So I have learnt a few things about oil pastels. These have become my latest obsession as I’m taking a break from painting and trying something completely new. I have purchased literally thousands of pastels, different brands and sizes — as usual I rather went overboard with my shopping. I now have over forty boxes of high‑quality, 72‑colour pastels waiting for me, each set something I’m eager to explore and learn how to use properly. Only five minutes ago I put them to the test by applying turps to see how well they would run and react; unfortunately the experiment failed miserably. I’m far too used to using turps with oil and water with acrylic paint, where it works a treat, so this first lesson has been a humbling reminder that techniques don’t always transfer between media and that I have more learning to do.
My concern is the drying time too. I’ve heard and read so many conflicting reports that I’m unsure what to expect. The woman at the art shop insisted they never fully dry, while the man there said it depends on the specific compounds the pastels are made from, and I just watched a video claiming some can take up to seven weeks to dry. I’ll find out for myself. It would be disappointing to discover they never dry, since the drawings could collect dust, rub against other sheets, or get knocked about. I really doubt that will be a major issue, but I’ll see how it goes. I bought some additional, higher-quality — and higher-priced — white pastels, again by the dozen, and they are an absolute joy to use: creamy and easily blendable with other colors. I also bought four 96-packs of black pastels. These are so much fun to draw with, but I’m still not sure whether it’s worth the time and money to invest in something that may never sustain my ongoing interest. I also have dozens of lower-priced Faber-Castell oil crayons that are not as pleasant to work with but do seem to dry within a week or two. In hindsight, the smart move would have been to buy much smaller quantities and experiment before making such large purchases. Amazon Prime, which I’ve just joined, is addictive and dangerous but so convenient and fun: it saves me a trip to the overpriced art store, offers a far greater range of products, and then the items arrive at my door overnight or the next day. It’s fantastic!
It’s also a shame they don’t mix with acrylic paint — that would be a huge bonus. I don’t want to break out the oil paints, and I’m not even sure if the pastels and oil paint would be compatible friends. I have built up a massive art-material collection over the months. It has been a dream since I was a child. There is literally nothing I need to buy at the moment. I have everything I need, even supplies I know I will probably never use, and that abundance feels good. My bank account hates me, but having all of these art supplies gives me far more satisfaction than a few extra digits on a screen.