How to Make Gray Oil Pastel

Mixing your own old pastels is the best way to create exactly the shade of gray you desire for your painting. Through combining primary colors, you can create a basic gray, then lighten or darken it to suit your preferences. Another advantage of mixing your own paint is that is saves money. You can buy one basic paint kit, then mix the paints yourself to create a multitude of hues, such as gray, that are available only in larger, more expensive sets.

Things You'll Need

• Canvas, board or paper
• White oil pastel crayon
• Black oil pastel crayon
• Blue oil pastel crayon
• Brown oil pastel crayon

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Warm the white oil pastel crayon by holding it in your hand. A warm pastel will flow better.

   • 2

     Apply a base of white pastel to your canvas, board or paper -- in the spot you eventually want to be gray.

   • 3

     Warm a black oil pastel crayon in your hand, then apply it over the white pastel until you have reached the shade of gray you desire.

   • 4

     To make the gray hue warmer, apply a little brown to it. To make the gray hue cooler, apply blue.