The Best Soft Oil Pastels for Artists: A Review of Arrtx Oil Pastels

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Last Updated on May 11, 2023 by Dee

If you’re looking for a soft, creamy pastel that is easy to blend and produces beautiful results, then soft oil pastels may be the right medium for you! In this post, I’ll take a look at the Arrtx soft oil pastels – one of the latest oil pastel sets on the market.

I’ll also discuss what soft oil pastels actually are and why they might be a better choice than chalk pastels.

Arrtx was kind enough to send me their latest set of 72 Artists’ soft oil pastels. Read my in-depth review to see if these are the right medium for your artwork!

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Arrtx Soft Oil Pastels Set

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**This page may contain affiliate links to products I have used or recommend. If you purchase something from this page, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.**

The Arrtx Soft Oil Pastels come in a wide variety of colors and are soft and creamy to the touch.

The very affordable price tag and the fact that they’re easy to blend make them a great choice for artists who want to create beautiful soft transitions in their paintings.

Packaging

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The pastels come in an attractive and bright box that would also be perfect for gifting.

Inside the box, the pastels are arranged in a convenient tray, making it easy to find the color you’re looking for.

Quality

The Arrtx oil pastel range is great because the quality is really good. The colors are rich and vibrant, and they blend well too.

I also like that they’re nice and creamy, so they’re easy to work with.

Overall, I’m really happy with the Arrtx oil pastels and would definitely recommend them to other artists.

[Related article: Gouache vs Acrylic Paint | What’s the best paint for you?]

Individual Soft Oil Pastels

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The pastels themselves are round pastels with paper sleeves.

This means that they’re less likely to break than soft pastels that don’t have paper sleeves, and you can easily tear off a bit of the paper if you want a larger area of pastel to work with.

Perfect for those who want to add detail to their paintings, these soft oil pastels are comfortable and easy to hold.

Color Selection

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As an artist, I’m always on the lookout for new materials to experiment with.

When I came across the Arrtx oil pastels, I was immediately intrigued by the assorted colors on offer.

From vibrant hues to delicate shades, the Arrtx pastels offer a wide range of options with some of the finest pigments for creating easily blended oil pastel paintings.

There is a great selection of colors in the set, including both basic colors and more unique shades.

These oil pastels makes color gradations in oil pastel painting easy for beginner artists.

[Related: 18 Texture Drawing Examples]

These oil pastels have smooth, and even pigmentation and are far more vivid than chalk. Also, oil pastels tend to be more resistant to humidity and weathering, so your artwork will last a long time.

What’s more, the oil-based formula gives the pastels a buttery texture that is a joy to work with.

Whether I’m mixing colors or layering them on top of each other, I find that the Arrtx pastels produce beautiful results.

If you’re looking for a professional quality soft oil pastel with a fantastic color selection, I do recommend giving the Arrtx pastels a try.

Eco-friendly Materials

The Arrtx company has stated that while ensuring optimal quality, their oil pastels are made with eco-friendly materials that won’t harm the environment.

What do the Arrtx Soft Oil Pastels feel like on Paper?

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When I came across the Arrtx oil pastel range, I was impressed by the quality of the pigments and the creamy texture of the pastels.

The soft, creamy texture of the pastels makes them super smooth to use and easy to blend without pilling.

The rich pigments provide excellent coverage and allow for precise color application.

The oil pastels also handle and clean easily, making them a pleasure to use on paper or other smooth surfaces.

I would highly recommend the Arrtx oil pastel range to any artist who is looking for high-quality, versatile oil pastels.

[Related Article: 15 Best Pencil Cases for Artists]

Layering Oil Pastels

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The oil pastels by Arrtx are vibrant and beautiful, and I was surprised at how easy it was to layer them!

The extremely pigmented colors go on smoothly and blend easily, making them a dream to work with.

Oil Pastel Techniques: How to layer oil pastels

Applying oil pastels in layers is one of the easiest ways to create beautiful works.

The colors blend together effortlessly, creating depth and dimension. And because oil pastels are highly pigmented, a little goes a long way.

To get started, choose the colors you want to use and apply them to your paper in thin layers.

Start with light colors and then add dark colors on top. You can also experiment with mixing colors together to create new shades.

Once you’re happy with how your painting looks, set it aside to dry.

That’s all there is to it! With just a few simple steps, you can create stunning oil pastel paintings that are sure to impress.

Blending Artist Grade Pastels

I love experimenting with different colors when I’m using oil pastels.

The Arrtx range has a great selection of colors to choose from, and I love how they blend together.

I often create new shades by blending two or more colors.

It’s really satisfying to see the colors come together to create something new.

Plus, playing around with different color combinations is a lot of fun. I definitely recommend giving it a try if you’re looking for a new way to experiment with color.

Oil Pastel Techniques: How to Blend Oil Pastel Colors

Oil pastels are a wonderful medium for both beginner and experienced artists alike.

They are easy to use and offer a wide range of vibrant colors.

One of the great things about oil pastels is that you can easily blend them to create new colors.

Here are some tips on how to effectively blend oil pastel colors:

The first step is choosing two or three colors you want to blend together.

It is important to select colors that are adjacent on the color wheel, as this will create a more seamless blend.

Once your colors are selected, apply each to a separate section of your paper.

Next, take a clean piece of paper and gently rub it over the top of the colors.

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This will help to smooth out the lines and start the blending process. Continue to rub the paper until you are happy with the results.

You can also use your fingers to blend the colors, but be careful not to apply too much pressure, or you will end up with a muddy mess.

With a little practice, you will have no trouble creating beautiful blends with oil pastels.

So go ahead and experiment with different color combinations until you find your perfect hue!

Breakability

Arrtx oil pastel range is a great choice for artists who want good quality products that won’t break the bank.

The colors are pigmented and vibrant, and the oil pastels go on smoothly and evenly.

They’re also sturdy and won’t break easily if you drop them or apply pressure.

Overall, I’m impressed with the Arrtx oil pastel range and would recommend them to anyone looking for a good quality product.

Easy to Use for Artists of All Ages

The oil pastel range from Arrtx is easy to use for artists of all ages.

The oil pastels are made from high-quality pigments that are smooth and easy to blend.

The Pastel range comes in various vibrant colors that are perfect for both beginners and experienced artists.

Where can you buy the Arrtx Soft Oil Pastels?

If you would like to pick up a box of these new oil pastels click on the link below 🙂

Amazon US

Amazon CA

Amazon UK

Amazon DE

Surfaces You Can Use for Oil Pastel Art

Oil pastel is a highly versatile medium that can be used on a variety of surfaces to create stunning artwork.

Unlike traditional wax crayons, oil pastels are made with a combination of pigment and oil, which gives them a creamy consistency and rich color.

One of the most popular surfaces for oil pastel is pastel paper.

This can range from standard drawing paper to more textured varieties like watercolor paper.

Another popular option is canvas, which provides a slightly different texture and can be primed with gesso to create an even surface.

Wood and metal are also excellent choices for oil pastel art, providing a unique background that can add depth and interest to your work.

So whatever your preferred surface, don’t be afraid to experiment with oil pastels to see what amazing results you can achieve.

What is the difference between Soft Oil Pastels and Soft Pastels?

Typically, soft oil pastels have a higher pigment load than soft pastels.

This results in greater opacity and more intense colors. However, it also makes them slightly more difficult to blend.

Soft oil pastels also tend to be a bit firmer than soft pastels, making them less likely to break.

Overall, soft oil pastels offer a great balance of intense colors and smooth blending, making them a popular choice for artists of all levels.

Chalk Pastel vs Oil Pastel: Which Medium is Best for You?

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Is oil pastel better than soft pastel?

Oil pastels and soft pastels are both excellent choices for artists who want to create beautiful works of art.

However, each type of pastel has its own unique benefits and drawbacks.

Oil pastels are known for their rich colors and creamy texture.

They are also very versatile and can be used for various techniques, from blending to layering.

However, oil pastels can be difficult to control and may require some experimentation before you get the hang of them.

Soft pastels, on the other hand, are much easier to use and produce softer, more delicate results.

They are also less likely to smudge or stain your hands and clothing. However, soft pastels may not be as vibrant as oil pastels and may not last as long.

Ultimately, deciding which type of pastel to use is a matter of personal preference.

Can you use oil pastels and soft pastels together?

Oil pastels and soft pastels are two very different types of artist’s materials, and they should not be used together.

Oil pastels are made with a base of oil and wax, which gives them a creamy consistency and makes them ideal for blending and creating smooth gradations of color.

On the other hand, soft pastels are made with a base of pure pigment and binder, resulting in a dryer, harder material that is better suited for producing sharp lines and saturated colors.

Using oil pastels and soft pastels together could easily produce a muddy mess.

So if you’re looking to create beautiful works of art, it’s best to stick to using one type of pastel or the other.

What supplies are needed for oil pastel drawing compared to soft pastel?

For oil pastel art, you will need a set of oil pastels, a drawing pad or canvas, and some fixative (to help the pastels adhere to the surface).

You may also want to have a few different colors of chalk or charcoal on hand to use as underdrawings.

For soft pastel art, you will need a set of soft pastels, a fixative, and either a heavy paper or an abrasive surface (such as sanded paper or board).

That’s really all you need!

So whether you’re just getting started with oil pastels or soft pastels, now you know what you need to get started creating your own masterpieces!

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Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this review of the Arrtx soft oil pastels and that it helped you decide whether or not they are the right medium for you. I recommend trying them out for yourself if you’re still on the fence.

And be sure to check out my other blog post about Gouache vs. Acrylic paint!

Other articles you may enjoy…

The Best Paper for Oil Pastels for 2022

10 Best Black Paper Sketchbooks for Artists to Explore New Ways of Seeing

Looking For a Mixed Media Sketchbook? 16 Best Mixed Media Sketchbooks for Wet & Dry Media

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