Examples of Oil Pastel Painting
How I Use Oil Pastel

 

 

The History of Oil Pastels

Historically, pastel was considered a drawing medium since it was often used for preliminary sketches or field drawings for final paintings completed in oil. Although there are notable exceptions (such as in portraiture), not many artists created finished paintings in pastel, mostly due to the difficulty of preserving the artwork. Today, advances in the materials available have eliminated most of those concerns.  And, while there continues to be an ongoing discussion about whether pastels are paintings or drawings, I find that working with pastels is for me a painting medium.

As I have discovered over many years of painting with pastels, I have become aware of how pastel paintings now rival other mediums in their competence, beauty, presence and permanence.

Oil Pastel is a relatively new medium, considering that most other painting mediums have been around for centuries. In 1921, assisted and advised by artist and theorist Yamamoto, 2 brothers-in-law developed a high quality crayon, which combined the soft, smooth color application of crayon with the brightness of pastel. They continued to improve their product at the Sakura Crayon Company, and thus the name Cray-Pas was born.
The final formulation was developed in 1927 and has been considered a children's medium, not one for the serious artist.

 

Artist Statement

I am currently focused on developing painting strategies for professional artist grade oil pastels. While I am skilled with the use of most painting mediums, I have really enjoyed the spontanaiety and non-toxic quality that oil pastel brings to the painting process.

I particularly enjoy using Holbein and Sennelier pastels. These special pastels appear to be non-toxic and have a high color fast level that minimizes fading over a long period of time.  This makes it an extremely eco-friendly material to paint with.  The ease of use and direct application is captivating and quick.

I like the same traditional techniques most often used for todays soft pastel paintings which include an underpainting to establish the overall composition and the bigger light and dark shapes. Good paper allows for many sheer layers that can be similar to glazing or a heavier buildup similar to impasto layers. Alla Prima is a perfect technique for these quality oil pastels. I also have discovered a few mediums that work well with oil pastel.  Gel mediums, such as Weber's Res-n-gel and Windsor Newton Liquin can thin the oil pastel out or enhance the greasy oilyness of the oil pastel. Modeling paste and collage techniques also work well to establish stronger textures in the painting that I also enjoy adding to the painting before the oil pastel goes on. 

Oil Pastel also seems to stick to practically any surface, so almost any substrate will work, and the pastel can be mixed or integrated with other mediums for unusual and personal stylistic imagery...in simple terms....in other words lots of options for the artist who tries it for the first time!!!!

Creating landscape paintings from the places I have visited, or spontaneously responding to floral still life, to creating  portraits has kept me energized. To my delight, the oil pastel medium has allowed me to express my vision easily with enthusiasm and passion, as well as allowing me to share my work with a network of colleagues and students who seem to enjoy the excitement of creating with oil pastel as much as I do!  I'd like to think that oil pastel is a great way to teach the basic principles of painting, Shape, Value, Edges, Color and Texture to beginning artists who need the flexibility and time to learn the fundamentals and painting process.

It appears that in the past 20 years or so, there has been a renaissance in the use of both soft and oil pastel. This new focus has been driven by advances in the actual medium and the substrates upon which pastels are painted, along with improved framing techniques to preserve the final art. I have chosen to use Holbein and Sennelier oil pastel and enjoy using Unison and Sennelier soft pastel as my primary choices of soft pastel for their extremely soft and brilliant consistency.

Today, Pastels are created using the same pigments found in every medium. However, they’re almost pure pigment with minimal binder and hence contain the highest concentration of pigment of any medium.
Due to this renaissance, more artists and collectors than ever before are discovering pastel as a desirable painting medium.

I have an indepth portfolio of work for your review categorized under Portraits, Figurative, Florals, and Landscapes. Most are available for purchase.

I will be happy to provide any additional information you may need to make your selection along with customized framing solutions that protect and add value to the painting.

Because oil pastels have no drying agents in them like oil paints do, finished oil pastel paintings should be protected with matting, glazing and framing to prevent smudging and dust buildup.  

Artist grade oil pastels are very high quality pigments and adhere to industry standards for color fastness and have been manufactured to be fade resistant. It is recommended that uv glass be used to provide the best protection from any light. Today's art glass
provides about 98% protection from the sun's UV rays.

It is recommended that white or off white double mats be used with spacers to ensure pastel has plenty of room to breath and does not come in contact with the glass.  The new plexiglass glazing can also be used for safer shipping.

Like all works created on paper, it is also
recommended that oil pastels not be placed in direct sun or be subjected to high levels of heat in order to ensure your investment has the longest possible life.