Video 19: Oil Pastels

Oil pastels are a drawing medium in which colored pigment is held together by an oil
binder. Oil pastels are part crayon and part oil paint. In fact, finished oil pastel
drawings look very much like paintings and are even sometimes called “paintings”.
The techniques used in oil pastel drawing are similar to those used in colored pencil
drawing. Colors should be layered, mixed, and applied heavily.

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 Oil pastels are produced
by a variety of
manufacturers.
Sometimes, oil pastels
are referred to as “Cray-
Pas”, which is a specific
brand of oil pastels.

This demonstration will

feature a landscape.
Because oil pastels can
be layered, the
landscape can be
approached like a
painting. The
background will be
addressed first, followed
by the middle ground,
then foreground.

The sky or background

is established by
creating a layer of light
blue. A photo reference
is used for this
demonstration. Heavier
applications of the pastel
are used to “frame out”
locations for clouds.

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 Dark blue and white are
layered to create a
smooth transition from the
top of the sky to the
horizon. These colors are
burnished using the light
blue.

Clouds are added directly

on top of the gradation of
blue in the sky. By
varying the amount of
pressure applied on the
white oil pastel, the
illusion of light source is
created in the clouds.

Work can now begin on

the middle ground. An
application of dark brown
is layered with dark green
to establish the shape of
the land mass in the
middle ground.

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 Light green and yellow is
layered to establish
highlights on the tops of
trees in the distance.
Heavier pressure makes
the highlights stronger.

Shadows are created by

adding blue on the lower
portions of the land mass
shape. The contrast
between the yellow
highlights and the blue
shadows further the
illusion of a light source.

Light yellow-green is
applied to create the
illusion of light hitting the
surface in the distance.

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 The next section of
middle ground is
addressed by layering
yellow-green and yellow.
Remember to stay loose
with the oil pastels.
Shapes of color will
translate as details.

Dark green is used to

create shapes for trees in
the distance. Blue is
layered to create
shadows on the trees.

The structure of a tree is

added closer to the
foreground by drawing the
trunk and branches with a
dark brown oil pastel.

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 A second structure for a
tree is created using
white. Brown is added to
indicate shadow on the
side of the tree.

Green shapes are drawn

directly on top of the tree
structure to create the
illusion of leaves. Dark
green, blue, and yellow
are used to create
shadows and highlights
on the leaves.

The same process is

followed to add leaves to
the second tree.

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 Dark green is used to
create cast shadows on
the hill behind the trees
and bushes. Bright
yellow-green is added in
areas to add variety and
contrast.

To create reflection in the

water, brown is added to
mirror the shape of the
land mass.

Blue is layered on top of

the brown to make the
value darker.

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 White is layered over light
blue and is allowed to mix
with surrounding areas of
dark brown to further the
illusion of water.

A finger can used to “pull”

down the pastel.
Smearing the pastel in
this manner helps create
the illusion of a reflection.

The foreground can now

be addressed using a
variety of greens. Strokes
are applied in a vertical
manner in order to create
the illusion of tall grass.

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 Details in the foreground are added using both white and dark brown
oil pastels. Using the side of the pastel can produce sharper lines. A
sharp blade can be used to scrape aways areas of pastel in order to
create marks.

9 The completed image.

Copyright (c) 2013 The Secrets to Drawing