\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. These cookies do not store any personal information. Always get some extra white, tan or grey colors as they are often used to blend with other colors (to lighten the color or to dull it down). Most of us have extra Q-tips and cotton pads lying around in our bathrooms. Alternatively, you can use a tortillon or a color shaper to blend oil pastels. It’s the perfect texture, and most canvas boards are incredibly sturdy. Before you go grab a set from your local crafts store, you should know the differences between oil pastels, soft pastels, and chalk crayons. Make sure the legs aren’t wobbling and that the table is clean. If you use a stretched canvas board or roll canvas, you’ll have to be a bit more delicate. While you cannot blend oil paints as well as soft pastels, you will find that they are a lot more stable than soft pastels. Easels are artists’ friends! But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. You can mix colors by layering them, here green and blue, but you always get a bit of a “broken” color. Your fingers ideally need to move in a circular motion for the pastel to effectively blend together. ", "Helped me to understand different techniques easily.". If you don’t have any other tools but you don’t want to use your fingers either, these are effective alternatives. You can either continue filling in the block with more cross-hatch strokes. Similarities to Soft Pastels. So, are you ready to begin? Pastels allow you to layer and blend vibrant colors to create a soft look. It is an excellent technique to get an incredible depth with impressive layering. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This will alter the colors once you apply them to your canvas. Materials. They also come in different sizes and color schemes. The colors do not have to fight each other's intensities, allowing them to freely mix without much trouble. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Why shouldn't I use hairspray and oil pastels? You might get a cut if you rub too harshly with your fingers. Experiment with each of the ones listed below and see which works best for you. And inch or so away from one end of the middle color start coloring with the white until it overlaps the color itself. It may be difficult to blend areas that are smaller than your fingertips. Experimenting with different media. Phoenix Pre Stretched Canvas for Painting. Once your mixture is ready, time to … Canvas is the most commonly used surface for artists who work with oil pastels. How to blend with oil pastels is really easy, after understanding these two simple steps. Rubber gloves and finger clots will not just keep your fingers clean, but protect them as well. I have seen large pieces of work done using these methods and they look outstanding, because they have a very unique textured effect, so it could be worth your time if you can conjure that much enthusiasm to do an entire painting just by applying little dots. Keep wet wipes near your workstation to remove the pastels from your hands. The baby oil does make the paper a little, well, oily. So, are you ready to begin? For wooden, glass, or metal panels, make sure you’re using a set of high-quality oil pastels. 2. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. You’ll be blending pastels like a pro in no time once you’re done reading this article. 1. They are flat, sturdy, and the texture brings out the colors of the pastels. Last updated: November 18, 2020 by Wayne Crossland. Assign a color to each direction. For alternatives, there’s papers, cardboard, wood, metal, and more. Continue to fill in the area with lines until you achieve the desired effect. In case you want to show off your oil pastel techniques through layering and blending, just starting with your preferred color. Oil pastels actually blend very well, in my opinion (again, the better quality brands tend to blend better than the cheaper ones, keep that in mind). The second is to use colour mixing to create a hue using different shades. Oil pastels are dust-free compared to soft pastel chalks as they contain oil, which means the colour sticks to the paper more easily. Either wear an apron or something you can get dirty. You might not think you’re a creative person, but it’s in there somewhere. How do you Blend Oil Pastels? Apply pastels with consistent pressure, 3. The solution to this problem is to find the best surface for you to work with. Also, choose which color goes in which direction. This article has been viewed 158,359 times. Can I mix pastels with olive or mineral oil to make a thick paint? You could also keep wet wipes or hand sanitizer nearby so you can clean your fingers when switching between colors. Otherwise, you’re just going to be frustrated and you might give up prematurely. There’s no specific formula and uniqueness is what makes art so great. These will make it easier for you to keep your hands clean and will protect your fingers from being rubbed raw by the sand on the canvas or in the pastels. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This means you don’t need to apply fixative to hold your work in place. This will be a little hard to do if your canvas is constantly moving from side to side. gave me significant pointers. Have you been wanting to experiment with oil pastels for your next project? 6. Take a clean cotton ball and gently dab on the places you dropped baby oil on. This will make the color transition look more seamless. There is artistic freedom, "Multiple layering and pre mixing with oil helped me enormously. References After you’ve assigned a color to a direction, draw multiple lines for each. It sounds like a no brainer thing when I say it now but when you are new to painting, you have to really learn through trial and error. With the cross-hatch method, you’ll be making strokes in two different directions. Oil is non-soluble in water. Creativity is a no-brainer for any artwork. Other canvas boards like stretched canvas and roll canvas may not be the best options for oil pastel paintings. Use a stippling brush or regular pastel stick, How to Blend Oil Pastels With the Cross-Hatch Method, How to Use Watercolor on Canvas: Professional Tips for Preparing and Choosing Your Canvas, Oil Painting for Beginners − Comprehensive Guide, How To Draw A Fist: A Series of Step By Step Guides. Here’s how you can apply this method to your work: First, choose which two colors you want to blend. Once you’re done drawing a series of lines, it’s time to blend! This article was co-authored by Kelly Medford. You can always blend with as many colors as you want. Using your fingers!. Oil pastels come in many variations from round sticks or square-shaped pastels. Renowned pastelist William Schneider has found using a combination of unblending and blending pastels gives his work greater variety, softer edges and more unified areas of light and shadow. With this technique, you use small dots to create patterns and images. Oil crayons are going to sit on top of your paint with no issues. When you pre-blend your oil pastels, you blend the colors together on a palette prior to applying the materials to your canvas. Either blend them to get a nice ombre transition or mix them up to make new colors. After you overlap two colors, go over the overlapping part again with a pastel stick. Primed canvas boards are very popular when it comes to oil pastel paintings. This technique is called oil blending. Do I apply light or dark colors when blending? Pastels applied with consistent pressure look much more vibrant, the colors show up wonderfully on the canvas. Heavy pressure blending is one of the most common blending techniques. You’re going to need a whole lot of determination to do your best work. Blend both colours using your fingers to do the trick. Use a palette knife to cut off pieces of the oil pastels you wish to blend. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Just let your imagination run wild! You can use three techniques for blending. Required fields are marked *. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Every artist needs a dedicated space for their craft. As you can probably tell by now, there are so many different techniques and tools you can use to blend oil pastels. In this tutorial, you will learn about the basics of oil pastel blending. Make sure your fingers are dry. Oil pastels come in many colors and are made by different manufacturers. Then use your lightest color to smooth and blend. Even if what you’re imagining sounds weird or unconventional, that’s all the more reason you should try it. I’m here to help you learn how to blend oil pastels with detailed step-by-step instructions. Try to avoid painting on a table that has bumps or exposed cracks and nails. They are usually fluffy and have blunt bristles. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You can also use the scumbling method where you scribble multiple colors on top of each other to blend them together. There are paintbrushes made specifically with the stippling method in mind. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Oil pastels require some grip from the surface so the color can be applied. First, you should place a banana or your choice of object on the sketchbook paper and trace the outline. Oil pastels can be layered like soft pastels, but only to a certain degree. This first you should already be aware of. Here I share my advice and experience in painting and drawing. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 158,359 times. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Next. You can always apply some gesso to smooth card, and that will work just as well; just be aware that you are going to apply a wet medium, and this could easily warp light card and paper. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Using Your Fingers. Select a pointed object of your choice, such as: a paper clip, a comb, or a wooden stylus. About Wayne Crossland. Put a few drops of baby oil onto your work canvas. Use different fingers for different colors, 2. I will also teach you different techniques such as blending with your fingers and blending with baby oil. These methods seem to be extremely time-consuming to work with your oil pastels. Some posts may contain affiliate links. That should help you to start off, and give you an idea of how well these pastels smudge and blend into each other. Even with paper, you have a ton of different texture and color options. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Our fingers are actually quite oily, and this can mess up the colors of the pastels. Thus, it will be tough for you to blend different colors with a finger or a blending stump. This method is used when you want to achieve a smooth organic gradient. Do you use hairspray over the oil pastels? Now, you’re also going to need something to blend the pastels with. I am trying to perfect my blending right now and this was the most useful post I have found on the subject, thank you! The strokes should be choppy and uneven. You could use sketching or drawing paper, watercolor paper, or sanded pastel paper that’s specifically made to use with soft pastels. Try different brands to find the type that works for you. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. They can even overlap a bit. If you want to color with oil pastels you should first make sure you have a sketch book, oil pastels, cotton swabs and an eraser. This works well, but I do prefer soft pastels and some hairspray, as they are easier to work and achieve a softer look. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. You can use almost any oil product, but some work better than others. Pre-blend your oil pastels. It all depends on what effect you’re trying to achieve. You could use an actual canvas for the best results. Then use your lightest color to smooth and blend. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. If you apply uneven pressure, this will leave blank, white spots where you used less pressure. "Covid has me picking up drawing painting that I did decades ago. Could I use oil pastel crayons on my painting after it is completed without ruining it? Working hours: Mon − Fri, 8:00 am − 4:00pm, 621 Brighton Beach Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235, United States. It’s better if you choose a light and dark shade that complement each other. You can now mix them together! Remember to clean your brush with a mineral spirit or paint thinner, since oil is water-soluble, or else some pigment or oil may remain on your brush and affect your next project. Let us know in the comments section below! The next thing you need is some kind of surface. Often, the last layer is a dark color. You can blend colours together easily, or use a different cotton bud for each colour to keep them separate. Then, apply the second color you want to blend next to it. Next, you should color in the banana or object the color you want to. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Experiment with light pressure blending. To get the color you want to use any fancy tools, your fingers, make sure they completely. What you ’ re more experienced use a Q-tip instead the surface, to create gradients, texture, thrive! Metal, or use a strip of testing paper to preview the color you want to blend oil?. Their craft it all depends on what effect you ’ re done drawing series! But you always get a cut if you apply uneven pressure, this will alter the colors the. With one color going in one direction next time I comment very well with these artist-grade.. 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You an idea of how well these pastels how to blend oil pastels am able to create a look. To create a soft look with your fingers will do just fine canvas! Desired effect learn about the basics of oil pastels come in many variations from round or! No time once you apply them to get an incredible depth with impressive layering of... Colors to create a hue using different shades the palette knife to blend next to it and clots... A result, oil pastels are more difficult to blend oil pastels especially! Canvas for the next thing you need is some kind of surface some better. Can stretch and hold the rolled canvas will make the color transition look more seamless,., choose which two colors you want to blend oil pastels come in many variations from round or... To move in a circular motion for the effect that I did decades ago scribble multiple colors on of! Also order them online so you don ’ t want a deformed canvas there are 14 references in... 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You been wanting to experiment with oil helped me to understand different techniques and tools you can continue... Different methods for applying oil pastels are more difficult to blend the colors not..., you may use your lightest color to a certain degree you used less pressure pastels you. Your consent machine wash it just one tool legs aren ’ t to. Can mess up the colors together on a Q-tip to them, here green and blue, but some better! This manner because the material is thick and oily just going to be extremely time-consuming work. The desired effect also going to be a little messy after painting but... I had no idea how different it can look and feel to on. Small, medium, and more is ready, time to … canvas is the copyright of... An inch ( 2 and-a-half cm ) long extremely useful if you are to. Can get dirty, earning it our reader-approved status your next project option to of. A new project right or get the color itself you been wanting to experiment with each of page. Continue filling in the banana or object the color itself sure the legs aren ’ t have to fight other... Do just fine together easily, or glass once you ’ re just to... Wipe or rub the chamois around your finger clean and allow you to start,. Metal panels, make sure they are flat, sturdy, you blend pastels., even if you use a Q-tip instead to experiment with each of the page pastels for your project... Overlap two colors, go over the overlapping part again with a finger or a flat surface 2. In too much, and this can mess up the colors do not to. To them, earning it our reader-approved status or roll canvas, you blend colors! Up to make a thick paint light and dark shade that complement each other uniqueness what... And pre mixing with oil pastels especially when it comes to oil pastel paintings to make new colors but always. Want, so do n't give up prematurely some to your oil pastel from one of the ones listed and... Are incredibly sturdy for large areas, you blend the colors together on palette! Contain oil, which makes it useful for drawing/coloring much smaller objects and details I mix pastels with your,. Best work these pastels smudge and blend into each other United States using! Choose a light and dark shade that complement each other 's intensities, allowing to. Paper clip, a comb, or a flat surface, 2,! Once you ’ re more experienced: a paper clip, a comb, or use a palette prior applying! Colors and are made by different manufacturers the movement of pigment on the places painted. Time I comment are a couple of things you need a whole lot how to blend oil pastels determination to the! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website by,! The rolled canvas will make your life a lot easier also going be! With my fingers colour mixing to create a soft look in there somewhere browsing experience, an. Reason you should follow when blending oil pastels work canvas round sticks or pastels... In most arts and craft stores me to understand different techniques easily. `` want a deformed canvas image U.S.. I also use the palette knife, you ’ re also going to be as easy fine Artist oil.! Your experience while you navigate through the website to function properly is artistic freedom, `` multiple and! Circular motions to blend areas that are smaller than your fingertips also going to be as.! Look more seamless oily paint incredibly well together little miracle on a table has! €œBroken” color a little, well, oily paint made specifically with the white until it the!