What do i need to get started on oil pastels?

Question

I would like to know what i need to buy to get started. And any additional tips would be great.

Answer 1

Oil pastels, paper or other surface.



Like colored pencils, the hardness of each stick contributes to a different purpose. Many artists combine different brands of oil pastels to achieve different effects.



Firm brands like Cray-Pas Specialist or Erengi are better for early layers, fine details and control. Softer products like Holbein or Sennelier can be used for later layers. They come in student quality and artist quality. I have had good luck with the cheaper Cray-Pas and Cretacolor aquastic which are expensive but worth it.



Oil pastels can be used wet or dry on any support: paper, board, canvas, glass, metal, wood. . . even rock. Some oil pastels are water soluble and water can be added for a wash like watercolors.



Oil pastels should be glazed with a fixative specifically for them. This needs to be done because they don't harden like traditional oils and can be smeared.



I like the oil pastels because they are easy to carry with me and they are dustless.



Enjoy and experiment with them. They can be very versatile.

Answer 2

Basically as simple as the pastels and the paper.



I would recommend getting strathmore paper, it's generally the universal paper for dry media (even though pastels are oil based, I would still consider them a dry media).



Keep in mind oil pastels do not blend very well, you have to use a lot of hatching and cross hatching techniques to get the effect you want. On top of that you want to layer, a LOT.



To add more effect or something that can act as your oil pastel "eraser" (since you can't really use an eraser on oil pastels) get a pen cap. Pen caps can scrape away oil, not completely, and give a nice looking texture. Plus you don't really have to buy it either, lol.



I would say do this if you get more advanced with oil pastels...get turpentine. Turpentine as you may know is used with oil paint so it works nicely with oil based materials. It helps blend your drawings more but I say if you're starting out just stick with the simple stuff :)

Answer 3

http://www.artistsnetwork.com/articles/art-demos-techniques/painting-with-oil-pastels-for-beginners

try this i found it very informational