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		Oil pastels

	The Oil Pastel technique is characterized by the direct use of shades in sticks. You can use either the tip (whether sharpened or not) of a pastel stick or its edge. You may use oil pastels to finish oil or acrylic paintings, or watercolours. However, remember that oil pastels do not dry, so avoid to paint on top of it. When you first use it, the aspect of oil pastel is quite unusual. Do not be discouraged, though, it is a complex but interesting technique with luminous, pleasant to use, shades. Surfaces Depending on your preference, apply your oil pastels on: either a smooth card ,the 360g Sennelier Oil Pastel Pad, or a thick, white, rough but without relief, cardboard, such as Sennelier Painting Paper or on a tainted paper of 250 to 300g minimum, so it can retain the pastel. Material The art of oil pastel requires very little material. In addition to pastels, you will need petroleum, turpentine to dilute pastels and a cloth to wash the tip of the pastels. To stump, use your finger: they are real artistic tools and will melt the strokes better than a paper stump. Only a finger is able to control the pressure of pastels on the surface. Techniques Start with applying light colours, then apply darker shades. Oil pastels are especially useful for their swift use and their direct application on a surface. Here are a few techniques to apply oil pastel:

			The pastel is used for the backdrops , it is covered with an ink wash, watercolour or diluted acrylic. The pastel repels the shade and shows through.
	Stencil technique

			Technique based on the blending of colours using the finger, stump or petroleum.
	Blending

			Thick and dense lines that bring out the texture and the intensity of the colour of the pastel. The paper is quickly saturated.
	Impasto

			It underlines the relief and enables to obtain special effects of hues, colours and textures.
	Hatching and counter-hatching

			Parallel brush strokes with the tip of the pastel.
	Parallel brush strokes

			Slight brush strokes overlaps (of various colours).
	Fragmented colours

			This technique enables to reduce the excess of paint on a surface, to uncover previous colour layers or the paper background. An engraving point or a painting knife may be used, or a scratchboard, or an acrylic background covered with pastel pasting.
	Scratching and scratching cards (scratchboard)

	Colours and effects It is impossible to produce glazing or overlaps. Use slight scumble stains (do not press): a thick layer would be impossible to modify or cover, it would have to be scratched or diluted with Turpentine, which would be an unreliable technique. In the same way as for dry pastels, colours cannot be mixed. A particular shade may be obtained thanks to visual effects. If you wish to obtain a wash, dilute the oil pastel with turpentine. Iou may work on an acrylic background and use it to produce certain effects. Pastels stick well to it and you will thus be able to bring out this layer by scratching it. Tips Always have all your pastels before the eyes: put them out of their box and lay them on a cloth. It will help you differentiate the shades and take your pick. These products are resistant but they have to be fixed: although they have a high degree of lightfastness and resistance to humidity, oil pastels do not dry, so dust sticks to it and any contact with an object may damage its surface.