Do you have dreams of becoming the next Van Gogh? Well, one way to get closer to achieving that dream is to learn how to draw with oil pastels! If you are the kind of person who loves art, then oil pastels can be the perfect medium for you to draw with. With oil pastels, you’ll never run out of possibilities! You can produce a wide range of colors, shades, and textures with them. Of course, drawing with oil pastels does require some techniques that one must first master. Below are several ways to help you with that.
Choose The Right Oil Pastels
When first starting out, the number one rule to remember is to choose the right oil pastel for your drawing. As there are many kinds of oil pastels, it’s best to purchase the top quality oil pastels made with artist grade material. These high-end oil pastels tend to have an excellent color saturation and pigment. Professional grade oil pastels are also quite sturdy and easy to hold in your hand. Plus, artist grade oil pastels are less likely to crumble and smudge so you can have a nice and smooth drawing.
Get The Right Tools
When it comes to oil pastels, it’s important to have the right tools. For starters, you will need a set of blending stumps, or Tortillons, to blend and diffuse the colors of your oil pastel. You will also need a few paper stumps for sharper blending areas. A kneaded eraser is also a great tool for cleaning up areas and edges. Lastly, you will need an oil pastel sharpener to keep your pastels sharp and to help create the finer details in your drawing.
Know Your Surface
Before you start your masterpiece, you’ll want to make sure you are using the right surface. Rough and textured surfaces such as sandpaper are best for colored pencil and oil pastels. Smoother surfaces such as Bristol paper, canvas, and illustration board are great surfaces to work with too. Whichever you choose, just make sure it’s designed to work with oil pastels!
Build Up Layers
Oil pastels work best when you add layers of colors. Start by laying down a larger area of color and then fill in with smaller and finer details. For instance, if you are drawing a tree, start with laying down a base of dark green and then add lighter shades of green and brown for the finer details. Also, be sure to let each layer dry before you apply the next. This will help make your drawing more vibrant and colorful.
Work With The White Paper
Since oil pastels are so vivid and colorful, you can create great drawings with just white paper and a few shades! Just remember to use the white paper to your advantage. Use white paper to bring out the light and shadows in your drawing. For example, by leaving some white areas between the darker shades, you can add a sense of depth and realism to your drawing.
Practice
Like any craft, practice is an essential part of learning how to draw with oil pastels. Spend a few minutes every day drawing with oil pastels. In no time, you’ll start to feel more comfortable with it and eventually be able to create masterpieces from your very own home!
Try Something Different
Oil pastels are very versatile and can be used to create a variety of artwork. Try experimenting with different techniques such as scratch board, scribble, and impressionistic. You can also try creating three-dimensional effects by adding different layers, varying light intensities, or creating a combination of shapes. Be creative, explore and have fun!
Stay Positive
Drawing with oil pastels can be intimidating at first, but with a little bit of practice, you can become a master in no time! Just remember to stay positive and keep pushing yourself. As they say, practice makes perfect!
