Pastel is one of my favorite coloring materials. I like pastel because of its simplicity, flexibility, and efficiency in making colorful art. And since you are reading this post now, it is safe to assume that you like pastel as well. Well, you have come to the right place because we are going to share 4 oil pastel art techniques that work like magic.
But as cool as pastels are, they are not like your ordinary crayons and using it requires a bit of technique and method in order to create a good piece of art.
Well, if creating good art with pastel if what you’re looking for, then I would like to share to you pastel techniques from my post 3 Indispensable Oil Pastel Techniques in ZenRT.com
Here are the 3 techniques as stated in the post.
“3 Pastel Drawing Techniques
Some of the more popular techniques for using soft pastels are feathering, scumbling, and blending. Every technique creates a distinct effect on the surface.
1. Blending
Perhaps the most common technique for using pastels is blending. Blending happens when pastels are used in layers on the surface. Transitions between values and colors are smoothed by rubbing or smearing the pastel into a surface. The results are smooth value gradations and color on the objects.
Blending can be done using a blending stump, a finger, a rolled-up piece of paper, or cotton swab. Other tools are protective gloves for the fingers. (Blending using the fingers is frequently called “smudging.”)
For big areas, artists prefer to use their fingers to blend, but for more precise and smaller areas, a blending stump will work best. You can buy blending stumps at a low price at an art store, but you may substitute one for the rolled-up piece of paper towel or paper.
2. Scumbling
Scumbling is a method used for using pastels wherein light, but opaque pastel applications are layered on the top of the areas in the picture plane. These areas could have already gotten a pastel application, or they could be partly covering the paper’s raw surface.
When scumbling is utilized, optical color mixing normally happens. Optical color mixing occurs when colors positioned beside each other visually “mix” to generate a new color perception. For instances, if yellow marks are placed next to blue marks, then the viewer may see the color green.
The physical texture or paper’s tooth plays a vital part in the effect that’s achieved. Because scumbled marks are usually applied lightly, the paper’s texture will pick up the material in spots where it’s raised, thus leaving the color under in the texture’s recesses. Scumbling still certainly occurs in drawings that are finished on smooth surfaces.
The surface texture isn’t the only factor that affects the process of scumbling, but it must be considered.
3. Feathering
Feathering is a method for using pastels wherein the material is applied in a linear manner. The lines made could follow the subject’s cross contours, adding to the form’s illusion, but they do not need to. Feathered lines could intersect each other, overlap, or be wide. The lines are generally short; however, this isn’t a rule. Feathering is merely another technique of using pastels through color layers.
With every linear pastel application, the color develops in depth and conveys the object’s form more clearly.
Some color mixing is to be expected once layers are added. Optical color mixing will take place too just like scumbling.
Remember that for feathering methods; it’s advisable to make use of pastel pencils or hard pastels. Since these materials are much harder, they’ll hold a sharp tip for an extended period and cause controlled and precise lines. This isn’t essential because soft pastels can be utilized to make feathering effects too.
Layering Pastels (The Finishing Touches)
Again, for the majority of drawings, combining the three techniques will be utilized in an image. Incorporating various marks in a drawing is vital.
Regardless of which method is used, the goal must be to build up pastel layers on the surface. This produces depth in color and adds more illusion of form. These techniques offer some ways to get this goal and enhance the drawing into a successful and cohesive pastel painting.”
We hope you liked this post. Is pastel your favorite art material? Feel free to share your pastel art to us in the comments.
