Oil pastels come in round, blunt sticks that can be used to create a variety of strokes. Draw thin lines with the edge of the stick. Produce circular blotches of color with the stick's blunt end. Sweep wide strokes with the side of the stick. Experience will teach you how to manipulate the stick to maintain its cylindrical shape as it wears. You will also discover that reshaping it as you draw creates new options for this painter's tool. For example, rotate the pastel as you draw a line to preserve the sharp painting edge. Don't rotate the pastel for a chiseled tip that paints a broader stroke. Flatten one side of the pastel by using the same side of the stick repeatedly.
Oil pastels require a rough textured paper. The "tooth," or texture of the paper, is what holds the medium to the art surface. Pastel paper comes in standard sizes and can be purchased singly or in pads of various tints. Select quality paper that states its suitability for dry media such as charcoal or pastels. Keep in mind that white paper requires more coverage of oil pastels than does tinted paper.
Oil and wax are used to bind the pigment in oil pastels. Oil pastels are not "chalky" like soft pastels or charcoal. Swiping an oil pastel stick across a paper surface does not release as much pigment as a more powdery media. Dip an oil pastel in turpentine before applying it to paper and it will release more color.
When painting with oil pastels, the colors are blended on the paper surface rather than on an artist's palette. Be cautious not to overload the paper so that there is no tooth left for building color. Build the color up gradually, applying the color with more pressure in the later stages of the painting.
Achieve smooth, even blending by lightly coloring large areas with the pastel stick and going over the area with a brush or rag dipped in turpentine. Since some of the "brush" strokes will show through, your strokes of color should follow the contour of the object you are painting. For instance, color a rounded shape with curved strokes or draw hair or fur to follow its natural direction or pattern of growth. After applying turpentine, be sure to wait until it dries before applying more pastel pigment to the painting. Work slowly. Gradually build the painting until you have most of the composition complete. Then you can begin adding detail.
Oil pastels also give you the option of working rough with raw color. Choose this method for a richly textured painting. Begin laying color in large areas. Walk away from your painting frequently so that your eye can blend the colors at a distance. Take plenty of time to plan your next step. If you make a mistake, you may be able to "paint" it out with a little turpentine or solvent and a paintbrush.