Oil Pastel Techniques: Blending, Layering and Sgraffito

Posted by

Haanz Team

2026-10-23

On 2026-10-23

Haanz Art GuideFree, practical advice from the team at Haanz Art & Craft Materials

Oil pastels are bright, creamy and need no water or drying time, so they are a favourite for school art and hobby drawing. But many people only use them like crayons. Learning a few oil pastel techniques will make your colours richer and your drawings look far more finished. This Haanz Art Guide covers layering, blending, sgraffito and other easy methods, with simple practice exercises for each.

What you need

Oil pastels. Pentel Arts Oil Pastels, 36 colours are creamy and blendable, with plenty of shades for blending. For a bigger range, try Pentel Arts Oil Pastels, 50 colours. Camel Oil Pastels, 25 shades are a good school set.
Paper with some tooth. A slightly rough surface holds more layers. Fabriano Accademia Paper A3, 240gsm is made for pencil, charcoal and pastel.
Blending tools. Your fingers work well. Art Nation Paper Stumps keep small areas neat. A tissue or cotton bud helps too.
A scratching tool for sgraffito, such as a Small Plastic Palette Knife, an old pen without ink, or a toothpick.

See all sets in Pastels. Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price.

Oil pastel techniques for layering and blending

Light layering. Start with gentle pressure. Lay down a light layer of one colour, then add a second colour over it. Keep the early layers thin so the paper does not fill up too quickly.
Heavy application. Press firmly for solid, shiny colour that covers the paper completely. Use this for your final layers and brightest areas.
Finger blending. Rub two colours together with a clean fingertip. Your body heat softens the pastel and gives a smooth gradient, ideal for skies.
Pastel-on-pastel blending. Use a light colour, such as white or pale yellow, to blend over darker colours. Press firmly and work in small circles.
Tool blending. Use a paper stump or cotton bud for small spaces, like eyes or petals. Wipe the tool often so colours stay clean.

Practice: draw a row of squares and blend two colours in each, using a different method every time. Compare which you like.

Sgraffito: scratching through colour

Sgraffito means scratching. It is one of the most fun oil pastel techniques and makes striking, glowing designs.

Cover a small area with bright colours, such as yellow, orange, pink and green. Press firmly.
Cover the bright layer completely with a heavy layer of a dark colour, such as black or deep blue.
Scratch a design through the dark layer with your scratching tool. The bright colours appear in the lines.
Wipe the tool on a tissue often, so the scraped pastel does not smear.

Try fireworks over a night sky, or patterns for a Vesak lantern design.

More techniques to try

Scumbling: scribble small, loose circles of one colour over another. Good for trees and bushes.
Stippling: press the tip down in many small dots to build texture, like sand or flowers.
Hatching: draw lines close together. Cross them in another colour for shading.
Wax resist: draw with oil pastel, then brush a watercolour wash over it. The pastel resists the water, so your lines stay bright.
Coloured paper: try light colours on dark paper for a dramatic look.

Tips for warm weather and finishing

In hot weather oil pastels get very soft. Keep the box in a cool, shaded place, not in a hot bag or car.
Peel the paper wrapper back a little to use the side of the stick for wide areas.
Clean dirty pastel tips by rubbing them on a scrap of paper.
Oil pastels never fully dry, so they smudge. Protect finished work with Spray Fixative for Oil Pastels 180ml, used outdoors or in an airy room, and store it between clean sheets.

New to the medium? Start with Oil Pastels for Beginners. Then put these techniques into practice with Oil Pastel Scenery Drawing for School, and read How to Stop Smudging Drawings.

Frequently asked questions

Can I blend oil pastels with oil or baby oil?

Some artists blend with a little oil on a cotton bud, but it can stain thin paper. For school work, finger and pastel-on-pastel blending are simpler and cleaner.

Why won’t my oil pastels layer any more?

The paper is full. Use lighter pressure in early layers, and choose paper with a little texture.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? Call / WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you find the right oil pastel set and paper for these techniques.

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