Verson 1 1 © OCR 2016 Fine Art – Practical skill development and experimental work AS AND A LEVEL ART AND DESIGN Delivery Guide (Learner Resource) Oil pastel study – practical activity Introduction Oil pastels are the closest dry material to using oil paints. They allow for very expressive application of marks and textures and will blend to create a range of possibilities. Build the surface of your design, considering mark making and texture as well as colour blending. Materials Coloured card (dark) Coloured pencil (light) Oil pastels Paper towels Begin by lightly sketching an over-all outline for the main shapes in your image, using a light coloured pencil. This can then be filled with tone rapidly using oil pastel colours to create a map of the composition. Into this, use the pastels delicately to draw in more detail and definition. Work lightly to begin with, adding heavier tones and blocks of colour as the image nears completion. The pastels can be used on their side, with the flat end, or the edge of the flat end to give fine lines. Tones can be over-worked, and colours developed by laying one colour over another. Experiment by building layers of colour and then working white, peach or grey pastel over the top to harmonize the surface. Use the pastel marks as though they were brush strokes; resist the temptation to blend everything. Continue to work the image until a satisfactory result is achieved. Oil pastel work should be stored carefully as the surface will remain tacky. Activity