Discovering the freedom of color, experimentation, and creative expression.
How It Began
I recently discovered the absolute joy of oil pastels. I wasn’t necessarily looking to become an oil pastel artist; I was simply curious, searching for something creative, something tactile, something that allowed me to play with color without overthinking everything.
Oil pastels offer a freedom in my practice that I don’t always find with painting or drawing. Their immediacy and forgiveness allow me to work more intuitively, following gesture and emotion rather than getting caught up in precision. There is a looseness in the way the color moves across the surface that invites experimentation. In that space, I feel more able to explore ideas, make mistakes, and discover something honest in the process.
The Freedom of a Limited Palette
There’s something freeing about working with fewer colors. Rather than being overwhelmed by endless choices, you begin to discover how colors interact, blend, and transform when layered together.
The unexpected beauty that emerges through experimenting with layers and blending reveals how just a handful of colors can dramatically shift the feeling of a piece. Depth, harmony, and emotion can emerge from what might initially seem like a very limited palette.
Sometimes, having fewer choices opens the door to more possibilities.
Creativity Is for Everyone
You don’t have to consider yourself an artist. You don’t need years of experience or a natural ability to draw. Sometimes creativity simply begins with being willing to try something new.
I think we sometimes put unnecessary expectations on ourselves when it comes to creating. We become focused on what the finished piece should look like, whether we’re doing it right, or whether we’re even good at it.
But creativity can be so much more than that. It’s about exploration, curiosity, and allowing yourself the space to experiment. It’s about the experience, not just the finished product.
And sometimes, the most rewarding part is simply discovering something new along the way.
An Invitation to Create
Are you interested in exploring oil pastels? I’d love for you to join me on January 10 at Mohawk Valley Art Shoppe for a beginner-friendly workshop!
We’ll explore the possibilities of oil pastels using a limited color palette as we create A Gentle Light. I’ll guide you through basic techniques, including blending, layering, and working with color, while giving you room to experiment and make the painting your own.
Here are two interpretations of A Gentle Light, both created using the same limited color palette. Even with the same colors, subtle differences in blending, layering, and application can create entirely different moods and expressions. It’s a wonderful example of just how much possibility exists within a handful of colors.
No previous experience with oil pastels is necessary. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to play with color!
Sometimes all it takes is a little curiosity to open the door to something wonderful. I hope you’ll join me!