Rediscovering Oil Sticks: A Quiet Studio Practice

There are art supplies that stay with you long after a specific season of life has passed. For me, oil sticks are one of those materials. In this studio session, I revisited R&F Pigment Sticks, something I used often during my college studio days. They're tactile, expressive, and incredibly grounding to work with. Using them again reminded me how powerful it can be to slow down and let the medium guide the process.

This particular set includes three colors that work beautifully together: Olive Yellow, Scarlet Extra Pale, and King’s Blue. Each one has a distinct personality, and I enjoyed exploring how they behaved across different sketchbooks and surfaces, from abstract mark making to character exploration.

Oil sticks are essentially oil paint in solid form, made with drying oils that cure over time. They work best on oil-friendly surfaces like heavyweight paper, canvas, or primed panels. And yes, if you’ve ever seen that waxy skin form on top, that’s completely normal and easily peeled away. This session wasn’t about creating finished pieces. It was about reconnecting with my hands, embracing imperfection, and finding calm in the act of making. If you’ve ever worked with oil sticks or are curious about them, I hope this encourages you to explore and play.

If you’d like to see this process unfold in real time, the full video is available on my YouTube channel.

Exploring R&F Pigment Sticks (ASMR Process)