Oil Pastel Drawing For Beginners – Sorolla Master Study

Step 1

The first thing I did was to lightly sketch the figure with a red pencil. I used red so no graphite would smudge with the oil pastels and turn the colors muddy.

Then I chose a dark blue oil pastel and lightly put the color down where the water is supposed to be. After that, I dipped a brush in some linseed oil and went over the blue oil pastel strokes to blend them into the paper. Don’t worry if you don’t have any painting oil. You can just smudge the pastel with your fingers or a paper towel.

For the hair we use an ochre oil pastel color. For the first layers it’s important to use little pressure when applying the color. Also leave the white of the paper white for the lightest parts of the painting.

Step 2

For the next step we focus on the hair. Use different brown oil pastels to add details and depth to the hair. Also use a dark blue for the hairband.

With a light beige and an ochre pastel we lightly sketch in the face color, the hand and the hat. I added some blue for the shadows on the left side of her face (our right side) and the lips.

To define the upper part of the sea we use a teal oil pastel, a gray and a dark blue. This time press a bit harder to lay down the color.

Step 3

Now we’re using lots of pressure to apply the blue oil pastels thickly. It creates this lovely impasto-like look. We also add white and a light yellow color for the lightest part of the wave.

To define the hair more, use the brown pastels again but with more pressure this time.

Add a bit of yellow and brown to the face.

Step 4

Next we’re defining the face and adding the details like eyebrows, eyes and lips. I know it’s very hard to draw details with oil pastels especially if you’re drawing small. Try to use the sharpest side of the oil pastel, use a painting knife or the tip of a pencil to add small details. Having patience and a steady hand also helps.

The good thing with oil pastels is that if you made a wrong mark you can scratch some of the oil pastel away with a palette knife (or your fingernail) and draw over it.

Additionally, add some purple to the hair and to the shadow in the face. With a blue pastel draw more of the water in the background and lightly add the shadow of the dress.

Step 5

For the next step define the water on the left side with more blue pastels. Use a light green with little pressure for the lower right side of the water.

That same light green I also used sparingly for the dress as well as a light purple and a reddish brown. Also add a light layer of teal in the left corner where the sea peaks through her shawls.

Step 6

For the next step we’re defining the dress even more with some grays and light blues. Additionally, we’re adding some yellow ochre to the water on the right.

Step 7

Let’s add some more contrast to the dress by using a darker gray and a little bit of purple. Also we apply white on top to blend a few colors together and to add texture.

After that we block in the basic yellow color of the hat and define the rest of the blue water on the right. Furthermore, we use a bit of green oil pastel for the lower right part of the sea as well as for the left corner.

Step 8

Now we’re finishing the left side of the oil pastel portrait by blending the blues of the water with a light blue pastel and heavy pressure. Additionally we’re darkening the left corner even more with a dark gray pastel and a bit of purple.

The right side also gets more detailed by adding more light green, gray and beige. Don’t forget to add details to the hat with a brown pastel.

Step 9

The last step is to finish the green water on the right. Use the same pastels from the step before interchangeably with more pressure to blend them together and to create a nice texture.

Finally we’ve finished our oil pastel drawing of Sorolla’s painting.