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School-aged kids will learn various oil pastel techniques in this easy project. We’ve included a free printable to make this lesson perfect for home or classroom use.
Using Oil Pastels
Oil pastels are a wonderful way to introduce kids to working with oil mediums. I like that oil pastels are in stick form, similar to crayons, easy to store, and can be manipulated in many ways. There are many different techniques artists use with oil pastels. Today, we’ll be using various items that are readily available to explore a few of those methods.
Related: Review basic shading techniques with our free printable.
Supplies Needed to Make this oil Pastel techniques Art Project
- Free Printable Oil Techniques Page (Download Below) – printed on cardstock
- Oil Pastels
- Odorless Mineral Spirits – in a well ventilated area
- Baby Oil – or Mineral Oil
- Tissue – or paper towels
- Blending Stump – or tortillon
- Toothpick – or other sharp tool
- Cotton Swab
- Paintbrush
Download the Oil Pastel Techniques Printable Here
Use our free printable to practice various oil pastel techniques. Our printable saves times which allows kids a chance to further explore pastels.
Directions to Practice Oil Pastel techniques
Step 1
Heavy Pressure: Color each end of the rectangle with a different color, causing the colors to overlap and blend in the middle. Use firm pressure to heavily apply the oil pastels.
Step 2
Light Pressure: Color each end of the rectangle with a different color, causing the colors to overlap and blend in the middle. Use only light pressure to apply the oil pastels in this rectangle.
Step 3
Scumbling: Use two or more colors to scribble color in the rectangle, causing them to overlap and blend. Drawing more scribbles, tightly together, will create a more pronounced color.
Step 4
Hatching: Draw lines with each color, causing them to mix in the middle. The lines should be drawn in the same direction and appear to blend into one another. The colors will appear more pronounced the closer the lines are to one another.
Step 5
Cross-Hatching: Similar to hatching, but this time our colored lines will cross over one another.
Step 6
Stippling: Use the two oil pastels to create dots in the rectangle, where the colors meet and blend in the middle. More dots, closer together, will create a more pronounced color.
Step 7
Tissue: Without overlapping, color each half of the rectangle with a different color. Use a tissue to blend colors together in a circular motion.
Step 8
Blending Stump: Again, color each half of the rectangle with a different color. Use a blending stump (or your finger) to blend colors together in the middle using a circular motion.
Step 9
Sgraffito: Color the rectangle with a light color and then heavily color over the lighter color using a darker color. Use a toothpick or other sharp tool to scratch a design into the top layer.
Step 10
Flat Edge: Color the rectangle using the flat edge, or side, of the oil pastel. This technique allows artists to cover large areas at one time. It also gives the appearance of a rough texture when finished.
Step 11
Mineral Spirits: Color each half of the rectangle with an oil pastel. Use a small amount of mineral spirits on a paintbrush to explore blending, smoothing, and smearing the pastels.
Step 12
Baby Oil or Mineral Oil: Color each half of the rectangle with an oil pastel. Use a small amount of baby oil or mineral oil on a cotton swab to blend, smooth, and smear the pastels.
Finished OIl Pastel Techniques Art Project
It’s so much fun to explore new techniques! Though these pages are simply for practice, they can still easily be framed, clipped, or displayed in your preferred style to show off your child’s skills.
Our Experience Making this Oil Pastel Techniques Art Project
I love using this as an introductory lesson to oil pastels. Kids get a chance to play around with various techniques and discover oil pastels before attempting to make a more creative art project. Kids can then keep this reference on hand to use for future projects as a reminder of some techniques available to them.
Prep Time
5 minutes
Active Time
15 minutes
Total Time
20 minutes
Difficulty
easy
Estimated Cost
$1
Materials
- Free Printable Oil Techniques Page – printed on cardstock
Tools
- Oil Pastels
- Odorless Mineral Spirits – in a well ventilated area
- Baby Oil – or Mineral Oil
- Tissue – or paper towels
- Blending Stump – or tortillon
- Toothpick – or other sharp tool
- Cotton Swab
- Paintbrush
Instructions
- Heavy Pressure: Color each end of the rectangle with a different color, causing the colors to overlap and blend in the middle. Use firm pressure to heavily apply the oil pastels.
- Light Pressure: Color each end of the rectangle with a different color, causing the colors to overlap and blend in the middle. Use only light pressure to apply the oil pastels in this rectangle.
- Scumbling: Use two or more colors to scribble color in the rectangle, causing them to overlap and blend. Drawing more scribbles, tightly together, will create a more pronounced color.
- Hatching: Draw lines with each color, causing them to mix in the middle. The lines should be drawn in the same direction and appear to blend into one another. The colors will appear more pronounced the closer the lines are to one another.
- Cross-Hatching: Similar to hatching, but this time our colored lines will cross over one another.
- Stippling: Use the two oil pastels to create dots in the rectangle, where the colors meet and blend in the middle. More dots, closer together, will create a more pronounced color.
- Tissue: Without overlapping, color each half of the rectangle with a different color. Use a tissue to blend colors together in a circular motion.
- Blending Stump: Again, color each half of the rectangle with a different color. Use a blending stump (or your finger) to blend colors together in the middle using a circular motion.
- Sgraffito: Color the rectangle with a light color and then heavily color over the lighter color using a darker color. Use a toothpick or other sharp tool to scratch a design into the top layer.
- Flat Edge: Color the rectangle using the flat edge, or side, of the oil pastel. This technique allows artists to cover large areas at one time. It also gives the appearance of a rough texture when finished.
- Mineral Spirits: Color each half of the rectangle with an oil pastel. Use a small amount of mineral spirits on a paintbrush to explore blending, smoothing, and smearing the pastels.
- Baby Oil or Mineral Oil: Color each half of the rectangle with an oil pastel. Use a small amount of baby oil or mineral oil on a cotton swab to blend, smooth, and smear the pastels.
Notes
Oil Pastel Techniques Art Variations
- Kids can choose to draw their own chart directly into their sketchbook leaving space to explore more methods in the future.
- Practice various techniques using different color combinations.
- After completing the chart, kids can create art using a few of the new techniques they’ve learned!
Oil Pastel Techniques Art Variations
- Kids can choose to draw their own chart directly into their sketchbook leaving space to explore more methods in the future.
- Practice various techniques using different color combinations.
- After completing the chart, kids can create art using a few of the new techniques they’ve learned!
Other Fun Technique Art Projects from Kids Activities Blog
Did your kids enjoy exploring these oil pastel techniques? What is their new favorite technique?
