them!
Oil pastels are versatile, quick to use, and I find them very enjoyable to work with. My personal favorite brand is Sennelier Oil Pastels.
Now that I am more established in creating oil pastels art, I often am asked about various oil pastel techniques people can use for their own artwork.
I realize there are so many techniques and tips, and while there are a few good websites out there explaining different oil pastels styles and techniques, I haven’t seen any one site yet that talks about only techniques using oil pastels. So I searched for the domain name OilPastelTechniques.com and it was available so I got it! Hoping this can be your go-to resource for oil pastels.
The Oil Pastel Techniques to be discussed here will include blending, scumbling, both wet and dry techniques, different styles like impressionist or realist – you name it!
If anyone has a suggestion or question or a new method they would like to see discussed, just ask and I will see what I can do to create an article based on that suggestion.
I am available on Facebook at Facebook.com/OilPastelsArtist
I look forward to creating the absolute best resource on the internet for oil pastel techniques, tips, and tricks.
A good place to get started is to check out either of the following popular articles:
Or, head to the Oil Pastels Store I set up featuring useful art supplies that every oil pastels artists should consider having.
Happy oil pasteling! 🙂
With best regards! Eric
P.S. Follow my Facebook page Oil Pastels Artist – or join my Facebook group Oil Pastels.
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Hi, I am contemplating on buying pastels. I haven’t used them before ever. I have been oil painting about 3 years and am totally frustrated. I hope I’m making a good move. I can’t decide weather to use oil pastels or soft pastels. I heard soft can be dangerous to your health. Can you give me some ideas on these choices?
Pat
I understand health hazards are always a concern. On the one hand, plenty of artists have been using soft pastels for a long time, as well as oil paints, which are also known to be toxic. On the other hand, you do want to take some precautions. Soft pastels can be dusty to work with, so breathing in the dust could be a concern. Oil pastels do not have the dust issue at all, as they are more like wax crayons. Some oil pastelists wear thin latex gloves as a precaution from getting any hazardous materials on the skin. Either way, a well ventilated working area is recommended for either soft or oil pastels. Hope this helps!
Another example of integrating colors with oil pastels can be demonstrated in self portrait. Upon close observation, one can see that skin has many subtle flesh colors. One area in the cheeks, for example, may be redder. Color areas around the chin may have a yellow hue. Color areas around the eyes may have blue or browns.
is it possible to make or paint a realistic portrait of a face by using a pastels as a medium?
Yes, Clint– if you are still there. Here is a site that has some examples. http://www.stlouisartistsguild.org/new/featured-member-lisa-ober
If I want to color a sun, I would like to color it uniquely, but, even I try it again and again with blending orange, red, and yellow.. I use soft oil pastells, branded and the best. But, nothing happend,
Should I use another pack of oil pastels?
or am I not good enough?
thanks.
Hey there Eric! I want to do an oil pastel drawing for a gift for someone this Christmas. I don’t know what kind of paper to do it on. Could you give me the best ideas you have for this? Thanks buddy!