Sketching with Oil Sticks

Autumn landscape plein air sketching with oil sticks (also known as oil bars).
I found a quiet farm track at the end of an Autumn afternoon where the sun had just dipped below the cloud cover to illuminate the trees. I set up to do a quick 15 minute sketch using oil sticks on paper in one of my Seawhite sketchbooks.
I love sketching with oil sticks as you can build up strong areas of colour very quickly and scratch back, drawing through the layers, with a sharp object or graphite stick. I find it suits my way of working outdoors when I don't have time to take my paints but still want to record a scene and have some fun.
Thanks for watching - please leave your questions in the 'comments' section and I will do my best to answer them.
Bye for now - Andrew

[@barbarachappuis5262]

You make great art with whatever is at hand! I'm sure that if you had lived during the Stone Age, you would have been scratching art on cave walls:) Such an inspiration!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you Barbara! 😊 I love trying out different media

[@pookadog9792]

Finally somebody who does an actual art piece and isn't just interested in the sound of their own voice !! Thank you.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much Pooka Dog. 😃

[@paulvest3157]

It's not really a surprise that so many painters are now turning back to nature after an explorative time or simply being more encouraged to go more avant-garde. Nevertheless, your work makes many desire to return to what inspired them in the first place. Thank you, I love your work!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much Paul - best wishes to you

[@RachelTheArtist]

Thank you for making this video. I search often for artists working with oil sticks, but not many artists seem to use them.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

You’re welcome Rachel. I am just starting to use them again after trying other things over the summer. Do you work with oil sticks often?

[@RachelTheArtist]

@@AndrewBarrowmanArt I invested in a couple of sets (Shiva and R&F) back in September. I really like using oil pastels, so I thought the oil sticks would be fun, especially for larger pieces. I like how easy they are to use and I don’t have to wash brushes. I haven’t tried plein air yet, but you’re inspiring me to give it a go.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

@@RachelTheArtist thanks I'm glad my video helps inspire you to go outdoors with oil sticks. As you know they can be messy and quite hard to control but give very good, rapid results. Have fun

[@windy6564]

I’m really enjoying your videos Andrew. I’m trying to learn to paint and I’m learning a lot, thanks.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you - pleased to be able to help if I can

[@asmi3424]

You could stop at literally any point and it would be a masterpiece!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much

[@mariarowden3751]

Lovely finishing sketch. Good to see you start with blue, it looks great.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you Maria

[@veronicabelly9497]

😳Hi Andrew, amazing colors blended. Pastel oil.... 🙄I must have!!!! Genius Andrew... Have a good week.... 🙋‍♀️Oooops, Basil😁🙋‍♀️

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Hi Veronica Thank you 🙏🏻 we had fun in the autumn sunshine ☀️ Have a great week 👋🏻

[@billhinton8579]

This is wonderful Andrew. I would love to try oil bars someday. It's interesting to watch you work with a very loose, uninhibited motion. Brilliant results.!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Many thanks Bill. I do like them as it makes me work loosely and quickly. The sketches are great reference for future painting

[@raulbudusan]

I really enjoy this video, thanks for sharing your process. 😊 I would love to see you play again with these oil bars

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much

[@jenniek4617]

Another lovely video. I love your choice of scene and the oil sticks produce a lovely soft glowing effect. Really like the way the grass softly bleeds into the base of the hedge and the sunlight draws the eye to left side hedge enticing me around the bend. Beautiful

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you Jennie. I try to find places like this to stop and sketch because they are quiet and often forgotten. It's also easier with Basil in tow as I don't have to worry about other dogs bothering him so much!

[@indigodande4345]

now that is interesting that you use the sennelier oil pastel sticks. I bought the big box and had a horrendous time with them. Might be where I live and its very hot. They just are like scribbling with bars of butter LOL.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

I have heard that has happened to quite a few people. The heat definitely affects them. My cadmium yellow stick is incredibly stiff compared to the other colours. Good fun to use though!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

What a great idea - I love the way people connect and share ideas on KZbin and social media 👍🏻

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

@J.Shelby Artiste I see! Now it makes sense lol

[@indigodande4345]

I love watching you. Brave mark making. My style is also rather scratchy. I have a hard time letting go of perfection and studio quality on site.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you - I have found sketching with different media (not painting) outdoors has helped me loosen up my painting. I have learnt so much by sketching outdoors almost everyday for the past 3 years or so

[@sarahcooling7502]

Great marks Andy, I really loved the scratching through oil with the nibs and scratching back with the credit card - fab tips, I’ve given up before when the sticky oil has built up too much. 🤍

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Glad you enjoyed it Sarah - I always take the top layer off so I can keep working into it

[@jean-christopheboniface874]

How to make a great artwork out of a muddy track and scrubby bushes ! Nice job Andrew. I love the lights and vibrations that can be obtained from these oil sticks and scratch effects (and talent for sure 😊). Thank you for sharing your very interesting tricks. Greetings from Paris. Christophe

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much Christophe - Bonne Annee a vous

[@hopewilson4855]

Wowee, beautiful 🤩

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you 😊

[@bobgoodnoe4583]

Well done, sir.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you Robert

[@judithslawter372]

You captured the scene well

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you Judith

[@carolprice3713]

WOW!!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@HeatherShreve]

I love Sennelier...mostly their oil pastels... which may help you out there as they don't have the skin problem! :)

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

That’s true. I think I have a nice sketchbook that will suit oil pastels nicely 😃

[@noelboreland1765]

Thanks always wanted to see them used I injoy all your pantings

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

You’re welcome 😊 and thank you ☺️

[@sabinelower1524]

Vielen Dank für deine tollen Videos. Es macht so ein Spaß dir beim malen zuzuschauen. Sehr inspirierend und befreiend. Du zeigt, dass alles miteinander kombiniert werden kann, keine Verbote, das eröffnet viele neue Ideen. Danke dafür. 🤗

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you so much Sabine. I'm really glad you enjoy my videos 😀

[@keithhunter1716]

Nice one Andrew

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thanks Keith

[@susananielsen8911]

Such a treat to see you work trough with the oil bars, also the background colour you first put in, such a great lesson for me to watch. Just bought a set of Sennelier oil pastels that are quite soft too, but of course not like oil bars. But this gave me a push to get out there with them.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

You are so welcome Susana - at least your oil pastels will not be as messy as oil bars. Hope you enjoy them

[@marcianoschmitz3541]

Um ótimo trabalho!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you

[@corinnecastelli235]

Spontané énergique et vibrant c est bluffant 😅

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much Corinne

[@AllGrowing]

A great introduction to oil sticks for me, thanks! For a painting with these, I would need to do it on a surface suitable for oil paints, right?

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, I would use them on canvas or primed board for painting - I like them for sketching but I know a lot of artists who begin paintings with them

[@AllGrowing]

@@AndrewBarrowmanArt Right, and I think your painting and technique is excellent!

[@cherylyork8556]

Hi Andrew - I haven't used oil bars yet. Does the sketch have a drying time? Do you protect the finished sketch in any way? Thanks for yet another lovely video.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Hi Cheryl Thanks for watching. I don’t protect the sketch but I often leave the sketchbook page open when I get home so it dries through. The pages can stick together but will peel apart without damaging the sketch 👍🏻

[@Lauragld]

Thanks so much for this helpful and inspiring video. Do you allow the paint to dry keeping the with journal open? Is your paper primed? Thanks again ☺🎨 and Happy New Year!

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you for watching. Glad you enjoyed the video. I don’t prime the pages and leave them open for a day or two but they dry either way 😃

[@nattyw495]

Enjoyed video and learning about oilstick/ bars and how you can layer the painting can u use derwent graphtint pencils over the oil sticks, i was thinking for asking for a starter set of oil stick and paper for xmas to see if i like this art supply...but i like the idea of layering different media on top to make more things stand out but i have limited art supplies and limited budget...i do have some charcoal pencils also are they able to layer on oil stick...? Sometimes i like products and would like to mix supplies but im a new art student still learning after three years but dont have much money or space to really invest right now on alot of new art supplies especially paper i draw/ sketch on computer paper to just down ideas but also for practice everyday...i like the look of these type of art works you do, it makes my eyes really look within the art piece... so I'd like to use my art supplies for my ideas i have in my mind floating around....so i can sleep at night...lol i wish there was a video like why yes heres other art supplies you can use to layer on top of oil sticks and heres paper you can also use for these products....watched video twice..mikelle art mom🎨✍👩‍🎨

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Oil sticks are good fun but very messy. They sometimes go a bit sticky when it’s hot - like this summer 🥵 It’s quite difficult to layer over them but you can scratch through the layers and draw into them. You can paint with them if you mix with a solvent type of liquid. Charcoal is great for working with and it’s not too expensive. Hope Santa delivers some great art materials for you 😃

[@InkNSap]

Hi Andrew! Love your videos! :) So inspiring… Do you think Oil Sticks are a difficult medium? I have some oil pastels that I could try like this but I am not sure if the result would be similar. I’m in an experimental phase trying numerous mediums to see what I like… Do you only use them for sketching? Or do you make final paintings with them. Kind regards, from Sheffield.

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you for your kind comments. I use oil sticks for sketching as it helps me work quickly. They are very different to oil pastels and a lot messier 😃

[@miklosnemeth8566]

oil sticks in a sketchbook? how long was the drying time? was that sketchbook prepared for Oil paint?

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

The sketchbook wasn't prepared in any way. They dry over time and I find the pages don't stick together at all. I'm not worried about conservation of the sketches - they will last as long as they last

[@lisakunish936]

This excellent video is so helpful to see how you use the oil bars to mix colors. I was thinking the bars were rather opaque, but it looks like they have good cover while still being translucent enough to create lovely secondary colors, etc. Is “graphite stick” a British word for “pencil” 🙃? “Always try and look for solutions rather than find problems “ ❤

[@AndrewBarrowmanArt]

Thank you very much Lisa. Graphite sticks are woodless pencils. Often a bit bigger than a traditional pencil ✏️ I like to use them because I can make bigger marks