General tips for working with pastels
🌟 Use the Right Paper: Choosing a pebble-textured paper helps to both shave down the pigment from the pastel and grip the pigment to the paper, allowing for layering up and seamless applications of color. Smooth paper won’t hold pastels well.
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Pastel Paper - 25 Sheets, 5 Colors, 180 gsm, 8" x 11"
🌟 Use a Light Touch: Build up color gradually with light strokes instead of pressing hard to avoid waste. Layer multiple colors to create depth instead of relying on a single shade.
🌟 Protect Your Work, Keep Hands & Work Area Clean: Pastels are dusty, so wipe your hands often to prevent unintended smudging. Use a sheet of paper or tracing paper as a buffer between your hand and drawing.
Tips for working with oil pastels
🌟 Use an Underpainting
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Lay a watercolor wash sketch as a first layer to establish values before applying pastels.
🌟 Work from light to dark
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Start with lighter colors and gradually build up darker shades to avoid muddying your work.
🌟 Work big to small
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Fill in bigger blocks of color first before taking to the smaller details.
🌟 Keep the pastels clean
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Oil pastels can latch onto pigments easily when layered up–clean them with a paper towel before using to avoid muddying up your colours.
🌟 Blend with tools & mediums
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Use the rubber color shaper included in this kit like you would a blending stump.
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Try a drying oil like linseed oil or mineral spirits for a paint-like effect—apply with a brush or cotton swab.
🌟 Work Vertically if Possible
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If using an easel, let excess pastel shavings fall instead of smudging your work.
🌟 Protect your work
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Oil pastels never fully dry, so store artwork with a protective sheet (like tracing paper) to prevent smudging.
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Use a fixative or varnish designed for oil pastels if you want extra protection.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
Using Too Much Pressure Too Soon
❌ Pressing hard too early can make it difficult to blend and add layers.
💡 Instead: Start with light strokes and build up color gradually.
Using Regular Erasers
❌ Normal erasers won’t lift oil pastel.
💡 Instead: Use a kneaded eraser to dab or lighten areas, or scrape off pigment with a painting knife.
Tips for working with chalk pastels
🌟 Work from light to dark
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Lay down darker shades first, then gradually add lighter tones for highlights.
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This helps prevent muddying and allows for better depth.
🌟 Make pastel dust
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Use the sandpaper stick included in this kit to shave down the pastel pigment into a powder.
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Apply the powder using the mop brush or chamois for a soft blending effect.
🌟 Blend with tools & mediums
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Use the chamois and mop brush included in this kit for blending and creating smooth transitions.
🌟 Use a Kneaded Eraser for Highlights:
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Lift color instead of adding white for highlights and a softer effect.
🌟 Protect your work
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Store artwork with a protective sheet (like tracing paper) to prevent smudging.
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If needed, apply fixative between layers to build up more color without smudging previous work.
✖ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
Using Too Much Pressure Too Soon
❌ Pressing hard at the start makes blending difficult and limits layering.
💡 Instead: Start with light strokes and build up color gradually.
Not using enough contrast
❌ Avoiding darks and highlights can make the artwork look washed out.
💡 Instead: Use rich shadows and bright highlights to create depth.
