Landscape Sketching in Oil Pastels | ARRTX soft oil pastels

Thought it was time for a plein air sketching video so I went off into the landscape with Basil and tried these lovely soft oil pastels by Arrtx.
I really enjoyed using these soft oil pastels in my Pith sketchbook. Here are some links if you would like to find out more about Arrtx soft oil pastels:
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[@triggerfish999]

Oil pastels are so nice… but actually quite difficult to use, especially for fine detail….so the pencil technique is good. Also, cheaper oil pastels don't layer very well. Personally I think they work best on ungrained paper, like Andrew's sketchbook, otherwise you find yourself fighting the grain and trying to get the colour to sit in the grain. It's sticky stuff so adhesion isn't an issue. You can also use a brush and solvent, to move the colour around, and rubber scrapers.. but drawing fine detail is v difficult and annoyung. But you can get spray to seal it to stop it smudging…because it never really dries. But of course Andrew is a pastel master so his picture is 10 outta 10 as always

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Wow thank you so much. I really appreciate your comments. Sorry it took me so long to reply but I have had a break from my computer for a week - and I feel great. All the best

[@stevietv321]

I have a couple questions-how do you feel about focusing on landscapes as your main emphasis? I sometimes feel like it’s looked down on. I dearly love your work and I’m inspired by your drawings. 😁

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much. I love landscapes and being in the landscape so it feels natural for me to make this my main focus. Portraiture is highly regarded but a lot of your work would be commissioned so you have less freedom to choose your subjects

[@zorapolh5871]

I really enjoy watching your short sketching videos, especially watercolor and charcoal. I like your style and spontaneity. Thank you for being so generous as to show the world your paintig and thinking process behind all that.

[@gusmarrero]

My first 100 paintings were in oil pastels. I treated them like paint. First layer covered the canvas with a 1 color under painting, smoothing it out with fingers. Then would go thicker and smoothing, blending with fingers. Bright colors etc. I would seal paintings with a finish. Now upgraded to oil sticks only. Details with scratches like you thought me.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

I prefer oil sticks but these are fun to try - thank you for your comments

[@frankiecarboni]

As usual from what seems to be a casual beginning, a beautiful sketch emerged! Really inspiring and a great ad for oil pastels, especially this set, such a good range of greens.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much Frankie - they were very nice to use

[@anitajones7804]

Gorgeous, love the birds in the background . Do you know what bird it was doing all the twittering?

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

I think there were Skylarks around as well as chaffinches

[@heather153]

Taking the Pith with your pastel sketching skills! 😉 Really lovely sketch Andrew, how do the Arrtx pastels compare to the Paul Rubens Haiya ones you tried? Also, thanks for not covering up those beautiful bird sounds with music… I think it enhances the immersive quality of watching your videos when I can hear what you’re hearing at that time. So nice to be out in nature.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much Heather I liked both oil pastel sets equally. Difficult to choose between them.

[@carlaruiz-pl2np]

Hello Andrew. Very helpful video. Thank you for sharing 👏👏👏

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

You are so welcome - thanks for watching

[@JimReid-cb8lx]

Look great to sketch and scruff with. Pity they are not compatible with oil paint as they have wax and never dry completely. A bit confusing as cold wax can be mixed with oil paint and buffed to be sorta polished, but again that never dries either. Basil looks a bit exhausted and chilling out. Lucky dog.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

They are fun to use but only for sketches (I think) - oil sticks would be best if you want to mix with oil paints. All the best Jim

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

Basil's back! The real star.... I've not really got on with oil pastels, but I think I see why: a) my set is very old, and has got hard, with a coating of white oxidization so I can't see what the colour is without scraping the white off, b) they weren't as soft as these look to be in the first place, c) I was probably using the wrong paper, and d) my range of colours was too limited. So I think it's time to ditch the remnants of the old Guitar brand (Japanese) and invest in a decent set: you've got a very decent colour note for an oil painting here, and a sketch I'd be happy to bung in a frame and hang on the wall.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much Robert. The oil pastel sets these days are a lot softer than the ones I was used to using as a kid which were usually wax crayons

[@MichaelWatts-h3v]

Capturing the moment nicely with those oil pastels. A contrast to the charcoal sketch of Mexico Towans the other week which I enjoyed. Nice work. Good to see Basil. Cheers 😊.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much

[@Wal48]

Great watching you building this up and how you modulate the greens. Really like the result you got here.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@JulieGeelan]

Lovely to see another video with you using the oil pastels and a great sketch ❤ I must admit that despite loving trying out this medium I have been quite frustrated trying to master the layering of colours so they don’t end up messy and muddy looking! I’ve also been using rough paper and seeing the result of your sketch on smooth paper I will persevere and try again. Thanks for the inspiring video 😃

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much Julie Try different papers - they can make a big impact on your work

[@colinjoyceart]

Perfect accompaniment to breakfast on a Sunday morning. Watching you sketch with birdsong, what more does one need. I must try that technique in a sketchbook. Mine are all too clean and tidy 😅

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you Colin. That sounds like a great idea - go make some messy sketches

[@mikepetersen7319]

Beautiful Sketch as lucious Green as the real Landscape. Those Oil Pastels seem to be quite soft. And Basil is having a good time.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much - Basil loves the countryside. He likes it when I sketch these days because he gets a rest - wasn't so keen when he was younger lol

[@susananielsen8911]

Thanks Andrew, taught me a lot the order of the different colours you put down. Great sketch.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Very welcome and thank you Susana

[@jamesduncan578]

Cool, I recently got some soft oil pastels, now I know what to do with them. Thanks for sharing.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

You're very welcome James - have fun

[@suzannemarshall7458]

love seeing how to use these. Beautiful results there and lovely Basil too. I'm going to try pastels as soon as I ever get moved. Living on the road various places without many art supplies for now.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you. Oil pastels are great especially if you have less space available to work in

[@barbarabrady1267]

Gorgeous!! Cookie was happy to see Basil 😊

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thanks Barbara and Cookie

[@WilliamPepper-h1q]

Nice work, but I'm not sure I would use them in a sketchbook, too messy. Nice sketchbook, by the way.

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

My experience with them is limited, but yes, messy is the word - once you get them on clothing, they're a hell of a job to clean off; so dress for the occasion. Andrew uses oil sticks, as well - now that's the definition of "messy", by the look of them: I've never used them, and am in no hurry to. Of course, it would be a different matter if I could his results with them, but - pretty sure I couldn't.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Fair enough - they are messy but good fun

[@rosemarymccarron3887]

Beautiful Andrew...☘️

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Many thanks Rosemary

[@CuriousOilPainter]

Those look gorgeous, loving the sketch!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much