Quick answer: How to use oil pastels crayons comes down to one idea: they look like crayons but behave more like paint. Draw on heavy, slightly textured paper, color lightly first, then press harder in later layers. Blend by layering colors on top of each other or rubbing with a finger or cotton swab, scratch through layers with a toothpick for details, and try a watercolor wash over the top for a resist effect. Unlike wax crayons, oil pastel crayons are soft, opaque and blendable, but they never fully dry, so protect finished drawings from smudging.
Many people first meet oil pastels as “oil pastel crayons”: paper-wrapped sticks in a school-style box that look just like regular crayons. Then they color with them the same way and wonder why the result is smeary, why the paper fills up so fast, or why they cannot color light over dark.
The format is the same as a crayon, but the material is not. This guide explains how to use oil pastels crayons, how they differ from wax crayons, which techniques make the most of them, and fun projects for kids and adults. For broader technique and tool guidance, see our full guide to oil paint pastel techniques and tips.
Oil Pastel Crayons vs Wax Crayons
| Feature | Oil pastel crayons | Wax crayons |
|---|---|---|
| Binder | Wax plus non-drying oil | Mostly paraffin or similar wax |
| Texture | Soft, creamy, slightly greasy | Hard, slick |
| Color strength | Bright and fairly opaque | Lighter and more transparent |
| Blending | Blends easily on paper | Limited blending |
| Layering light over dark | Possible with pressure | Difficult |
| Smudging | Can smudge; never fully dries | Rarely smudges |
| Best for | Painterly drawings, blending, bold color | Coloring pages, simple drawings |
In short: wax crayons stain the paper with a thin, waxy film, while oil pastel crayons deposit a thicker layer of soft color that you can push around, almost like paint.
What You’ll Need
- A box of oil pastel crayons (24–50 colors is plenty)
- Heavy paper: construction paper, mixed-media paper, pastel paper or watercolor paper
- Paper towels or wipes for cleaning fingers and crayon tips
- Cotton swabs or paper blending stumps
- A toothpick, wooden skewer or plastic knife for scratching
- Optional: watercolors or liquid watercolor and a brush for resist projects
- Optional: baby oil and an old brush for painterly blending (adults or supervised older kids)
- A sheet of scrap paper to rest your hand on
Choosing Paper for Oil Pastel Crayons
Thin printer or coloring-book paper is too smooth and fills up after one layer. It can also turn translucent where oil soaks in. Choose:
- Construction paper: Cheap, colorful and toothy; great for kids and bold designs on dark backgrounds.
- Mixed-media paper: Heavy and versatile; handles watercolor resist.
- Pastel paper: Textured and available in many colors.
- Watercolor paper: Best for resist techniques and heavy layering.
Black or dark paper makes oil pastel crayons glow, especially bright yellows, pinks and whites.
How to Use Oil Pastel Crayons: Step-by-Step
- Peel some wrapper if needed. Leave most of the paper wrapper on for clean fingers, but peel a little back to use the side of the crayon for broad areas. Breaking a crayon in half makes side strokes easier.
- Sketch lightly. Use a light-colored crayon, such as yellow or light gray, to outline shapes. Light lines disappear under later layers; dark outlines are hard to hide.
- Color with light pressure first. Lay down the base colors gently. This leaves room on the paper for more layers.
- Layer and blend. Add a second color over the first and press a little harder. Colors mix right on the paper.
- Smooth with a finger or swab. Rub gently to soften transitions, such as in skies and sunsets.
- Add darks and details. Use the tip of a crayon for lines and smaller shapes.
- Finish with highlights. Press firmly with white or a pale color to add shine and sparkle at the end.
- Scratch in details. Use a toothpick to scrape lines through top layers for fur, grass or patterns.
Techniques to Try
Color layering
Instead of searching for the perfect color in the box, layer two or three. Yellow over blue makes green; red over yellow makes orange; a little purple over a shadow makes it richer. Layering creates more interesting colors than a single crayon.
Gradient blending
Color one end of a shape dark and the other light, overlapping in the middle. Blend the overlap with a finger or swab for a smooth gradient. Great for sunsets, oceans and rounded objects.
Sgraffito (scratch art)
- Cover an area with bright colors using firm pressure.
- Cover the bright layer completely with black or a dark crayon.
- Scratch a design through the dark layer with a toothpick or skewer.
The bright colors appear in the lines, creating a rainbow scratch-art effect.
Watercolor resist
Draw with oil pastel crayons, pressing firmly, on watercolor or heavy paper. Then paint a watercolor wash over the whole page. The oil and wax repel the water, so the drawing stays bright while the background fills with color. Popular for underwater scenes, night skies and snowy landscapes using white crayon.
Stippling and dots
Make many small dots of different colors close together. Up close they look separate; from a distance they blend, like pointillist paintings.
Texture rubbing
Place paper over textured objects such as leaves, coins, sandpaper or tree bark, and rub the side of a crayon across it. The pattern appears on the paper.
Painterly blending with oil
For older kids with supervision, or adults, dip an old brush or cotton swab in a small amount of baby oil and rub it into the crayon marks. The color melts into a smooth, paint-like finish. Use heavy paper, since oil soaks through thin paper.
Mixing with white
Layer white over any color to make soft pastels and tints: white over red makes pink, white over blue makes sky blue. Keep a clean white crayon reserved for the brightest highlights.
Grip, Pressure and Stroke Direction
Small changes in how you hold the crayon make a big difference with oil pastels.
- Pencil grip near the tip: Best control for outlines, eyes, lettering and small shapes.
- Overhand grip: Holding the crayon under your palm gives looser, larger strokes and less hand fatigue on big areas.
- Side of a broken piece: Covers backgrounds quickly and evenly without streaks.
Think of pressure in three levels. Light pressure leaves a thin, grainy layer where paper texture shows through. Medium pressure covers the paper fully and starts mixing with layers below. Heavy pressure lays down thick, shiny color that sits on top, which is what you want for highlights and bright final details.
Stroke direction matters too. Coloring in random directions looks scribbled; following the shape of an object, such as curving around a ball or along the length of grass, makes drawings look more solid and intentional.
A Simple Color-Mixing Chart
Making a chart teaches what your crayons can do. Draw a grid of squares. Along the top row, color one crayon per square lightly. Down the left column, use the same colors. In each square where a row and column meet, layer the two colors. In ten minutes you will have a reference of dozens of mixed colors from your box, and you will see which combinations go muddy.
Projects for Kids and Beginners
| Project | Techniques used | Best paper |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset silhouette | Gradient blending, black shapes on top | White or light paper |
| Rainbow scratch art | Sgraffito | Heavy white paper or cardstock |
| Underwater resist | Watercolor resist | Watercolor paper |
| Night city on black | Bright colors on dark paper | Black construction paper |
| Leaf rubbing collage | Texture rubbing | Thin drawing paper over leaves, then mounted |
| Fruit still life | Layering, highlights | Mixed-media or pastel paper |
| Abstract color wheel | Layer mixing | Any heavy paper |
Common Problems and Fixes
| Problem | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Colors look muddy | Too many layers or dirty crayon tips | Limit to 2–3 colors per area; wipe tips on a paper towel |
| Can’t add more color | Paper is full from heavy early pressure | Start lighter next time; use toothier paper; scrape off excess with a plastic knife |
| Smudged drawing | Hand resting on the work | Rest your hand on scrap paper; work top to bottom (or left to right if right-handed) |
| Crayon keeps breaking | Soft material, too much pressure on the tip | Use broken pieces for side strokes; hold closer to the tip |
| Oil stains on paper back | Thin paper | Use heavier paper |
| Light over dark won’t show | Not enough pressure | Press firmly with an opaque light color, or plan light areas first |
Cleaning Up Oil Pastel Crayon Marks
- Hands: Wipe with a paper towel, then wash with soap and warm water. A little baby oil or hand lotion first helps loosen color.
- Tables and hard surfaces: Wipe with a damp cloth and a little dish soap. For stubborn marks, a small amount of baby oil on a cloth, then soapy water.
- Clothes: Scrape off excess, treat with liquid dish soap or a stain remover, rinse and launder. Check before machine drying, since heat can set stains.
- Crayon tips: Wipe on a paper towel after using dark colors.
An old shirt or apron and a disposable table cover make cleanup much easier, especially with kids.
Protecting and Storing Finished Drawings
Oil pastel crayon drawings stay soft and can smudge or transfer to other papers. To keep them looking good:
- Lay a sheet of parchment, wax paper or glassine over each drawing when storing.
- Store flat in a folder or portfolio rather than rolled.
- For framing, use a mat so the drawing does not touch the glass.
- For special pieces, use a fixative made for oil pastels, sprayed by an adult outdoors or in a ventilated space.
Storing the Crayons Themselves
Keep the box away from sunny windowsills, hot cars and radiators, since warmth softens oil pastels and can make them bend or stick together. Return each crayon to its slot so tips stay clean, and keep broken pieces in a small container rather than throwing them away. A little whitish film on old crayons is wax bloom; it wipes off with a paper towel and does not affect the color.
Safety Notes for Children
Many oil pastel crayon sets made for schools carry non-toxic certifications. Check the box for this when buying for kids. Still supervise younger children, as with any art material, and keep artist-grade pastels, solvents and fixative sprays away from them. Baby oil blending is safer than solvent blending for kids, but use it sparingly and on protected surfaces.
Moving Beyond Crayon-Style Sets
School-style oil pastel crayons are excellent for learning. If you start to want softer blending, more opaque layering or colors that resist fading, the next step is artist-grade oil pastels. They use the same techniques, so everything here carries over. Many people keep their crayon sets for underlayers and practice and add a few softer artist sticks for final layers.
FAQs
Are oil pastels the same as crayons?
No. They look similar, but oil pastels contain oil as well as wax, making them softer, brighter and blendable. Wax crayons are harder and more transparent.
Can you use oil pastels like crayons?
Yes, you can color with them the same way, but they work best with light pressure first and heavier pressure later, plus blending. Pressing hard from the start fills the paper quickly.
What paper is best for oil pastel crayons?
Heavy paper with some texture: construction paper, mixed-media paper, pastel paper or watercolor paper. Avoid thin printer paper.
How do you blend oil pastel crayons?
Layer colors on top of each other, then rub gently with a finger, cotton swab or paper stump. A little baby oil on a brush gives a smoother, paint-like blend.
Do oil pastel crayon drawings need to be sealed?
They do not dry, so they can smudge. Interleaving with parchment or framing under glass with a mat protects them. A fixative made for oil pastels adds protection.
Can oil pastel crayons be used on canvas?
Yes, on primed canvas or canvas board. They grip the texture well and can look like oil paint, especially when blended with a little oil.
Final Thoughts
Treat oil pastel crayons less like crayons and more like portable paint. Start light, layer, blend, and save the firm strokes for the end. Add resist and scratch techniques and even a basic school set can produce surprisingly rich results.
When you are ready to explore softer artist pastels and combine them with oil paint, our guide to oil pastel techniques, tools and supplies shows how the same skills scale up.
