Oil-pastels, Soft pastels.

[Leslie Bohoss]

Hello,

Did one of you have experiences with Oilpastels at fine-art? Better to say, oilpastels and turpentine (alcohol?) mix. I know oilpastels alone are very "raw" and impossible to blend, but how looks it if one mixes with linen oil or turp or whatever. Any professional attempt?
Up till now I have worked with softpastel. But it is difficult to put layers one must fix it, what distorts the colors. What do I make wrong?
Thank you in advance!

[Eileen Claire]

Leslie, I work in oil pastels. I don't find them impossible to blend. I blend them with a tortillon (a paper stump). I don't use any turpentine or other medium with them. Attached is a piece I did with Sennelier oil pastels.

[Leslie Bohoss]

Hmm.. mine are like Cont

[Eileen Claire]

Thanks! I have the oil pastels. Which brand are you using? I have the Senneliers, Caran D'ache and Holbein. They all blend well using a tortillon or your fingers.

I plan on buying some oil sticks in the near future to try them out. But I do love these oil pastels, they blend and layer beautifully. Here is another example I did using the Caran D'ache:

[Leslie Bohoss]

Wow, that is like a "tube oilpainting". I have only a cheaper brand, called Koh-i-noor. I wanted to buy no expensive first but it makes very much apparent. You have simply terrifically conjured what up there. I have never seen Holbein products here but Senneiler or Rembrandt. Tell me more about your method, please. Is that the smooth side of a Mi' Teintes? How can you repair errors?
Many thanks!

[Eileen Claire]

From what I understand, Holbeins are not distributed in Europe. But you should be able to get Caran D'ache. I didn't know Koh-i-noor made oil pastels, they're not available over here.

This is the smooth side of Canson Mi Teintes. My method is simply to lay down colors and blend them with the tortillon (blending stump). To correct errors, you can scrape off the oil pastel with a palette knife, razor blade, or your fingernail. Then go right over top with more oil pastel. There are many different techniques you can use. I'd recommend the book called "Oil Pastel for the Serious Beginner" by John Elliot. He is pretty much the authority on this medium.

[Leslie Bohoss]

Thank you Eileen!

Yes , I can get Caran D'ache (Neopastel) Sennelier and Van Gogh (not Rembrandt) from Talens. I will try Neopastel. It is a little more favorable and as you said from good quality too. In the catalog: dust-free, soft and supple. great opacity and lightfast and unlimited mixing possibilities.. 96 colors.