Oil Pastels
My Favorite Art Supply
As artistic mediums go, oil pastel is one of the youngest out there. It
was developed in the early twentieth century, although the claim that it
was invented by Picasso isnβt strictly true β it was actually first
developed as a medium for children in Japan. (The Spanish master did,
however, work with the French manufacturer Sennelier in the 1940s to
develop its line of artist-grade oil pastels, which are now used across
the world.)
Oil pastels are popular among artists today for the boldness and
immediacy they offer. Some artists use them as the foundations of their
oil paintings β but they can also create beautiful drawings in their own
right. Theyβre highly portable, so are a great tool to pack in your bag
if you like sketching outdoors.