Subscribe to our newsletter. Pastel Painting Resources Oil pastel painting is one of the simplest and purest method of painting using pure color. Mineral and organic pigments are mixed with a non-drying binder, and then combined with wax. The colors are transparent and the color of your painting ground will effect the color of the pastel.
Oil pastels feel like a soft pastel, but look and act like oil paints.
They are less fragile than traditional pastels and can be used to create heavy impasto effects, or combined with oil painting mediums for glazing and wash techniques. Oil pastels never completely dry but can be sealed with fixative. Very similar to soft pastels, the greatest advantage to artists is that unlike soft pastels, they do not create hazardous dust. Oil pastels are sold in a variety of qualities, from student to artist grade. Buy a variety of colors because you will be working with pure color but try to limit yourself until you master the techniques of oil pastels.