Such an excellent video! Thank you so much!😊

How long do u wait to spray fixative after u finish the painting?

It does help! Just starting out, didnt realize u could start with the cheaper brands and finish with the better. Totally makes sense. Thank uou!

beautiful. please can you do a still life :)

Thanks for the review. I use it on my gouache and ink paintings. Usually small works but up to 9 x 12 so far. Also over oils and oil sticks and oil pastels that I want to cover with Gamvar. I use this first A couple of thin coats to make a barrier coat so that the solvent in the gambar doesn't affect the oil sticks and pastels. Oil sticks are basically oil and wax in a crayon. It's great as a retouch varnish to level up sunken darks or whatever the painting has a combination of matt and gloss. I don't use it as a top coat. Although the can says you can do that with multiple coats as you have discovered. It seems like it works better as a fixative that you can then work into or over or varnish over. I've never seen the green colored can that you were showing and the video is not clear enough to read the label. But it looks like some version of krylon varnish. The can doesn't say whether it's removable sometime in the future like most varnishes are. I think that's the point of a varnish. So this is a top coat or an intermediate fixing coat. Gamvar and other varnishes a removable with certain kinds of solvents. So you can rework the painting or clean it and give it a new coat of varnish.

Thank you, this was very helpful!

Amazing ❤

This was very helpful. Thank you!

Thank you for the tutorial. This is amazing! ❤

Thanks for the video, Rich ! I see that you get awesome results using different brands of oils pastel. Personally, since I discovered and tried the sennelier I have a hard time wanting to go back to my Paul Rubens, I just don't feel the same result. I use the PR sometimes to get some colour, but then I'll switch and finish with senneliers. Does anyone feel the same ?

This is so helpful!! Thank you.

Your art is incredible.. may i know which paper do you use?

Thanks for sharing your experience. I would definitely leave each application to dry for longer before respraying. And most definitely leave outdoors to dry fully. I'm sure I saw something about 2 hours on the can ... I'd like to see a follow up on these paintings to make sure they're still pristine. Another oil pastel artist has shared an experience using an acrylic gloss medium over oil pastels. I tried that, and I find it protects well, but I'm not sure (fat over lean) whether I'll still be saying that in a year.

You covered some papers here that I've not tried. The first sanded paper looked interesting; having only tried Uart myself, it was nice to see such a widerange of paper colours; I'm now wondering how it holds up to water droplets, as Uart loses its surface... And the Strathmore Artagain is definitely on my list of papers to try... Along with their Bristol Smooth. Agree with your comments on some surface textures being better than others - I could happily avoid MiTientes but Canson's mixed media paper is as good as (or better than) a lot of the hot press watercolour papers I've tried. And some people love surfaces I hate, so having different ones is good too. 😊 Absolutely agree with Pastelmat being the dream paper. Blends well with my Gamblin solvent-free fluid, and with oil pastel (I got a clear one a while back, and also use white to blend). With oil pastel, it doesn't smudge if I catch my hand on it, and holds lines/areas nice and cleanly. I had only used Pastelmat for coloured pencils and dry/soft/chalk pastels until I saw you using it for oil pastel; it is now something I use for all three. The precision it allows with pencils is something I haven't found in any other paper. To add to what you said in the video: Pastelmat does work slightly differently for dry media (for example they smudge if I brush my hand over the picture, but I can use the GamblinSFF or a fixative to solve that to some extent), and it also takes watercolour/wet media underneath the dry media - which is especially excellent when I am using different media for the background and the subject. 😊

TY❤

Pastelmat is IT for me

Hi Rich ! Thanks for the videos! Could you please make one video explaining how to frame the oil pastels without damaging the drawing if we do not want to use fixative? Or what are the consequences of not using them. I just think it is not worth the health risk of using fixative if there is any other way! Thanks.

I've used the Krylon Matte Finish (not the UV archival one) and found that it worked very well on my oil pastel drawing without many coats. Since you said that the UV matte version that you prefer required fewer coats, I wonder if it is the mattifying agents in the formula for both matte sprays that is making it work better. From this video, it looks like the Kamar Varnish has more of a gloss finish which might be facilitating the tackiness of certain oil pastel pigments or due to the layer density of certain areas of the painting. I have the Kamar Varnish but haven't used it yet, so I will have to experiment to see if my theory holds up. Thank you again for sharing this review!

Thank you so much for this review of papers as this was right on time for me. I mainly create art in watercolor, gouache and colored pencil. However, within the past month, I've started playing with oil pastels again, as I was initially deterred by a bad experience with the Faber-Castell Creative Studio line, which are abysmal. However, I purchased a set of Van Gogh oil pastels and Caran D'ache Neopastel and fell in love, especially with the firmer Van Gogh's which give me more control and have the bonus of pigment and lightfast information. I've been using Strathmore 200 Drawing paper and various watercolor papers from my stash. I am enjoying how the pastels move on the drawing paper when used alone. If I create a watercolor or gouache base layer, I love using them on hot press or smoother cold press papers. Nevertheless, watching this review of the higher-end papers geared to the medium was so informative, and I look forward to trying some of them in the future. Also, if you really like the Strathmore Toned Tan paper, they make a Toned Tan Mixed Media paper which is 184lb (300gsm) paper weight. I recently purchase a pad but haven't tried with the oil pastels though I do love how they feel on the drawing weight version of this paper. If you decide to purchase it, I would love to see your thoughts on that paper as well. I discovered your channel this morning and promptly subscribed. Looking forward to catching up on your content.

My favorite paper for oil pastels is probably Fabriano Studio Hot Press watercolor paper, which they sell in big pads. The surface is actually very similar to Bristol, somewhere in between Canson’s smooth and vellum Bristol. I use it both without any coating and with a coating of Liquitex clear gesso, which gives it something like a sanded finish.

I've tried a few papers as well, and keep going back to Canson XL Mixed Media Paper, even though it isn't very heavy.

I use watersoluble oil pastels on watercolor paper. Then, regular oil pastels after the wash dries. I also have used oil pastels on velour. I don't know if velour is archival, but the satisfaction of drawing on it is very worth it.

Thanks for posting this lesson. I always learn a lot from your videos. Would it help to use PVA Size on paper to prep the paper? I heard a recommendation to do that when painting with oil paint on paper (not made for oil type). I thought it might help with archival quality of the oil pastel on the paper, keeping the oil from seeping through . Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Would have been good to know the type of paper, brand of oil pastel and what your blending medium was?

both glassine and wax paper have parafin.

Awesome video. Thank you so much. You just saved me a bunch of money. I’d love to see you expand this video with the use of turpentine and different mediums to include baby oil and mineral oil.

Great Video! Do you protect your paintings from dust while letting sit out and dry?

I haven't bought a can in about 2 yrs but it was on $15. Where did you order from? 25 is a bit much

I like this fixative spray too. I'm just in beginner mode and doing small paintings for now, but I still make sure to spray the projects. I use Mungyo and Sennelier. I do sketches with the Pentel oil pastels. Maybe some day soon I'll get more confident for bigger pieces :) Your oil pastel paintings are always so beautiful.

Awesome oil pastel painting

Thank you for sharing your process. I am just starting out so this was very inspiring. I’m in Gresham so also love lots f your subject matter.

Thanks for sharing.

That looks familiar!🤔

Thankyou this is so helpful im just starting out are mungyo any good for the base layers then please or would cray pas be better

I found this terrible. The nozzle clogs or can seems to stop spraying after one round. I returned 3 cans. And it spits tiny black specs, idk of ots from the black nozzle or what! Bad experience.

Oooh, I will definitely try this. I have been using the Sennelier, and Talens varnish for oil pastels (Has some gloss). But I really like that matte finish, and it’s very reasonable, at least in the states.

Does it work on pencil sketches?

After applying linseed oil or thinner, will you apply fixative or varnish archival directly? How long should I wait for the linseed oil to dry before varnishing it? 😇🥰Thank you for sharing.

Literally the best video and explanation on layering oil pastels. Thank you!!!

Love long videos. Watch while I paint.

❤ merci pour cette vidéo qui apporte des informations très importantes sur la façon d’utiliser ce fixatif. Je vous en suis très reconnaissante

Wow! So glad you shared this! I have not heard anyone else say that oil pastel will eventually dry so this is a very important discovery! I think knowing this would make more people open to creating art with oil pastel. Thanks and your art is beautiful!

As always, love your paintings. Do you sign your paintings? Your lose style is my goal. Love it.

Hey I’m a new viewer and subscriber. I love love the long ones. I took a picture of the reference photo and I’m using my own materials (I don’t have Neopastel’s-but do have similar sticks of hardness from deferent etc.). But I got as a gift the ‘Picasso set’ of Sennelier oil pastels; they’re like 🧈! But I only use them for gifts and things that may be in direct sunlight. I’m not sure how old this video is or if the channel is still ‘alive’. But if you’re there; what would you suggest as an alternative to the Neopastel’s? Or do they really feel like velvety oil sticks? One more I’m looking for that mid range you use Van Gogh; and I’ve been looking at that brand a few others. Why do you prefer the Van Gogh ones? Versatility, or fulfills specific? Lol. Sorry for so many questions. I only have the Neocolor II’s but I loooooove them. lol. And I was using a Temu set of oil pastels that WOULDNT work on this Windsor & Newton oil ‘paper’ that mimics canvas but not the price point 😢. So I’m just going to have some fun with my Neocolor II’s, they just make me happy lol 😂 . Definitely keep up the long videos because it helps the ones that DO watch LEARN! Knowledge is one of the best gifts you can give to people. Thank you for the video and many that follow to detail this amazing project even further. So glad I came across this today!!!

Do you do tutorials in oil pastels?

Looks great already!!

Have you tried Spectrafix's Degas non toxic workable fixative for oil pastel?

I've used Rust-Oleum matt finish on my oil pastel piece and it worked fine. I applied few coats in my backyard and didn't leave any odor when brought in. I just wanted to try it before I decide to buy any fixative.

Only good experiences for me with the Krylon Clear varnish. The smell also dissipates quickly here in the tropics. Also dries quickly. I don't need to apply many coats either.

Wonderful informative video, Rich. I'll be buying some glassine paper, for sure. I also use pastelmat but for pastel pencil applications. I think that surface might eat my neopastels too quickly! Yet, I'll give it a try after seeing your success. Was looking at Sennelier fixative but so so expensive. Was wondering if you've tried Dorland's Wax? Again, an expensive initial outlay but goes a long way and protects watercolour and gouache too! A bonus all-rounder and can be used in home without the need for dry and temperate weather that sprays need. My country is cold and wet 8 months of the year! I just searched youtube and no one seems to have tried it on oil pastels as far as I can see. Just a suggestion. I'm considering buying a pot. Love your channel! You should have way many more subscribers. Thank you! 😊