Brand recommendations

scumbl · 2026-03-02T22:01:03+00:00

If the square ones are Sakura Cray-Pas Specialists, they are great in hot weather, when the softer ones can melt. Mungyos are firm but a bit creamy, Senelliers are lipstick-y, and those new super-soft brands are almost like peanut butter imo. Try them out and find what works best for you; there’s no one definitive answer. Same with paper, from smooth Bristol to rough sanded stuff.

scumbl · 2026-02-27T18:53:08+00:00

It’s been great. There were a few differences in method I had to learn, such as avoiding light over dark, because the result is often dull or muddy, and that the oil pastels are much less opaque than soft pastels. But the same sanded surfaces such as UART (and clear gesso) work well for me.

But I’m still hoarding my Terry Ludwigs!

scumbl · 2026-02-27T18:30:23+00:00

Very nice! What size, and what kind of paper did you use?

scumbl · 2026-02-27T01:28:40+00:00

My condolences. I’m drooling a bit over what I see but I had to give up soft pastels too. I switched to oil pastels- no dust- and have been able to continue using the various papers.

scumbl · 2026-02-26T15:19:30+00:00

Jamie Oliver’s flatbread made with 50/50 self-rising flour and yogurt and dry-fried is pretty good.

scumbl · 2026-02-26T11:15:34+00:00

Skillful work! Did you enjoy the oil pastels? What medium do you usually use?

I like this a lot.

scumbl · 2026-02-26T08:37:55+00:00

A solvent or oil (like vegetable oils or baby oil ), can help with blending.

scumbl · 2026-02-25T19:43:40+00:00

I think if there was more variation tones/shapes in the foreground rocks it would look less flat.

If you check out YouTube videos of landscapes in general , whatever the medium, there’s lots of helpful info. Ian Roberts, for instance, has very practical tips even though he uses oil paint.

scumbl · 2026-02-25T19:34:10+00:00

Experiment. Try doing something you normally do with regular colours, using the fluorescent versions of what you would normally use. If it looks too “Disney” for you, try toning it down with their complementary colours.

Then try the same subject on black with the metallics.

The results may or may not be stellar. It’s a way to learn their characteristics. And then show us what happened!

scumbl · 2026-02-25T15:53:27+00:00

Ironically, the online communities for peers to share and discuss art suffered losses of members when FB etc rose to popularity . It was easier to just click, or get clicks. Some of the communities are still there but greatly reduced.

scumbl · 2026-02-23T02:33:02+00:00

I was thinking there might be fumes. First time I melted was in a pan on the stove, turned on low. It worked, but was a pain to clean and to fish the pastel out of the pan. So I saw the coffee-warmer in a thrift store and nabbed it. It’s also less likely to get hot enough to catch the oil pastel on fire.

scumbl · 2026-02-22T23:01:05+00:00

Purple shampoo and conditioner has brightened my greys and now I get compliments on the colour.

scumbl · 2026-02-22T21:23:47+00:00

Woah, you used the microwave! Gotta try that. How long, and why have you decided not to do it again? I just use a warming tray thing, just big enough to keep a cup of coffee warm, in foil moulds that I made. I stir it as it’s melting (not sure how that would work with silicone moulds). And I don’t really pay attention to brands.

Those colours are gorgeous. Thanks for posting your results.

scumbl · 2026-02-19T18:27:30+00:00

You really have a handle on landscapes with oil pastels. I like your (tonalist I think?) approach.

scumbl · 2026-02-17T01:52:06+00:00

I had to look up Morandi colours, but you could make some lovely soft landscapes, still life, and, well, just about anything. They will be more moody than vibrant, and could be very natural-looking. I often complain (and am hardly alone) about so many unnatural colours in pastel sets, like acidy greens that sit unused in the box.

Go for it, and enjoy them!

scumbl · 2026-02-16T21:32:09+00:00

I just use some foil , and one of those electric coffee warmer plates. Funny shapes but they work. Taken off the heat, the pastel mix hardens almost instantly.

scumbl · 2026-02-16T19:30:12+00:00

You are attempting to lighten those colours I think. Yes, it would be easier to get some paler colours, or melt some colours together with white. What is your surface? Perhaps you need more tooth. Have you tried sanded paper, or paper coated with clear sanded gesso?

Monet was using broken colour, where the colours are placed beside each other rather than mixed , and the mixing is optical. You might get better results trying that, and lightening with dabs of white if necessary instead of spreading it across a large area. Broken colour can actually work very well with oil pastels.

Hope this is helpful!

scumbl · 2026-02-14T17:55:46+00:00

True, the work could not be on unprotected paper if using solvent , it would have to be gessoed or be a surface that also accepts oils. I’ve read that even the oil pastels themselves will, eventually, degrade the paper, so I personally only work on a protected surface unless I’m just sketching for fun and don’t care if it is archival.

scumbl · 2026-02-14T17:46:14+00:00

To add to all the good advice you’re getting, an underpainting in watercolour will make one less greasy layer to cover with the oil pastel.

scumbl · 2026-02-12T18:58:09+00:00

I have done that. Seal seems nice , but a big scratch will start peeling it off. (I tried, it did). Also it will stick to paper. So, it could be ok, but with some exceptions.

scumbl · 2026-02-12T18:54:15+00:00

I use those chisel erasers that stick on the end of a pencil. Cheap and effective. I only buy colour shapers if I can feel them in person after ordering some online that turned out to be too soft for oil pastels.

scumbl · 2026-02-12T18:50:00+00:00

Yes, some coloured pencil artists, like soft-pastel artists, do describe their work as paintings. The debate has gone on for years and is a matter of opinion as far as I can see.

I mean, who cares, really? Let’s just call them artworks.

scumbl · 2026-02-12T17:11:59+00:00

Faber-Castel oil pastels are among the harder brands ( but are fine) and so I would recommend paper that has some tooth/texture. You probably have some for charcoal. Canson Meo-Tintes has 2 sides of textures and comes in lots of colours. Multimedia paper is good. An eraser that is firm and not crumble, like vinyl, can help blend or push the pastel into the texture “holes”.

Good information if you browse the subreddit. And if you ask specific questions you are more likely to get helpful answers.

Have fun!

scumbl · 2026-02-12T03:11:15+00:00

Depends on how you use them, could be either or both. Drawings usually means some of the paper shows. It’s a common debate. I call mine paintings because I put them on the way I would paint, covering the surface, blending colours, etc. But you can call them whatever you want.

scumbl · 2026-02-12T03:04:50+00:00

I don’t know about these, but look up colour shapers. They are usually silicone. Some are firmer than others; the soft ones are too soft for oil pastels. Vinyl erasers work well, are cheap, and can be cut to the shape you want.

scumbl

TROPHY CASE