Oil Pastel
Analogous Colors
This video discusses the use of analogous colors when using oil pastels. It's important to keep your colors similar to one another when filling an area. For instance, if you remember blending techniques we used to make colors transition from dark to light, we always used an analogous color scheme.
What are analogous colors?
Analogous colors are groups of three colors next to each other on the color wheel. Or, simply, three colors that are very similar to one another. One color will be your dominant (hue) whereas the other two accent the main color.
Avoid using too many hues, this may ruin the harmony.
Avoid combining warm and cool colors.
Blending
If you have access to oil pastels, then please continue what we were learning in the studio at home! Set up a nice space, envision what you want to see on the paper, and begin working from dark to light, foreground to background, and keep in mind the different textures for every area in your oil pastel painting. Work on details the entire time.
Blending techniques?
Oil pastels come in many different qualities and consistencies. Some oil pastel brands are much harder than others (less oil) whereas some are very smooth and creamy (more oil). The techniques shows in this video work well with everything, however the most tried and true is "pastel on pastel." This is the technique we learned most in class and should be your main way of working.
Remember, if you want soft blends start with dark colors and slowly transition them to the light colors (keeping in mind the color wheel). If you are working on texture for grass or dirt, start with your light colors and then draw over top to get your details.