Oil pastels, as a painting medium, are relatively new in the art world. Soft pastels were first developed in the 1920s. At the time, these pastels were considered a step above crayons. In 1949, the first artist-quality pastel was made at the request and on the initiative of two prominent artists; Pablo Picasso and Henri Goetz. The flexibility of this new pastel was a game changer for artists. Artists could now paint not only on canvas but also on wood and clay. Oil pastels allow the artist to paint directly on canvas without using brushes or palette knives. Continue reading?
Its soft consistency and wide variety of colors were also appealing to artists. The pigments are also permanent, professional and acid-free. Oil pastels differ from oil paints in that their binder, which is linseed oil instead of oil paints, has a higher oil and wax content. Pastels are currently available in two forms: professional quality and student-quality. Both professionals and students can use these colors. Most stores stocking stationery will have the student-quality pastels.
Difference Between Hard and Soft
Leonardo Da Vinci wrote about these hard pastels a long time ago. His drawings were mostly done with red chalk. The blending of hard pastels with the use of blending stick or fingers produces subtle shading and highlighting effects. They are semi-transparent and powdery, which is why they’re great for seamless color transitions.
Oil pastels, on the other hand, are much softer in texture and semi-opaque by nature. It is therefore possible to mix colors. It is possible to overlap these pastels. Due to this ability to cover, one can create the same effect as painting with acrylics or oil paints. You will usually apply acrylic vanish to the surface of your artwork after you have finished.
Oil pastels can be used to create vibrant, brilliant colors by bending them together using small lines networks. This layering gives your colors a brilliant brilliance. The transition is smoothed out by this blending. Oil pastel paintings are displayed in galleries around the world. They are known to be quite amazing.