My Latest Oil Pastels Articles

Welcome to my Oil Pastels blog! In addition to updates on every new product review, techniques article, art lesson and site article I post, I'll be adding blog entries on topics relating to art, creativity, self employment and greasy kidlike fun with Oil Pastels. When you're over 21 it's okay to make a colorful mess any time you want.

Mar 29, 2012

Prospek Proportion Tool

Prospek is a good proportion divider for a super low price, useful for artists whether drawing from life or photos.

Continue reading "Prospek Proportion Tool"

Oct 10, 2011

Artistic Risks

Artistic risks come along when you want to do something better than you've ever done and you're not sure how to get it. Tips for gaining confidence and taking risks.

Continue reading "Artistic Risks"

Oct 10, 2011

Blick is Back!

I've been quiet for a while because I moved from Arkansas to San Francisco, California. I've wanted to go home to San Francisco ever since I left. Now that I've been here and spent most of August and September unpacking and settling in, the city is as wonderful as I remember.

So is the climate. I'm still disabled. I still need a half dozen prescriptions to function. I can only walk a short city block on my best days and I need a cane to do it. I really need a power chair. I'll need to move somewhere with wheelchair access to get one though.

The big difference is that in Arkansas I had only about three weeks in the year that I was up at my personal best. Most of the rest of the year I was too sick to write and so updates slowed to a crawl. I'm happy to report that I seem to have fallen into a much livelier pattern of updating now!

The big happy news is that I can restore my Dick Blick affiliate status now! I just signed up again and got confirmed today. So watch for Blick ads to return on all of my pages!

I loved being able to make those links available to you, not only to generate revenue for the site but also to make it convenient for you to check prices or purchase supplies you need. I like the ads in the back of art magazines, they're targeted to what I want and need instead of hemorrhoid cream or baldness cures. They stay on topic.

Enjoy! Please remember that if you go shopping from the links on this site, you're supporting this site.

Oct 08, 2011

Still Life Setup

How to create a still life setup using plastic fruit and digital photo manipulation.

Continue reading "Still Life Setup"

Oct 03, 2011

Homerun PAS oil pastels

Homerun PAS oil pastels from Sri Lanka are non toxic, compact and firm with few crumbs.

Continue reading "Homerun PAS oil pastels"

May 20, 2011

Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks

Product review of Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks, a new watersoluble crayon and type of artist grade watercolor.

Continue reading "Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks"

May 20, 2011

Why my Blick Ads are Vanishing

Arkansas passed legislation requiring Dick Blick to charge state sales tax on all affiliate link sales from Arkansas affiliates. The way that works, if you live in Maine and Blick ships from Missouri, you'd be paying sales tax to Arkansas because I live here.

Three other states have laws like this. Three more have had laws like this and repealed them because they lost revenue. Arkansas will lose revenue from this bad decision. The only thing that happened in Arkansas from my affiliate links is that I spent my affiliate income in Arkansas and paid sales tax on my new webcam, my laptop, my clothes, my food, everything I bought.

I did not ever violate the terms of the Blick Affiliate Program. Blick did not ever do anything that offended me enough to make me withdraw my support. They are still a price leader with the best customer service and an amazing selection of good art and craft supplies at all levels. I'll still shop at Blick, recommend Blick, review Blick house brand products and stay involved.

If Arkansas repeals this damaging legislation or I move out of state, I will restore my Blick affiliate ads. Until then, I'll replace all my affiliate text links to the name with non-affiliate links so that you'll still have that convenience.

Thank you for supporting this site by using my affiliate links. I have not heard from Jerry's Artarama and will not remove those links unless terminated for the same reasons. I don't know what'll happen next, but the site will continue one way or the other.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Sloan, site owner

Apr 28, 2011

Gallery

A gallery of fine art by Robert A. Sloan, may later include student work and select other artists' work in oil pastels.

Continue reading "Gallery"

Apr 28, 2011

Mixing Greens

Mixing greens in oil pastels is tough if you want to keep them from being garish. Here are some tips and tests!

Continue reading "Mixing Greens"