Oil pastels can be used in a variety of techniques including stenciling, blending, impasto, hatching and cross-hatching, parallel brush strokes, using fragmented colors, and scratching. The stencil technique involves using oil pastel as a backdrop covered by an ink wash, watercolor, or diluted acrylic paint, allowing the pastel to show through. Blending involves mixing colors using fingers, stumps, or solvents. Impasto creates thick, textured lines. Hatching and cross-hatching underline relief and create color and texture effects. Parallel brush strokes are made with the tip of the pastel. Scratching reduces excess paint to reveal underlying layers or the paper

1. OIL PASTELS