Oil Pastels

Oil pastels are a painting and drawing medium. They are made with a gum and methyl cellulose binder that consist of pigment mixed with a non-drying oil and wax binder.
The are similar to pastels and crayons except they are more difficult to blend.


You can use Oil Pastels on almost any surface such as paper, wood, metal, hardboard, canvas and glass.
A common technique is called layering, where you build up layers of colour creating a thicker texture. Turps is a liquid that some use to blend oil pastels, this allows a similar effect as the blending of watercolour paints.

One thing I've found is that oil pastels work really well on black paper.

Here is a duck i did on black paper:

Here is a link to tips and ideas on starting with oil pastels:

http://www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/oil-pastels.html

http://mona.myartbliss.com/post/tips-for-working-with-oil-pastels

http://suite101.com/article/3-unusual-oil-pastel-techniques-a175332

http://www.ehow.com/list_6676218_oil-pastel-ideas.html