Ladybug drawing in Oil Pastels

My latest oil pastels art … a ladybug drawing for Drawing 2 class. The assignment was to draw a bug, really up close, using oil pastels. I wish I could post some of the pieces that others did for class too. Several of them were amazing! This one turned out pretty good, I think. I am pleased with how the reflection and shininess worked out, and the water drops seem fairly realistic.

This time I used mostly Sennelier oil pastels. A few Cray-Pas Expressionist were used for coloring in major areas, also some black from that set. But I think from now on I’ll be using Senneliers for the majority of my artwork in oil pastels. They’re richer, blend better, and I also am noticing they actually stick to the paper better.

I didn’t do anything for a background. The green is 100% from the toned paper (Canson Meintes).

I have listed this piece for sale at ArtWanted.

Ladybug drawing in oil pastels is a post from: Oil Pastels Artist Eric D. Greene

Flowers in Oil Pastels

Oil Pastel Flowers!

I did these a few nights ago.  I find oil pastels can be fun to work with — if you have artist-quality pastels!  Otherwise, it can really be frustrating and even hamper development of the piece.

The base colors here are done with Cray-Pas Expressionist, which are so-so quality in my opinion.  I used a Sennelier white almost exclusively for the white areas.  Also added Sennelier for greens reds and some yellows.

After working on this piece I went out and bought 9 more Senneliers, so now I have more variety to work with!  

Anyway, I’m fairly pleased with how this piece worked out.  I think I could have gone more dark for the shadowing inside the flowers and some in the petals.  Also, the quality of the photo here just does *not* do the piece justice!  The colors from the oil pastels actually look much richer and vibrant.

Oil Pastel Flowers is a post from: Oil Pastels Artist Eric D. Greene

Oil Pastels Drawing - Christmas Ornaments

This oil pastel drawing was done in class, and some at home from a photo.  I was pleased with the result.  Art in oil pastel can be tricky.  Although this piece turned out fairly colorful, I always remember that value is the most important.  Oil pastels can also be difficult sometimes to get the fine lines, such as around the edges of the ornaments.  You have to use just the edge of the pastel stick to get the fine line, and sometimes you can even cheat a little and use a white colored pencil or something similar (I didn’t do that in this piece btw).

I really need a better set of oil pastels. These expressionist are just not happening. Luckily I had a stick of sennelier white. Anyone feeling generous, feel free to visit Jerry’s Artarama and pick out a nice set for me. Anyway, I think this worked out rather well. Need to brighten up those yellows in back though, now that I look at it from a photographic perspective…

Oil pastels drawing – Christmas ornaments is a post from: Oil Pastels Artist Eric D. Greene