2. There are many brands on the
market, but I will discuss an
artist-grade brand as well as
a “starter” brand. More on
that later.
3. Composition and Texture
Oil pastels are made of a
mixture of wax, oils, and
pigment, which is the reason
they feel somewhat like a
crayon in texture, only they
are softer and buttery.
4. On the other hand, chalk
pastels (either hard or
soft)are like chalk and are
powdery to differing
degrees.
PROS AND CONS OF OIL PASTELS
5. PROS
1. OIL PASTELS
OFFER VERSATILITY IN SURFACES THEY
CAN BE APPLIED TO, UNLIKE CHALK
PASTELS. THEY WILL ADHERE TO ANY
KIND OF PAPER AND TO CANVAS—BUT
PLEASE AVOID VERY THIN PAPER—AND CAN
BE USED ON OTHER SURFACES SUCH AS
BOARD, METAL AND GLASS.
6. PROS
•AND SPEAKING OF ADHESION, THEY ARE MORE
PERMANENT THAN THEIR COUNTERPART.
•ADDITIONALLY, OIL PASTELS ARE HIGHLY-
PIGMENTED PROVIDING AN INTENSE SATURATION OF
COLOR.
•THEY ARE WATER-RESISTANT AND DO NOT NEED THE
USE OF ADDITIONAL MEDIUMS OR BRUSHES.
7. CONS
•THEY ARE NON-DRYING, BUT I’LL
DISCUSS HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ARTWORK
LATER.
•THEY CAN BE A LITTLE MESSY IF YOU
DON’T TAKE CARE TO SET THEM OUT OF
THE WAY AS YOU WORK.
