What is the Difference Between Oil Pastels and Soft Pastels

Oil pastels and soft pastels are two popular tools artists use to create colorful and expressive art. They look similar at first, but they work differently as each pastel type has its own texture, blending style, etc.

What is the difference between oil pastels and soft pastels? Oil pastels are creamy and made with wax and oil, while soft pastels are dry, powdery, and made with minimal binder for easy blending.

Key Areas Covered

1. What are Oil Pastels  
     – Definition, Features
2. What are Soft Pastels
     – Definition, Features
3. Similarities Between Oil Pastels and Soft Pastels
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Oil Pastels and Soft Pastels
     – Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Oil Pastels and Soft Pastels
     – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terms

Oil Pastels, Soft Pastels

What are Oil Pastels

Oil pastels are a type of art material used for drawing and painting. They are made from powdered pigment (which gives the color), mixed with a blend of non-drying oil and wax. This makes them smooth, creamy, and easy to spread on paper, canvas, or even wood.

Unlike chalk pastels, oil pastels don’t create dust or crumble. They feel soft and buttery, and they glide easily across surfaces. You can use them to make bold, textured strokes or gentle, blended effects just by using your fingers, a cloth, or blending tools. For smoother blends, some artists even use solvents like turpentine.

Oil pastels are very colorful. The colors are bright, rich, and long-lasting. You can layer different colors, smudge them together, or press hard to create thick textures.

They’re also portable and easy to use. You can use them without brushes, water, or palettes. But oil pastels never fully dry. This means your artwork can smudge easily, so it’s best to frame it or use a fixative spray to protect it.

Oil pastels were first invented in 1924 in Japan by Sakura and later improved by the French company Sennelier in 1949 at the request of Pablo Picasso, who wanted a more vibrant and professional version.

What are Soft Pastels

Soft pastels are art sticks made from pure pigment powder mixed with a small amount of clay binder. This gives them a soft, powdery texture that feels delicate to the touch and makes them perfect for blending and smudging.

Soft pastels produce bright, intense colors, but they also allow you to create soft transitions and subtle shades by layering and blending right on your paper. Unlike paints, you can’t pre-mix colors on a palette. You have to mix them directly on your artwork by layering different shades.

Soft pastels are most commonly used on textured paper or card, which helps hold the powder in place. You apply them with your hands, fingers, or tools like blending stumps or color shapers. Artists also sometimes use liquids like water, rubbing alcohol, or oil-based solvents to help blend the colors. But you should always check that your surface can handle it.

You can also build up layers of pastel on certain surfaces, and use fixative sprays during or after your artwork to help set the powder and stop it from smudging.

Similarities Between Oil Pastels and Soft Pastels

1. Both contain pigment, which gives them their bright and vivid colors.
2. They can be applied directly by hand, without needing brushes or water.
3. Both are great for layering and blending, though the blending method differs.

Difference Between Oil Pastels and Soft Pastels

Definition

• Oil pastels are a soft, waxy art medium made from pigment mixed with oil and wax, whereas soft pastels are a dry, chalk-like art medium made from pure pigment and minimal binder.

Texture and Binder

• Oil pastels have a creamy and smooth texture, whereas soft pastels have a powdery and chalk-like texture.

Blending and Techniques

• Oil pastels blend well with fingers, palette knives, or solvents like turpentine, while soft pastels blend easily using fingers, blending stumps, or soft brushes and are better for smooth color transitions.

Color and Appearance

• Oil pastels produce bold, bright colors that stay vibrant and rich, while soft pastels also offer vivid color but are better for creating soft, subtle gradients.

Surface Compatibility

• Oil pastels can be used on many surfaces like paper, canvas, wood, or glass, but soft pastels work best on textured or “toothy” paper that holds the powder.

Durability and Mess

• Oil pastels don’t fully dry and can smudge, so they need fixative or framing, whereas soft pastels crumble easily and create dust, so the artwork needs extra protection.

Ease of Use

• Oil pastels are beginner-friendly and don’t need extra tools while soft pastels need more care and can be harder to handle due to their fragility.

FAQ: Oil Pastels and Soft Pastels

1. Which is better, oil pastels or soft pastels?

The choice between oil pastels and soft pastels actually depends on your preference. Oil pastels are better for bold colors and less messy, while soft pastels are better for smooth blending and detailed shading.

2. Which pastels are best for blending?

Soft pastels are best for blending because their dry, powdery texture allows colors to mix smoothly right on the paper. You can blend them easily with your fingers, blending stumps, or soft brushes.

3. What are the disadvantages of oil pastels?

Oil pastels can smudge easily because they never fully dry. They can also be hard to layer, messy to work with, and may need special care like fixatives or framing to protect the artwork.

4. Which pastels are best for beginners?

Oil pastels are often better for beginners because they are easy to use, less messy, and don’t require special paper. You don’t need brushes or water. You can just pick up a stick and start drawing.

5. What are soft pastels best used for?

Soft pastels are best used for blending colors, shading, and creating soft, smooth textures. They’re great for portraits, landscapes, and any artwork where you want gentle color transitions.

Reference:

1. “Oil pastel.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.

2. “Soft Pastel for Beginners: What You Need To Get Started.” Jackson’s Art.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Caran d’Ache’s NEOPASTEL 12 colors” By Mk2010 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Soft pastels” By AMCSviatko (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr