Drawing with Oil Pastels with Lindsay Mueller
Class | Registration opens 11/19/2025 12:00 AM EST
This course is designed for students of all levels who are interested in exploring drawing fundamentals while learning the medium of oil pastel. Beginners are welcome to learn introductory drawing practices via pastel, while prior drawing experience will enable students to focus greater on the material specifics of oil pastel in contrast to other media. Through structured exercises and drawing from life, students will explore color relationships, mark-making, layering, and composition. Students will learn about exciting historical and contemporary artists and apply this knowledge to their own works, with emphasis placed on learning through experience to build layered final drawings.
By the end of the course students will develop an expanded drawing and color vocabulary, a strong understanding of oil pastel techniques, and the confidence to add oil pastels to their drawing practice.
Your instructor has provided a list of materials required to participate fully in this class. If you have any questions about specifics or what is needed week-to-week, please reach out to your instructor via the email in your confirmation letter.
Supply List
This supply list will contain a number of recommendations to accommodate differing price points and levels of inquiry. Please email the instructor if you have questions.
Oil Pastels
Choose one option of at least 24 “universal” pastels (not landscape or portrait set).
MUNGYO GALLERY ARTISTS SOFT OIL PASTEL - Really solid quality for cheaper price point (for the number of pastels provided)
Sennelier Oil Pastel Set - Assorted Colors, Set of 24 - My personal favorite, really rich and high quality, pigmented but more expensive. Very thick and lusious, although sometimes harder to control than Caran d’Ache. (I use the 48 set plus the metallic set).
Caran d'Ache Neopastels and Sets - Another really great option that is pricier. Super great for laying down initial layers and very opaque. A little easier to control than Sennelier, but less lucsious.
Paper
Most heavy paper, such as watercolor paper works well. Good to try a variety of smooth (hot press) and textured (cold press) options.
Sennelier Oil Pastel Card Pad - 9x12 inch - very nice option, I recommend purchasing this if you want to try a material specifically made for oil pastel!
One Larger Sheet of Watercolor paper - can purchase a large sheet with classmate and cut it in half. can purchase later
Ampersand Clay Board - will do one drawing on this near end of term - can discuss size and purchase later
Other Things
Blending Stumps (any brand ok)
Glassine Paper (or cheaper - wax paper) for protecting drawings from smudging
Paper towels
Sennelier Fixative - This brand works very well!
Colored Pencils - (whatever you have at home) Can be helpful for fine details or for initial sketching. Note: don’t use pastel pencils as soft pastels don’t mix well with oil pastels. Use wax-based colored pencils.
Sketchbook - any sketchbook okay for planning
Regular pencil (HB) and eraser for sketching
Gritty sand paper - can be used to sharpen pastels to a point if desired.