Oil Pastels Painting Course

Arts Shala is delighted to introduce our Oil Pastels Course, a comprehensive journey into the colorful and expressive world of oil pastels. Designed for artists at all levels, this course offers an in-depth exploration of the medium, from understanding its unique characteristics to mastering advanced techniques. Students will delve into color theory, learning how to create harmony and contrast with primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. They will study light and shadow, value contrasts, and special techniques like blending, sgraffito, and overlayering to bring their oil pastel artworks to life.

Through hands-on exercises, students will develop skills in creating smooth transitions, intricate textures, and realistic details. The course covers the use of various tools, the importance of edges in composition, and techniques for both impressionistic and realistic drawings across different genres. At Arts Shala, we provide a nurturing environment where students can explore their creativity, refine their artistic expression, and discover the full potential of oil pastels in creating stunning, dynamic artworks.

What the Course Includes:

Oil Pastels Medium Introduction

Students will learn about the unique composition of oil pastels, which includes a mixture of pigments, non-drying oil, and wax. This composition gives oil pastels their distinctive creamy texture and intense color payoff.

The course will cover the various types of oil pastels, such as artist-grade vs. student-grade, and their specific applications. Students will learn how to select the right type of oil pastel for different effects and techniques.

Color Theory

Understanding Color Relationships: Students will delve deeper into color theory, learning how to create color harmony and contrast using primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. This includes understanding complementary, analogous, and triadic color schemes.

Hue, Value, and Chroma: Students will explore these three aspects of color in detail. Hue refers to the color itself, value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color, and chroma refers to the intensity or purity of a color. Understanding these concepts is crucial for creating vibrant and dynamic oil pastel artworks.

Basic Light and Shadow

Effects of Light Sources: Students will study how different light sources, such as direct sunlight, diffused light, or artificial light, affect the way colors and forms appear in a composition. This includes understanding how to represent the warmth or coolness of light in an artwork.

Techniques for Rendering: Students will learn specific techniques for rendering light and shadow in oil pastels, such as how to create soft and hard edges, how to layer colors to achieve depth, and how to use contrast to make objects appear more three-dimensional.

Value Study

Creating Smooth Transitions: Students will practice creating smooth transitions between values, which is essential for creating the illusion of form and volume in a two-dimensional artwork. This includes learning how to blend oil pastels effectively.

Emphasizing Value Contrast: The course will emphasize the importance of value contrast in creating dynamic and visually interesting compositions. Students will learn how to use light and dark values strategically to guide the viewer's eye through the artwork.

Special Techniques

Blending: Students will learn various blending techniques, such as using their fingers, blending stumps, or even a bit of turpentine to blend oil pastels smoothly.

Sgraffito: This technique involves scratching through a layer of oil pastel to reveal a different color or the surface underneath. Students will learn how to use sgraffito for creating textures or adding highlights.

Overlayering: Students will explore the technique of overlaying different colors of oil pastels to create new colors and depth in their artwork. This includes learning how to layer transparent and opaque colors.

Scumbling: Students will practice the scumbling technique, which involves applying a broken layer of color over another color. This technique is great for creating atmospheric effects or texture.

How to Use Tools for Drawings

Tools Overview: Students will get a comprehensive overview of the tools that can be used with oil pastels, such as paper types, blending tools, and fixatives.

Techniques for Tool Use: The course will provide tips and techniques for using these tools effectively. For example, students will learn how to use a palette knife for scraping or applying thick layers of oil pastel.

Study of Edges

Understanding Edge Types: Students will learn about the different types of edges (hard, soft, lost) and how they can be used to create a sense of depth and realism in a composition.

Application in Artworks: Practical exercises will help students understand how to use edges to create focal points, suggest movement, and enhance the overall composition of their oil pastel drawings.

Impressionism and Realism in Different Genres

Impressionistic Techniques: Students will explore impressionistic techniques, learning how to use vibrant, expressive strokes to convey the atmosphere and emotion of a scene.

Realistic Techniques: The course will cover realistic techniques for creating detailed and lifelike drawings in various genres. Students will learn how to observe and replicate the fine details of their subjects.

Realistic Drawings

Advanced Realism Techniques: Students will delve into advanced techniques for creating highly realistic oil pastel drawings. This includes learning how to create intricate textures, subtle color shifts, and accurate representations of light and shadow.