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How to Draw a Water Droplet in Oil Pastels | For Beginners

Welcome to this oil pastel water droplet tutorial. This is the ideal first project if you're new to oil pastels, as it uses just a few colours and simple steps. I’ll walk you through each stage, showing you exactly where to place the colours and how to achieve that shine.
Take your time and enjoy the process!
  • ​Level: Beginner
  • Pastel colours used: 6
  • Stages: 7
  • Materials: Oil Pastels and oil pastel paper or textured paper  
What Materials You Will Need:
  • Oil pastels: yellow green (or light-green), grass green, lime green, dark green, black, white
  • Textured paper or oil pastel paper (cold-pressed watercolour paper also works)
  • Optional: paper stump or clean finger for blending
Recommendation: Use a Blending Tool
A blending stump is one of the best tools to blend oil pastels. Keep the tip clean with a paper towel between blends.
Stage 1 - Outline and background
Lightly sketch a simple oval for the droplet with grass green.
Fill the surrounding leaf area with a yellow-green using medium pressure. Blend gently.
Stage 2 - Outer edge - Grass Green & Yellow Green
Strengthen the outer edge of the oval with grass green, then add a slightly thicker pass of light green just inside it. Medium pressure.
Stage 3 - Inner edge - Yellow Green
Blend the outer greens with a stump or finger, following the curve of the droplet so the colours soften together.
Stage 4 - Centre - Lime Green
Fill the centre with lime green using medium pressure. Blend in gentle circular movements. Keep this area lighter than the outer edge.
Stage 5 - shading - Dark Green
With dark green, place a curved stroke along the top of the droplet and a thinner curved stroke near the bottom. Blend softly along the curves so the shading stays smooth.
Stage 6 - Shadow - Black
With black and light pressure, add a thin curved shadow at the base of the droplet. Blend outwards slightly onto the leaf so the shadow looks natural.
Stage 7 - shading - White
Place a clean white highlight on the upper part of the droplet with medium-to-firm pressure. Blend just enough to soften the edge while keeping the highlight bright. Reapply white if you need it stronger.​
Well done, you’ve just created a clear, shiny water droplet in oil pastels!
I hope you enjoyed working through the stages.
​
When you’re ready for the next step, why not try another oil pastel tutorial. More will be coming very soon!

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