Exploring Studio Materials – Oil Pastels

Dry medium : Oil pastels by different brand products

I would like to explore oil pastels, an art medium commonly used by children. Although they have the downside of smudging on one's hands, I frequently used them in my own childhood because they produce vibrant colors with very little pressure compared to standard crayons. I hope to identify the unique characteristics of oil pastels and share my exploration process within an art class setting, thereby helping students with their own creative work.

Materials:

• Canson Graduate Mixed Media Pad

• Faber -Castell Oil Pastels

• Crayola Oil Pastels

• Pentel Oil Pastels 

• Scratching Tools

Additional Resources with Oil Pastels

• While exploring oil pastel techniques, I experimented with the scratching technique (also known as sgraffito). This method involves scratching away the top layer of oil pastel into a desired shape to reveal a different color underneath. To perform this technique, you need a tool to scratch off the black oil pastel. Wooden chopsticks or craft sticks (popsicle sticks) work well for me and it is suitable for children. While tools with sharp tips can be used for finer detail, they are not recommended for students in the third grade or younger due to safety concerns.

• Since oil pastels tend to smudge easily and produce coarse crumbs during use, it is helpful to have paper towels or wet wipes on hand to clean your workspace afterward.

My Comfort Level

I find oil pastels easy to use and suited for conducting art classes. I can demonstrate techniques I explored such as color blending, stippling, and sgraffito (scratching) to encourage students to create a variety of artworks. Compared to crayons, oil pastels make blending colors much easier. They offer excellent color payoff for stippling, and the colors remain vibrant even when layered over existing work, making them an ideal medium for experimenting with sgraffito.

Age appropriateness

Oil pastels are not recommended to use under 3 years child due to choking hazards. At age 3 and up, children can use oil pastels with supervision. Since children can use materials independently from the age of 6, the art lessons are suitable for students ranging from k-12^th.

Heathy and Safety Concern

All three products, Faber-Castell Oil Pastels, Crayola Oil Pastels and Pentel Oil Pastels, are non-toxic and safe to use all ages. These three products were certified with the AP (Approved Product) seal by the ACMI (Art and Creative Materials Institute). Oil pastels do not generate airborne dust and no inhalation risk, so I would safely recommend that students use it.

*Here is a tip! You can instruct the students to wash their hands with soap and warm water after working. Oil pastels do not wash off completely under running water alone.

Strengths and Limitations

• Faber -Castell Oil Pastels – 12 Colors

Strengths – Smooth feeling

- Colors blended well

- Good to express with sgraffito

- Colored vivid and highly saturated

Limitations – Corse wax powder is produced

-Difficult to read color name (It is on the information sheet.)

-Steep price for students

• Crayola Oil Pastels – 12 Colors

Strengths – Smooth feeling (creamy)

- Colors blended well

- Affordable price

- Good to express with sgraffito

Limitations - Corse wax powder is produced

• Pentel Oil Pastels – 12 Colors

Strengths – Vivid color

- Easy to use for younger by thin gauge

- Affordable price

Limitations – Colors were not blended well

-Not smooth feeling as much as

-Unable to express with sgraffito

Price Information for Purchasing Materials

• Faber -Castell Oil Pastels 24 Color set : Premium

Michaels Store $19.99 / Amazon $17.00

• Crayola Oil Pastels 28 Color set : Students grade

Michaels Store $7.99 / Amazon $8.58

• Pentel Oil Pastels 25 Color set : Students grade

Pentel $5.57 / Amazon $6.29

* Pricing information was obtained on October 1, 2026. Prices are subject to change in accordance with the store's policies.

Reflection of Material Exploration with Oil Pastels

I colored tangerines on the backdrop of the Jeju Island Sea by using a set of 24 Faber-Castell oil pastels. I created a gradient effect by layering darker colors over lighter ones on tangerines. However, the cores oil pastels powders would accidently mix with other colors, which was a bit inconvenient. To fix this, I scraped off the unwanted color with a paper towel and applied the colors over it, and it was easy to make the corrections.

If you try drawing with oil pastels, you’ll be able to explore the unique characteristics of the medium!