How to Make Oil Pastels

“How To Make Oil Pastels” by Kenneth Leslie -exerpt from Oil Pastel: Materials and Technique for Today’s Artist What You Will Need: Pigment Turpentine Stand Oil Blended White Beeswax A large can that fits in an old pot, to serve as a double boiler Large palette knife Soft clay or homemade modeling dough (see recipe below) Plate glass or plexiglass on which to grind pigments Rubber gloves to protect hands from hot drips ——————- (Recipe for modeling dough) 1 1/2 cups flour 3/4 cup salt 1 1/2 cups water 1 1/2 tablespoons cream of tartar 3 tablespoons vegetable oil Mix Read more

Grounds

  Egg / linseed oil emulsion Ground for canvas and panels I Egg Raw linseed oil Water Titanium white (or other) pigment Rabbit skin glue solution (1:30, glue to water) Sized panel (1:15 solution) or sized linen (1:30 solution) Break the egg into a glass jar and shake. Mark the level on the side of the jar and double the existing level with the oil. Again mark the level and double the quantity with water and shake to form an emulsion. This will store for 1 week in the fridge. Put some Titanium white pigment onto a glass slab and Read more

Surface Preparations

Chalk ground for panels   3 parts whiting 1 part Titanium white pigment (Optional) 3 parts glue size (1: 15 water)   Sized panel (1:15 solution)   On a glass slab form a well in the centre of the whiting and add the glue size, gradually folding in the powder and work with a palette knife until a firm but glossy paste is formed. If the mixture is too dry it can be adjusted with a small addition of 1:15 glue size, if too wet a small quantity of whiting can be added. The stiff paste can be stored in Read more