Week 28: Oil Pastel
Welcome to week 28 of 52 weeks of art! What are we doing this week?
This week we were working with oil pastels. I'll be honest here, I do NOT like using oil pastels. This is our 28th week, our 28th medium, and I can say this is the one I like the least so far. I have only used oil pastels a handful of times. What are oil pastels? Well, they are like a really waxy, sticky, worse version of a crayon. I apologize right now to anyone who loves using oil pastels, I hate them.
Oil pastels are used sort of like regular pastels. You color the paper, you blend it, ta da - done. I think the thing I hate the most about oil pastels is the blending. I find it so difficult to blend oil pastels and not have it turn out muddy. I also find it difficult to get a clean line. It's messy. But, somehow, people out there are able to make it work. Here's some examples of people making oil pastels look good:
Since I really struggled with making clean lines and blending, I decided to not even try to make clean lines. I took my inspiration from one of my all time favorite artists, Van Gogh. His sunflower paintings are some of my favorite paintings. I know that I am no Van Gogh, but here is my take on his sunflowers in oil pastel:
Oil pastels are used sort of like regular pastels. You color the paper, you blend it, ta da - done. I think the thing I hate the most about oil pastels is the blending. I find it so difficult to blend oil pastels and not have it turn out muddy. I also find it difficult to get a clean line. It's messy. But, somehow, people out there are able to make it work. Here's some examples of people making oil pastels look good:
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| This oil pastel piece and be purchased here. |
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| There are some beautiful oil pastel pieces here. |
Since I really struggled with making clean lines and blending, I decided to not even try to make clean lines. I took my inspiration from one of my all time favorite artists, Van Gogh. His sunflower paintings are some of my favorite paintings. I know that I am no Van Gogh, but here is my take on his sunflowers in oil pastel:
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| Sunflowers. Oil pastel on hot press watercolor paper. |
On to rating oil pastel...
Just a reminder on the criteria for rating each medium.
Ease of use: How easy was this medium to use.
Affordability: How affordable supplies are for each medium.
Accessibility: How easily accessible supplies are for each medium. Example, are specific tools required that are hard to find?
Fun to Use: How much enjoyment I got out of using this medium
So, for oil pastel, my rating is: 14
Ease of use: 3
Oil pastels are easy enough to color with, but blending and clean lines are difficult.
Affordability: 5
You can get a cheap Crayola set of oil pastels for like $6 for 28 colors. So yeah, oil pastels are cheap if it's something you'd you like to try out.
Accessibility: 5
Oil pastels are really available in arts and crafts stores everywhere. You can also find them online.
Fun to Use: 1
I hate using oil pastels. Hate them. I don't want to dissuade anyone from trying out oil pastels, but I really just don't like them. If you're a fan of pastels, I think you should give oil pastels a try.
If you would like to go on this epic art adventure with me, next week we will be doing...
If you choose to follow along, please post your work using #52weekartadventure!
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