Oil Pastel Drawing: Step-by-Step Tutorial & Easy Ideas
Want to draw an oil pastel that actually looks right? Start with light guidelines and build from there. This page covers the full process — nine steps from first line to finished drawing — followed by oil pastel drawing ideas in every style: easy, cute, realistic, and a few you probably haven't tried.
- Difficulty Medium
- Time ~20 min
- Tools Pencil, eraser, paper
- Starts with light guidelines
How to Draw an Oil Pastel Step by Step
Step 1 of 9
Hill and sun guides
Draw one wide light arc across the lower half of the page for the back hill, then a circle in the upper right for the sun.
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Hill and sun guides
Draw one wide light arc across the lower half of the page for the back hill, then a circle in the upper right for the sun.
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Sun outline
Trace the sun into a clean circle.
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Rays and back hill
Add eight short straight rays spreading out from the sun's edge, then trace the back hill into a smooth ridge across the page.
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Front hill
Draw a second smaller hill overlapping the bottom of the back hill, peaking on the left side of the page.
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Tree trunk
On the front hill, draw one short thick trunk standing straight up.
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Rounded treetop
Above the trunk, draw a rounded cloud-shaped treetop.
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Blending strokes
Layer short curved strokes across both hills for texture, then long horizontal strokes across the open sky.
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Ink the lines
Go over every kept outline with dark ink, then erase the light hill and sun guide shapes.
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Layer the pastel colors
Fill the sky orange, the hills green, and the sun yellow, blending each with your finger for a soft pastel look.
Oil Pastel Drawing Ideas to Try Next
Once the basic oil pastel clicks, run it through these variations — each one practices a different skill while staying on a subject you already know.
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A before/after oil pastel comparison
Draw the same subject with and without the technique side by side — proof of what you've learned.
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A practice grid of oil pastel studies
Divide the page into six boxes and repeat the exercise with one variation each — visible progress on a single page.
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Apply oil pastel to a simple still life
Use the technique on a mug and a book from your desk — real objects make practice stick.
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A timed oil pastel challenge
The same exercise at 5 minutes, 1 minute, and 30 seconds — speed reveals what you truly know.
Tips for Better Oil Pastel Drawings
- Slow is smooth and smooth is fast: technique practice done deliberately beats ten rushed repetitions.
- Change exactly one variable per repetition — new angle, new size, new subject. That’s how practice compounds into skill.
Not feeling the oil pastel today?
Let the generator pick your next subject — filtered by mood and difficulty.
🎲 Random Drawing GeneratorOil Pastel Drawing FAQ
What is the easiest way to draw an oil pastel?
Start with light guidelines, keeping your lines light. Refine the outline, add the defining details, then erase the construction shapes. The nine-step method above breaks this down — most people get a recognizable oil pastel on their very first try with it.
How long should it take to draw an oil pastel?
A simple oil pastel drawing takes about 20 minutes following this tutorial. A quick doodle version can be done in two or three minutes, while a detailed, fully-shaded study might take an hour. Speed comes with repetition — the second attempt is always faster than the first.
What do I need to draw an oil pastel?
Just a pencil, an eraser, and any paper. An HB pencil for construction lines and a 2B for final outlines is a nice upgrade, and colored pencils or markers finish it off — but nothing on this page requires special supplies.
Can kids draw an oil pastel?
Yes — the oil pastel is very manageable once you use construction shapes, and this method was written for first-timers. Kids can follow the same steps; just expect wobblier lines and more charm.
