Lesson 1: Tactile Surfaces (Oil Pastels & Wax Media)

Layering vs. Transparency: How does the opacity of oil pastels differ from watercolor, and how does that change the order in which we apply light and dark colors?
The Physics of Blending: How can we use heat (friction), solvents, or layering to create a seamless transition between two distinct hues?
Subtractive Painting: How can we use "Sgraffito" (scratching through layers) to reveal hidden colors and create fine-line details?

Heavy-Bodied: Media with a thick, buttery consistency that sits on top of the substrate.
Underpainting: The initial layer of color that provides a base for subsequent layers.
Burnishing: Applying heavy pressure to "fill" the tooth of the paper, resulting in a smooth, polished surface.
Sgraffito: A technique where the artist scratches through a top layer of pigment to reveal a different color underneath.
Impasto: A thick, textured application of pastel that creates a 3D effect on the paper.
Solvent: A substance (like baby oil or odorless mineral spirits) used to thin oil pastels into a wash.

VA.CR.HS.3: Refine and complete artistic ideas and work.
VA.PR.HS.5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
Graduation Standard 1: Create (Engage in a process to produce new work).

Structural Analysis: Understanding how "layers" of an image function similarly to "layers" of an argument in a complex text.
Precision and Control: Developing the fine motor focus required for the SAT’s "Standard English Conventions," where small details (like a single comma or a single highlight) change the entire meaning of the work.

Description: Students begin with a "Texture Grid," practicing pressure control, scumbling, and solvent washes. They then apply these skills to a mid-to-large scale work focusing on high-contrast subject matter (e.g., a macro view of fruit or a dramatic landscape).
Purpose: To teach students how to work "reductively" and "additively" simultaneously, fostering a deeper understanding of physical texture in 2D art.
DOK Level 2 (Skill/Concept): Mastering the physical application and blending of the sticks.
DOK Level 3 (Strategic Thinking): Deciding which layers to "scratch through" and which to "burnish" to achieve specific atmospheric effects.

Street Art & Murals: Many modern muralists use paint sticks for their portability and vibrant, weather-resistant "pop."
Impressionist Influence: Linking these media to the work of Mary Cassatt or Edgar Degas, who used pastels to capture the fleeting effects of light and social life in the 19th century.
Tactile Design: Discussion of how "hand-drawn" textures are used in organic food branding and indie film posters to create a "human" feel.

"It’s just like a crayon": Students may treat professional oil pastels like childhood crayons. They must learn that these are pigment-heavy tools meant for sophisticated blending, not just coloring in lines.
"I can’t fix mistakes": Unlike watercolor, oil pastels are very forgiving. Students will learn that they can scrape off "mistakes" with a palette knife and start over.

Tool Modification: Provide "blending stumps" (tortillons) or silicone shapers for students who have sensory sensitivities to the feeling of oil on their fingertips.
Visual Templates: Offer pre-toned paper (black or tan) to help students see how the opacity of the pastel "pops" differently than on white paper.
Choice of Solvent: Offer both "dry" blending (fingers) and "wet" blending (baby oil/brushes) to accommodate different student comfort levels.

• The "Technique Lab" Sheet: Evaluation of a student’s ability to demonstrate 4 specific techniques: heavy pressure blending, scumbling, sgraffito, and a solvent wash.

• Final Composition Rubric:

• Saturation: Did the student eliminate the "white" of the paper through burnishing or layering?

• Contrast: Is there a clear use of value to create three-dimensional form?

• Technique: Is the sgraffito used purposefully for detail (e.g., hair, grass, highlights)?

• Media: Professional-grade oil pastels (Caran d’Ache, Sennelier, or Pentel Arts), water-soluble crayons (Neocolor II), or oil paint sticks.

• Surface: Sanded pastel paper, heavy-weight toothy paper, or primed wood panels.

• Tools: Palette knives, toothpicks (for sgraffito), baby oil, small brushes, and paper towels.