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With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Syd raised an interesting question in relation to an article in the February Leisure Painter, by Tony Paul. I haven't read it, unfortunately, but he makes the point that oil pastels are not actually oil paint, and never dry. Which I knew, but they do get tacky enough to remain in situ. However, I remember reading years ago now that oil pastels could be used under oil paint, in the preliminary sketch - and they can of course be thinned down with turps or other solvent. And I know I've done just that, but can't recall on which paintings I used the technique - it will have been some while ago, but so far as I know none of my oils has fallen off the canvas yet. I'm assuming that the technique is safe enough - I don't actually employ it now because I have changed my methods generally - but I wonder if any other oil painters have a view on the subject? And Dawn, can we tempt Tony Paul to give his opinion here?

Syd Edward

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You can email Tony Paul [email protected]. He invites questions by email on this artcle. Ok Robert?

Sylvia Evans

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I have stupidly used oil pastel in defining detail in a painting then attempted to add varnish........Don't .

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by North Light

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Thanks Syd, I'll do that.

Sylvia Evans

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Though on second thoughts I have used them as both outline and texture in pics that have gone under glass and they are fine that way, the colours are good and nice to use.

David Harrison

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Hi Robert regarding the question of combining oil pastels with oil paint as far as I know no problem.Degas apparently used oil pastel underneath his pastels also thinned it with turps futhermore he apparently created his heavy impasto techniques by spraying the surface with steam and then using pastel on top. David Harrison
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Yes - I didn't email Tony Paul in the end, because I found another source and it agrees very much with what you're saying, which is indeed my own experience with them: that they're fine to use under oil paint. As to the lightfastness, which was an issue raised - I don't really see why pigment with wax as the medium shouldn't be lightfast; it's not a great concern to me, as I don't use oil pastel for work I intend to display - I do have a sketch on a bit of duplicator paper; it's been around for years, and indeed I don't think they make duplicator paper any more; it's decades old. The colours were black and burnt sienna, and there's a bit of something else in there, not sure what. Anyway, it's not faded - nor has a sketch/drawing/painting in oil pastel in one of my old sketchbooks, but then that's not been exposed to light (it's awful, so it's not been exposed to scrutiny, either!). I don't think I'm ever likely to use oil pastel as a primary painting medium, but would be interested in others' opinions on how well they stand up to the ravages of time.

David Harrison

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Hi Robert Like you I'm not a great lover of oil pastels although I have used it on odd occasions doing mixed media work.But only really for accents on nearly finished work.Obviously oil pastels will need to be covered with Glass in a frame and fixing in the usual way I think.Anyway I prefer charcoal whatever one uses it has its irritations especially if you are not in the zone! as they say.