Hi All,

Having read in an Art Magazine that to progress in Art you should try to paint your work in another medium, I decided to try Oil Pastels, so here I am, keen to learn more!

My first attempt to use O.P's is an impression of an oil painting I did in 1975 at art evening classes, which I originally posted earlier at WCP.

Having purchased a box of 24 Sennelier Artist Quality Oil Pastels, assorted colours, my first impression of oil pastels was that the colours were much more vibrant than watercolours and to tone them down I used much white OP which you can see in my painting. For tools, I used my fingers only.

Painted on Langton NOT 300gsm - size: 7" x 5" (to begin!)






To progress further in this interesting medium, I would greatly appreciate any advice, please, particularly regarding which tools to use generally and especially for finer details in marine art, etc.

Kind regards, Pierre

I have done a small amount in O.P. and one tip I can offer is to use a spirit of some kind to spread and merge your colours to acheive different effects ;)

Many thanks, Dorothy, for your suggestion.

Kind regards, Pierre

I've been emailing a woman called Mona in USA and have asked her what blending tools she uses. So far, I haven't had a reply.

Sorry I cant be of any help Pierre but you have made an excellent start with the O.P. (grins)

Thank you, El. I much appreciate your comment.

Kind regards, Pierre

Hi Pierre

I have to confess that OP don't appeal to me, as a user, in the way that their dry and dusty friends do, but both media can be used with a solvent as Dorothy mentioned for OP here. So for fine detail you can use solvent, OP and a tool such as a brush or the colour shapers that are available in different shapes and sizes and probably with oilies you could utilise the edge of a pallete knife etc.

You have made a nice start to your exploration of the new medium, I'll catch up with some of the others as time permits.

Ruth

(claphands) (claphands) (claphands) pierre! I think solvents are the answer you need. I had to give up on oil pastels because I can't use solvents! (loveh) Sylvia

Oil pastels are a lovely medium and Sennelier offer a wide range of colours. They're also softer then other makes. I prefer to use them on a broad impressionist manner rather than go for detail and the strong vibrant colour that is their characteristic feature makes them ideal for a free loose approach.

Begin by brushing on layers thinned with white spirit then build up with pastel strokes. Work on A3 or bigger. Primed mountboard or mdf are better than paper if you are going for a painterly approach rather than a drawing or quick sketch.

Hi Julia, Ruth, Sylvia and Rob, Many thanks for taking the time to assist me in my initial efforts with oil pastels.

Julia: My sincere apologies to you in that I missed your earlier comment regarding blending tools. Thank you for your thoughts.

Ruth: Thank you for your suggestions which are appreciated. Since I started this thread I have now obtained some Royal Sovereign Clay Shapers which I find very useful particularly for smaller areas. I will certainly experiment with the other points that you mention, for which, many thanks.

Sylvia: Thank you for your thoughts. One of my reasons for trying oil pastels in preference to oil painting is that I am slightly asthmatic so I would need to find a suitable solvent.

Rob: Thank you for your suggestions. With regard to solvents, I would like to try your suggested method with brushes although, as mentioned to Sylvia, I would need to obtain a suitable solvent. I understand that Sansodor is a low odour alternative to White Spirit. Do you think that this would serve the purpose?

I agree with your comments regarding Sennelier OP's. My intention is to try to move to a 'free loose approach' and I am currently studying works of the Impressionists, Monet, Cézanne, Van Gogh, etc. in an effort to try to understand more regarding impressionistic art.

Since starting to paint in pen & watercolour and watercolour eight years ago, my subjects tend to be more detailed probably influenced by my previous career in Sales and Marketing Management within the Food Manufacturing Industry. There my interest in art led me to being involved in labelling and packaging design and in International Exhibition work. I feel that I need to break out of this mould and as you say, to use OP's in a 'broad impressionistic manner'!

My sincere thanks to you all, Pierre