Crayola Oil Pastels: Our Top 23 Picks

Oil pastels create rich, vibrant art - perfect for detailed drawings and warm colors. Our roundup of Crayola oil pastels compares their quality, color range, and value to help you choose the right set for your project.

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Crayola Oil Pastels Classpack

From kindergarten classrooms to professional studios, these durable oil pastels have earned their place as the industry standard. The generous 24- and 48-count selections offer an impressive color palette that's perfect for both beginners and experienced artists seeking creamy, blendable color with lasting results.

Royal Talens Panda Oil Pastels Set

These popular oil pastels from Talens come in 12 vibrant hues and are designed for both young artists and seasoned painters. The soft pastels transfer color beautifully and come with paper wrappers to keep little hands clean. They're versatile enough to use on their own or in combination with other mediums like gouache and watercolor, making them a valuable addition to any artist's palette.

Cray-Pas Specialist Oil Pastels

Made in the USA, these professional-grade oil pastels blend smoothly while building rich layers of color. The premium pigment formulation ensures lasting vibrancy, and the square stick design makes it easy to achieve both fine details and broad strokes. Whether you're an artist just starting out or a seasoned professional, these highly-rated pastels offer exceptional value and performance.

Pentel Oil Pastel Set

These oil pastels surprise with their buttery consistency and vibrant color payoff, making them a delightful choice for both novices and experienced artists alike. The brilliant hues blend smoothly together, allowing for endless color mixing possibilities on various surfaces like paper, board, or canvas. While some may find the limited color selection and occasional stick breakage minor drawbacks, the affordable price point and reliable performance make these pastels a practical choice for artists seeking high-quality results without breaking the bank.

Pentel 50-Crayon Oil Pastel Set

These versatile oil pastels deliver vivid color that blends smoothly for rich, sophisticated shades. The 50-piece set covers the essentials for both new artists and experienced creators alike. With acid-free properties and superior resistance to humidity, your artwork will stay vibrant for years to come.

Mont Marte Crayon Studio Oil Pastel Set

These twistable oil pastels transform into paint brushes with just a drop of water, thanks to their clever design. The round tips glide smoothly across paper, while the included brush turns them from drawing tools into painting implements. The 24 vibrant colors come in a handy plastic case, making them perfect for artists on the go who love the blendable quality of oil pastels.

Pentel Arts Oil Pastels-Assorted Colors

These oil pastels blend beautifully to create smooth transitions between colors, and their creamy consistency makes them incredibly easy to work with - you can blend them together or layer them for rich, vibrant results. The fact that they stay wet for weeks means you can return to your artwork whenever inspiration strikes, making these particularly valuable for classroom projects or personal art sessions. Available in a generous 25 color selection, they're perfect for both beginners and experienced artists who appreciate high-quality materials that perform consistently across various surfaces like paper, canvas, and even ceramic tile.

Crayola Oil Pastels

Crayola's extensive 28-pack of oil pastels delivers professional blending capabilities with kids-friendly durability. The jumbo hexagonal sticks prevent rolling while the tapered points excel at detailed work, making them ideal for both beginners and experienced artists alike.

Crayola Oil Pastels: 16 Color Nontoxic Art Set

With their creamy texture and rich colors, Crayola's oil pastels transform ordinary drawings into works of art. The hexagonal shape makes them a breeze for little hands to grip, while the nontoxic formula means kids can create with confidence. Whether you're filling pages in an art journal or creating classroom masterpieces, these pastels deliver a smooth application and blend beautifully for stunning results.

Crayola Neon Oil Pastel Set

These jumbo hexagonal oil pastels make art time more fun and mess-free, with their staying-power that prevents those frustrating rolls across the desk. Kids and artists alike love the creamy, blendable texture that creates beautiful colors on any surface – perfect for both beginners and experienced creators who appreciate the smooth application and vibrant hues. The AP-certified nontoxicity gives parents peace of mind while artists of all ages enjoy making colorful masterpieces that really stand out.

Crayola Oil Pastels: Neon Collection

The neon oil pastels blend beautifully while maintaining their vibrant color intensity, making them ideal for creating striking artwork. Their sturdy, hexagonal design prevents them from rolling off desks or getting crushed, while the thick, creamy consistency allows for smooth layering. The jumbo size provides excellent grip for both children and adults, although the shorter length might limit precision for detailed work.

Crayola Portfolio Series Water Soluble Oil Pastels

These water-soluble oil pastels combine creamy texture with bright colors, offering artists versatile blending options whether wet or dry. The 12-pack makes a practical addition to both studios and classrooms, where teachers and students appreciate its non-toxic formula and reasonable price point.

Crayola Portfolio Series Oil Pastels 300 Assorted

These water-soluble oil pastels combine creamy texture with vibrant color, allowing artists to blend true secondary hues while creating unique wet-dry effects. The portable 12-pack features 25 sticks of each color, perfect for students and crafters who appreciate the smooth application and easy cleanup of watercolor-inspired pastels.

Crayola Oil Pastels 336 Count Classpack

If you're planning your next masterpiece or just want some vibrant colors for your sketchbook, these oil pastels are a great choice. The smoothly blended colors come in a generous helping of 12 shades, perfect for bringing your drawings to life. Whether you're a beginner artist or someone who likes to keep their supplies all organized in one place, these reliable pastels check off every box.

Crayola Oil Pastels 96-Pack

Whether you're a young artist just starting to explore colors or a seasoned crafter looking for vibrant tools, these oil pastels offer both beginners and experienced users a delightful way to bring their creativity to life. The hexagonal shape makes them comfortable to hold, while the rich, blendable colors let you create professional-looking artwork. Each box contains 16 high-quality pastels that go on smoothly and stay put on paper, making them perfect for both kids and adult projects.

Crayola Portfolio Series Water Soluble Oil Pastels

If you're looking to blend oil pastel techniques with watercolor effects, these versatile sticks deliver. With their smooth, hexagonal shape and water-soluble properties, they offer professional-grade performance at an affordable price point. Whether you're a student exploring new mediums or an artist expanding your palette, these Crayola crayons exceed expectations through their exceptional blendability and vibrant color selection.

Crayola Oil Pastels

These oil pastels from Crayola offer kids a great way to explore colors, with their hexagonal shape keeping them from rolling off surfaces and their jumbo size making them easy to hold. The rich, nontoxic colors blend beautifully to create secondary shades, while the tapered point lets young artists tackle details with precision. The set includes 6 pastels plus metallic gold and silver options, giving junior artists plenty of color choices for their next masterpiece.

Crayola Classpack Oil Pastels

Crayola's oil pastels deliver rich, creamy colors that blend beautifully, with a sturdy hexagonal shape that prevents rolling. These classroom-tested pastels come in generous 28-pack quantities, perfect for both beginners and experienced artists who appreciate their durability and smooth application.

Crayola Water-Soluble Oil Pastels 24-Color Set

These water-soluble oil pastels blend beautifully and can be used both dry and wet, with a soft creamy texture that's fun to work with. The tapered tips make them great for detailed drawing, and you can even use them like paint sticks when you dip them in water. The non-toxic colors mix wonderfully together, giving your projects a professional look.

Pentel 36-Color Oil Pastel Set

These versatile oil pastels blend smoothly and apply beautifully to paper, canvas, or board. A student favorite since elementary school, they've earned praise from professional artists for their vibrant color and lasting quality. The acid-free formula resists fading and humidity damage, ensuring your artwork stays vibrant for years.

12 Assorted Pentel Round Stick Oil Pastels

These oil pastels blend beautifully and apply smoothly, creating rich colors that resist fading. At just $2 per stick, the 12-pack is an affordable way to try oil pastels, though some users recommend buying white and black separately since replacement sticks cost the same price. The compact size (2-7/16" x 5/16") makes them handy for plein air sketching, while the acid-free formula ensures your artwork will last.

36-Color Pentel Oil Pastel Set

These oil pastels deliver rich, vibrant colors that apply smoothly and blend beautifully, making your artwork truly pop. The 36-piece set includes a great variety of colors, though some users have noted the absence of certain hues like violet/purple in smaller sets. Students and artists praise their durability and blending capabilities, though they can be a bit harder to work with compared to some premium brands. With their affordable price point and excellent performance, these Pentel pastels are a practical choice for both beginners and experienced artists working on paper, canvas, or artboard projects.

PENPHN36 Oil Pastel Set

These oil pastels blend smoothly for subtle color transitions and apply well to various surfaces. With a creamy texture that's easy to work with, artists can create thick or thin strokes as desired. The 36-pack includes a good range of colors that stay vibrant over time.

Buyer's Guide

Oil pastels combine rich color payoff with smooth, buttery consistency, making them popular for both casual and professional artists. Understanding their key features will help you select the right set for your artistic needs.

Color Range and Quality

Oil pastels vary significantly in color range, from basic 12-color sets to premium offerings exceeding 60 colors. High-quality pastels feature vibrant hues that resist fading and provide excellent color saturation. Consider whether you need specific colors for your projects, like greens for landscapes or metallic shades for fantasy art.

Core and Body Type

Pastel cores range from soft and waxy to firmer, stick-like varieties. The core determines application ease and color concentration. Soft cores are ideal for blending and layering, while firmer sticks offer better control for detailed work. The pastel body material also matters: natural resin cores provide superior color payoff and blendability, while synthetic alternatives may offer better grip but less color intensity.

Set Packaging and Durability

Quality oil pastel sets typically feature sturdy, snap-tight lids and protective storage cases. Look for sets with plastic storage compartments that prevent core compression and color bleeding. The packaging should clearly list color names and provide space for instructions or material safety information. Sets with multiple sticks of each color offer greater versatility than single-stick arrangements.

Cultural and Educational Value

Most Crayola oil pastel sets come with basic art instruction guides, though premium sets often include more detailed techniques and project ideas. Consider whether you need instructional materials for skill development or simply want high-quality materials for creative expression. Sets marketed towards educational settings may include additional resources like activity books or project templates.

FAQ

What makes Crayola Oil Pastels different from regular crayons?

Crayola Oil Pastels deliver rich, vibrant colors that traditional crayons can't match. The oil-based formula provides smoother application and deeper coverage, making them ideal for detailed artwork and professional results.

The pastels come in an extensive range of 24 colors, offering artists flexibility in their creative projects. Unlike regular crayons, these pastels resist breaking and provide consistent, bold strokes.

Are Crayola Oil Pastels suitable for both adults and children?

Yes, Crayola Oil Pastels are suitable for all ages. The large pastels are comfortable to hold, making them perfect for young artists, while their strong staying power appeals to older children and adult artists who prefer oil pastels.

The non-toxic formula ensures safety for children, but the robust nature of these pastels makes them equally enjoyable for experienced artists who demand quality materials.

How should Crayola Oil Pastels be stored?

To maintain their quality, Crayola Oil Pastels should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and excessive heat. Avoid leaving them in extreme temperatures, as this can affect their consistency.

Once opened, store the pastels in their original packaging or a similar container with a tight lid to prevent them from drying out. This will help maintain their creamy texture and optimal performance.

What surfaces can Crayola Oil Pastels be used on?

These oil pastels work well on a variety of surfaces including paper, cardboard, canvas, and even wood. Their oil content gives them good adhesion, though they may need to be sealed with a clear coat to protect the artwork from fading or smudging.

They excel on rough surfaces like burlap and textured paper, creating interesting visual effects through the pastels' ability to grip the surface texture.

Are Crayola Oil Pastels washable?

While oil pastels are not washable after application, the pastels themselves wipe off hands and clothing easily before use. This makes them practical for both home and studio environments where cleanup is important.

The oil-based formula requires specific cleaning methods, but regular soaps and water typically remove the pastels from most surfaces. Always test on a small, inconspicuous area first.

How long do Crayola Oil Pastels last?

When properly stored, Crayola Oil Pastels maintain their quality for many years. Each package typically contains 24 pastels, which many artists find lasts several months to a year depending on usage frequency.

The durable construction of these pastels means they remain workable throughout their lifespan, with minimal risk of breaking or cracking during normal use.