The marriage of oil and soft pastels is an unexpectedly fruitful creative alliance, one that bridges the gap between the directness of drawing and the sensuous depth of paint. While seemingly opposite in their behavior, with one being a dry, dusty medium and the other a wet, oily one, they can be combined to create work that is both vibrantly immediate and richly textured. This technique allows an artist to harness the precision of linear sketching while simultaneously unlocking a world of painterly color and atmospheric depth.
Understanding the Two Mediums
To effectively combine oil and soft pastels, it is essential to understand their inherent characteristics. Soft pastels are pure pigment bound with a minimal amount of gum binder, resulting in a brittle, dusty stick that delivers intense, pure color through direct application. They offer incredible versatility for creating sharp lines, subtle blends, and textured marks, but they are inherently fragile and can be difficult to manipulate once fixed. Oils, on the other hand, are a slow-drying paint composed of pigment suspended in a drying oil, typically linseed oil. This composition allows for blending, glazing, and smooth transitions, but it requires solvents for cleanup and can be prone to cracking if applied too thickly or over a non-absorbent surface.
Preparation and Surface Selection
The success of an oil and soft pastel piece begins with the preparation of the surface. Standard paper is generally unsuitable as it cannot handle the oils and will warp or disintegrate. Instead, artists should work on a rigid, absorbent ground. A popular choice is a primed canvas panel or canvas board, where a thin layer of gesso has been applied. Alternatively, a sanded pastel paper, such as Wallis or UArt, provides a tooth that grips the pastel particles while still offering enough substance to withstand the oil layer. The key is a surface that provides enough tooth for the pastel to grab onto while being sealed to protect it from the moisture in the oil paint.
Methodology: Drawing Over Oil
The most common and recommended approach is to apply the oil paint first, allowing it to dry completely, and then draw with soft pastels on top. This method protects the fragile pastel from smudging and provides a stable foundation. An artist might begin by laying down a wash of diluted oil paint to establish the overall composition and major shapes. Once this layer is dry, they can use soft pastels to refine details, add sharp textures, and introduce vibrant highlights. The oil layer acts as a muted, atmospheric background, while the pastels provide the crisp, defining lines and intense pops of color that bring the subject to life.
Methodology: Applying Pastels Under Oil
Creating an Underpainting
A more advanced technique involves using soft pastels to create a bold, colorful underpainting on a prepared surface. The artist works directly with the pastel, establishing the drawing and major color masses. Once the pastel drawing is complete and protected with a workable fixative or a light coat of matte medium, a layer of thin oil paint, known as a glaze, is applied over the entire surface. This process unifies the composition, adds a luminous quality to the pastel underneath, and creates a unique surface where the textures of the two mediums are visibly intertwined.
Strategic Use of Fixative
Fixative is an indispensable tool in the oil and soft pastel workflow, but it must be used strategically. When applying oil paint over a pastel drawing, a light coat of workable fixative can be sprayed onto the dry pastel layer before the oil is added. This creates a slightly tacky surface that helps the oil paint adhere better, preventing it from sliding around. Conversely, when applying pastel over a dry oil wash, the oil must be completely dry, or the pastel will simply smear and mix with the wet oil, losing its distinct vibrancy. The fixative locks the pastel particles in place, creating a stable surface for the subsequent oil application.
