| Using oil pastels as a medium for | | | | with these perfected paints. Perhaps they |
| canvas-based painting is no longer any | | | | aren't for everyone, at least not at the |
| different at all from using regular, | | | | beginner's level. Still, finding the right |
| petroleum-based oil paint. Oil pastels are | | | | medium to work in is a very crucial first |
| easy and flexible to work with; offering | | | | phase for any artist, so you really should |
| artists of all skill levels an unlimited | | | | give oil pastels a try if for no other reason |
| armory of creative potential. Most | | | | than to make sure that the cost should not be |
| importantly, oil pastels are also considered | | | | justified. The following is a way to |
| a safe alternative to both oil pains and soft | | | | inexpensively make your own oil pastels, |
| pastels. | | | | although the sharpness and overall quality |
| | | | will naturally not be as good as the |
| For centuries, artists have had to give up | | | | professional grade. |
| oil paints, especially in their old age, as | | | | |
| the dust associated with oil paint itself | | | | Start with manufacturing a Gum tragacanth |
| caused health concerns. In the 1950s, | | | | solution. (1 part gum tragacanth powder, 30 |
| advances in the science of oil-like pastel | | | | parts distilled water, & a cap-full of |
| paint made it possible to produce the | | | | alcohol) |
| first-ever dust-free alternative, but | | | | |
| painters have never taken to it until | | | | Simply put the gum tragacanth, available at a |
| recently, when they got the formulas just | | | | fine arts store, into a clean bottle and stir |
| right... Over time, the blacks finally became | | | | in just enough alcohol to make a soft paste. |
| dark enough; the hues finally became separate | | | | Then add the water, shaking it all together. |
| enough, and so on. The end result is that we | | | | The hard part is that tragacanth can't be |
| now have a dust-free, ecology-friendly | | | | forced to bond within 2 whole days, only then |
| alternative to oil-based paints that can be | | | | will it absorb all the water and swell into a |
| made into tube or stick form, and perform | | | | true gelatinous suspension. |
| just as well in every way. It's taken over 50 | | | | |
| years for science to get the formula just | | | | Next, combine equal parts of dry pigment (of |
| right, but in the 1990s they finally | | | | your favorite color) and zinc white, (also |
| succeeded in producing a non-petroleum-based | | | | both available at that same fine arts store) |
| paint that had no harmful effects to the | | | | with just enough distilled water to make a |
| environment, and best of all, no dust! | | | | stiff paste. Once mixed, add just enough Gum |
| | | | solution (that you finished letting sit for |
| The man who wrote the book on how to use oil | | | | two days) to allow you to grind it with a |
| pastels, quite literally, has a lot to say on | | | | pallet knife until the paste is completely |
| this subject. In 1983, an artist from New | | | | smooth. |
| York by the name of John Elliot wrote the | | | | |
| very first article on how to use oil pastels, | | | | Finally, deposit the soft color paste on a |
| even before the formula had been perfected, | | | | blotter or newsprint and let it absorb most |
| for the prestigious American Artist magazine. | | | | of the moisture before shaping it into |
| For many years before that he passionately | | | | sticks. Use room temperature, or only slight |
| worked towards pushing paint manufacturers | | | | heat, too much will cause cracking. |
| into speeding along the progress of their | | | | |
| work towards perfecting the paint. If there | | | | You can roll these oil pastels directly to |
| is any one many behind the phenomenon of oil | | | | pastel paper or cardboard and use in the |
| pastels, it is John Elliot. | | | | traditional way you are used to. Again, I |
| | | | must stress that this method will produce a |
| Often noted as the world's leading authority | | | | more basic, dusty version of oil pastels, not |
| on oil pastel paints, his 2002 book, Oil | | | | the expensive, but worthwhile grade that you |
| Pastel for the Serious Beginner: Basic | | | | can buy from your local art supply warehouse. |
| Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter | | | | Still, considering the low price of these |
| (Watson-Guptill publications) demonstrates | | | | materials, there is probably no better way to |
| step by step how to become a master of oil | | | | get started in oil pastels, and of course to |
| pastels. He covers every aspect of oil | | | | reduce the risks when just trying them out. |
| pastels in this book, far more than I can | | | | |
| even hint about here. He includes the | | | | If you haven't yet given oil pastels a try, |
| history, the chemistry, and the techniques of | | | | or if you know you like them but still feel |
| oil pastels, or "dust free pastels" as he | | | | they are too expensive, I encourage you to |
| would like us to refer to them, as the name | | | | attempt this recipe a try. There are few |
| 'oil pastel' implies that they are a | | | | mediums as rewarding as oil pastels on |
| petroleum derivative, which they are not. | | | | canvas, in both performance and product. You |
| | | | owe it to yourself to at least learn more |
| Unfortunately, many artists will still have | | | | about this wonderfully evolved medium, and of |
| issues with the high price tag associated | | | | course how to use oil pastels. |