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Orange Skies Reflected on Water
2025 - Oil Pastel on Paper
This was my first time using a palette knife with oil pastels, and its use is evident in the thick strokes of color in the sky. I also used it to scrape the pastel across the water to give a more flat, rippled appearance. The palette knife was essential to applying color in the sky after the first coat without smearing colors together. Unlike oil paint, which you can mix to create the exact color you need, you’re much more limited in your ability to mix oil pastels and more often need to rely on the color of the stick out of the box.
Click the image to view full-screen
Orange Skies Reflected on Water
2025 - Oil Pastel on Paper
This was my first time using a palette knife with oil pastels, and its use is evident in the thick strokes of color in the sky. I also used it to scrape the pastel across the water to give a more flat, rippled appearance. The palette knife was essential to applying color in the sky after the first coat without smearing colors together. Unlike oil paint, which you can mix to create the exact color you need, you’re much more limited in your ability to mix oil pastels and more often need to rely on the color of the stick out of the box.
