The differences between oil bars and oil pastels

This completely confused me when i first started working in oils.  Why the two different types of bars?  How to use them effectively? Why use them at all?

 To start with the differences:

Oil Bars are basically oil paint in a stick form.  They are thixatropic (forgive the long word but i love it and it took me ages to understand the meaning!) meaning sometimes fluid and sometimes gel - the neat oil paint stick becomes more fluid in use as it warms and returns to a firm gel state when allowed to stand.

Oil Pastels have a soft creamy quality with all the intensity and vibrancy of conventional oil colours.
Developed in 1949 for Picasso who was looking for a intense colour that could be applied directly and freely to a wide variety of surfaces.The Oil Pastels are made using a unique combination of oils and waxes. 

Using them effectively:
Because with oil bars you are using oil paint in a stick form, the drying time will be similar to the oil paint you are using in a more traditional format.  This makes it possible to use the same rules as you would for oil paint i.e. thick over lean layers.  Useful when you want to use an oilbar for underdrawing of your compositions and great if you want to mark-make on top of your established oil painting. Oilbars are best used on primed canvas or linen or primed paper.

Oil pastels have a creamy sticky quality because of their combination of oils and waxes and can be used on almost any surface, including paper without cracking or effecting the substrate.  They dry slowly - more slowly than normal oils and there is a fixative spray.  I find them immensely useful for sketching in 'plein air' and like to use the transparent  oil pastel as a mark-maker without adding extra colour.

Turpentine or the eco-friendly alternatives such as Zest-It will  blend both your oilbars or oil pastels.

Why use them at all:

It is the control you have using both oilbars and oil pastels that i find most useful. It would be great to hear your opinions on the pro's and cons?

Review of Pip Seymour Workshop

Pip Seymour Acrylic workshop and demonstration went off extremely successfully yesterday morning. Fourteen artists listened to Pip talk about his ethos for paint making, his quest to source top quality pigments into a serious quality acrylic paint that is affordable and available in large quantities: 250ml, 500ml, 900ml and 2.5litres.

The artist acrylic has 18 colours (will be 40 shades eventually) with a variety from transparents through to opaque quality, allowing artists to achieve the different effects they require. Pip demonstrated how different finishes are affected by the application of a good quality white gesso primer under the paint, reflecting and transforming.

Everyone commented on how much they had learnt on how to achieve the effects they require "i never realised just how much acrylic paint was capable of" being one comment.

At the end of the session, artists got the chance to try out Pip Seymour's fabulous handmade pastels. They were astonished by the amount of pigment load in each pastel and loved the way different pigments were combined and appeared in a painterly mark, making it possible to blend interesting colour combinations. ... Think we might start to stock these

Overall an enjoyable, interesting and informative morning was experienced by all. Thanks to generousity, time and attention to detail to Pip and his artist partner Rebecca.

New Blog now active

Brilliant, Maria @ Magicalia Commerce just talked me through blogging... watch this space

Free Demonstration and Workshop By Pip Seymour 4/06/11 10.30am

"My range of fine art products has been devised to offer all artists the opportunity to access the latest paint technology and optimum quality at a reasonable price.

The range comprises over twenty years of experience within the field of fine art, as an artist, lecturer and maker of painting materials.
Our choice of raw materials is crucial: a fusion of the best quality binders and pigments, carefully prepared to give optimum results.
We make all our products in the United Kingdom, using bespoke machinery, with the latest paint chemistry.

We see our future at the forefront of the paint-making tradition, providing colours and mediums for artists through a sound understanding of technique and application.

To cover the requirements of today’s artist, we need to span traditional paint-making methods but also embrace contemporary materials.

My strong belief is that all artists (from students to professionals) should have access to the best standard of materials. As a consequence, we chose not to offer second quality/lower quality/budget paints - the aim is to raise the quality of painting materials available in the market and to treat all artists with respect."
Book your place for this FREE WORKSHOP at Pegasus Art   01453 886560 or email: info@pegasusart.co.uk

*Is there a skill you would particularly like to work on? Suggestions for further workshops are welcome.