My First Oil Pastel Painting
I have been telling people for some time now, that my first oil pastel painting was The Matriarch. I bought myself a set of oil pastels because they looked like fun. And I just created her. As far as I could remember, I had never really played with oil pastels. And being self taught, a huge part of the thrill for me, is just figuring them out. I’ve never been much for reading books on technique. I probably would be much farther along, if I were. However, I believe this living on the edge attitude has really helped me to develop my own style of working, in whatever rather obscure medium I play with.
Anyway, so when I got my set, I cracked them open and just began. I had this elephant in mind from the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. I drew out a very quick outline and just did it. I didn’t over think it, I just let the spirit move me. When I got her done I thought, “Wow that was fun! What else can I paint with these.”
Seeds of Greatness
Recently, my mom gave me a scrapbook containing my early artistic endeavors. And when I was six, low and behold, an oil pastel (Umm,. . . not sure that I can really call it a painting. So lets call it a . . .) picture of parrots. Lorikeets if I’m not mistaken. Now that I see it, I have vague memories of actually drawing it and thinking “Wow, that was fun! What else can I paint with these!”
And so the circle of life is complete.
Tags: oil pastels
When you say this was your first oil pastel painting, please tell me that what you mean is that you regularly drew and painted anyway and that this was just the first time you tried oil pastels - otherwise I am going to feel incredibly inferior!! My first efforts were more like your drawing at age six!
Wow, The Matriarch is amazing.
HI Un D, yes, I meant it was my first oil pastel painting. I had been working with water soluble pencils for about 10 years prior. I don’t experiment with many media at one time. I do something until I feel like there is nothing more to learn or by challenged by, then I move on. I tend to be driven by the challenges. How can I get more detail, more color, more realism, more impressionism. Creating water and white objects are hard for me, so I keep coming back to both and try it again and again in different paintings. So even though I may be doing say . . . draft horse painting number 200 (I’m nowhere near that number BTW)
I am actually trying something new in ways of technique or style.
Some unsolicited advice:
Be willing to try and fail. A failed painting does not mean, failing as an artist. Be confident. Though your comment about your first efforts made me smile (and of course, those were my first efforts too, so that just makes sense, doesn’t it.) Don’t talk too badly about your work, whatever stage of learning you are at. Humilty is always good, but I think deep down, what you say about your work, will create that reality.
Thank you for your advice Mona. I try not to be too negative about my work, but I try to be realistic - I know I am making progress and I am pleased with that, but realistically I know I still have so much to learn. Like my ballerina piece for example - it’s the best drawing I have done so far (and very enjoyable to draw), and yet I can see so much wrong with it. I think that is a good thing though; if I couldn’t see what was wrong then I wouldn’t be able to improve. The difference is that I allowed it to be wrong this time - unlike my Cloud Nine piece which I couldn’t leave alone!
With the advice of artists such as Jafabrit and yourself I am slowly changing my view towards the pieces I create and my own ability. I’m trying to focus on my progress rather than becoming frustrated with my limitations. I was very up and down to start with, but I think my confidence levels are balancing out now.
Thank you so much for your advice. I really appreciate it. (I hope I’ve understood you correctly too)
Going back to the oil pastels though - I was surprised when I got them out of the box to use them because my memories of using them are good ones, and yet this time they felt clumsy and I felt like a child drawing in crayons. I shall keep trying though.
What kind (brand) of oil pastels do you have? Type can greatly affect how they work.
They weren’t very expensive - it says “inscribe” on the box and the pastels have “Gallery” written on them. I just bought what our local shop had in store. I’m starting to buy more art things online now, but I don’t know much about brands.
It’s hard to buy online unless you already know what your getting. I happened to stumble on a wonderful artsupply store (4 hours from where I live) that I stop at everytime we get remotely near it, to buy open stock of “new stuff” to try out. Love it. Being able to try open stock has saved me hundreds in materials that wouldn’t have worked so well for me.
So what new things are you working on? I’ve been checking your blog from time to time. I like the found art projects. I really like the messages. What a great idea. Have you placed them yet?
Thank you Mona! I’ve only left one of the set of three found art pieces. I find it quite tricky knowing where to leave them, and then sometimes I forget to take them with me! At least I’ve left one, the others are kind of extra!
I started playing around with this weeks found art piece last night, and I’ve been looking for another famous piece to draw. I don’t feel that inspired by so called famous artists though, but maybe that’s a topic for another time! I’ve finally settled on another Degas piece.
I have other projects that I’ve been making preparations for - taking photos, buying materials, that sort of thing. I think I have too many ideas in my head at one time and I tend to get mentally exhausted before I’ve even started anything! How do you manage that?
Are the oil pastels I have any good? Which brand do you recommend? I’m really enjoying my chalk pastels at the moment. I’ve ordered some pastel pencils but I missed the delivery today!
I can’t say as to the quality of your oil pastels are. My guess is they are a childrens grade- perhaps student. What type you want would depend on what you plan to do with your finished work. My usual recommendation is get the best you can afford, so that way if you create a masterpiece, it will last. That being said supplies are exspensive and a gamble if your trying a new medium. A good oil pastel starter brand is Caran D’Ache. I can’t remember what they cost for the big set. I think around $100 for the 94 pastel set. If that is out of the budget, I would say get a set with the most colors you can of a cheaper brand.
Before I ever picked up a pastel, an oil pastel artist told me to get a small set to try them out. This is sound reasonable advice. But had I done that I would never have continued on with them. I didn’t need to be trying to “create colors” as well as trying to figure them out. My first set was the Caran D’Ache set of 94.
I think I may address the figuring out what to create issue in an upcoming post. The short answer is I kinda go with a gut feeling. What speaks to me at that moment. I tend not to over think things though. You’ve been an inspiration Undaunted.
BTW I like the symbology of that name.
I’m curious to see what your new project becomes.
“You’ve been an inspiration Undaunted” I have? Thank you! What did I do??
I feel like a child at the moment, hanging around the grown ups and asking too many questions! “What are you doing? How did you do that? What did you use? Where did you get that from?…”
I totally agree with you about having a large colour range - my friend Anita said I should just get a small set of about 12, but I’m not experienced at mixing colours like she is. In the end I settled for a set of 36. I think you’re right, I think they are a student grade. I’ve seen the name Caran D’Ache, so I’ll look out for them. Thanks for the tip.
Do you use a paint brush with yours as well? I noticed one of your posts explained other tools that you use so I shall go back and read it properly. Like you, I’m not one for reading books on technique, but I like learning from others
The only time I use a paint brush is when I am signing my name, with one exception. On Making Waves (the tiger piece) I put in some of the smaller whiskers with a brush. In general because my work is comprised of small dashes of color, brush work looks oddly out of place. I would think it would be a great tool depending on how you work. I do use blender tools for smoothing rough edges.
Questions are always good. I belong to an art group where the sharing of ideas helps to bring out all sorts of possibilities. I do think taking classes and reading books are good too. For some reason, I just don’t. Perhaps not the wisest plan of action. Again I probably would be a lot farther along if I did.
You are an inspiration because by asking question you get me to thinking about the experience of creating. I am not a very introspective person, when it comes to my art, my motivations or how I create it. Now that I spend so much time writing about these things in both the blog and my magazine articles, your questions gets me thinking. Which in turn leads to blog posts and magazine fodder. So thank you.