Oil pastel in warm tones

halsart wrote

on 30 Dec 2010 7:39 AM

This pastel was previously shown on the Wet Canvas web site.  I'm showing here just to say Hi and hope to contribute more in the future.

11 by 14 inches, 140 LB, watercolor paper, oil pastels (Erengis and Senneliers)

Alexandra Spencer wrote

on 31 Dec 2010 12:29 PM

Hal, please do continue to contribute. I'm a novice and am just attempting oil pastels, so I love to be able to see wonderful pieces in this medium.

halsart wrote

on 31 Dec 2010 12:42 PM

You're so kind Alexandria.   I'll be happy to show a couple more oil pastels.  Flattery will get you everywhere.

  Something for the guys. Red Rider, Red Rider on gessoed 140 pound watercolor paper,  Erengi's and Senns. 11 b y14 inches.

My Iris is oil pastel on Linen.  I used the back side of a gessoed linen and gessoed it with clear gesso to protect the surface and to give the surface some tooth for the oil pastel.  11 by 14 and I think it was all Erengis.

Alexandra Spencer wrote

on 31 Dec 2010 9:53 PM

Hi Hal, thanks for posting these. I enlarged them to look at your technique. I'm about one-third of the way through the Christmas cactus for Challenge #3 and hope to finish and post it tomorrow. It's difficult, but it's also a learning experience. Warmest wishes for the new year -- it will not be a turkey! Alex

old-frodo wrote

on 29 Jan 2012 6:45 PM

I also like your work, I've been doing oil pastels for three months now.  I'm enjoying it much more than the powder type although I respect the work those folks do.  How long have you been doing oil pastels?

                                                                                                                  old-frodo

halsart wrote

on 29 Jan 2012 9:49 PM

Thank you old frodo.   This is such an old thread, I'm surprised it is still around.

I've been painting for about 40 years, off and on and using oil pastels for only about three years.

One of my most recent oil pastels: 

11 by 14 inch on water color paper, Erengi oil pastels. 

11 by 14 oil pastel on  canvas panel.  Gray pas specialists oil pastels.

old-frodo wrote

on 29 Jan 2012 11:01 PM

Hi Halsart, more nice work!.  I just ordered a set of 50 Cray Pas specialist oil pastels, I've been using Senneliar.  As soon as I learn how to do it I'll put some of my work up (I'm not too computer friendly) I'm also just starting out in oil pastels, sort of teaching myself as I go along...

halsart wrote

on 30 Jan 2012 9:06 AM

Frodo, you will find the Gray Pas firmer than the Senneliers.  The Senneliers are kind of the standard by which all other oil pastels are compared.  I often do a whole painting with Gray Pas or Erengis and if final touches are needed and the painting is a bit slick, I will use Senneliers for final touches.  The Senns can be a bit slick to put additional layers over the top.

Getting in there and just messing about and see what happens, teach yourself, is ultimately what happens.  Even watching demos and reading books, you have to get in there and get your fingers messy.

old-frodo wrote

on 30 Jan 2012 4:30 PM

Thanks for the tips Hal, I agree you have to get in there and get your fingers messy.  It seems every painting I do is a little better than the last with an occasional DUD  every so often.  My Gray Pas set came today from Blick, I will use them tonight, but in just drawing some lines with them I notice that they are a lot firmer than the Senneliars, I also use Prismacolor pencils for some of the fine work and odorless turpentine for some of the blending.

Slowly but surely I'm getting used to Oil pastels, I'm sure I'll be asking some questions as they arise...Old-frodo  (aka Don)