STUDENTS WORK & INSPIRATION
I ask my students to please let me share their works on this site, to help others to learn
the technique and further understand the process, and all the fabulous art you can make.
These images are here for you to borrow and to create your own art works.
Take what you feel will give you the right look and effect you are looking for.
What you will find exciting about this particular technique is...
in the process of what you think you may want to achieve, you will find yourself creating something even more spectacular than you ever thought possible.
It is always a surprise with a smudge.
Please send me an email of your completed images, so I may post it here, and share with others.
Send to art@oilpastelsmudge.com
Place "Smudge works to share" in the subject line and don't forget to add your signature on your works.
Thank you to all the students who have chosen to share and grow together
through this exciting, fun, and magical technique.
So many people who had thought they were NOT Artists, found that they are!
Won't you join us on the Oil Pastel Smudge journey.
Student Testimonial - Smudge Artist: Sherry Hunter
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This summer I registered for an art class called Oil Pastel Smudge at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, NV. The class was taught by Carol. Last winter I took my very first art class and enjoyed learning something about oil painting. So you can see, I don't have much experience. I loved Carol's classes and have been practicing almost daily for the last several weeks. Taking these classes has taught me several things: for instance, I can work with a new idea and actually like the end result! Art classes have opened my eyes to a whole new world! I see things differently now when I look at a scene. I don't just see colors and shapes anymore. I see shades and textures, hardness and softness in the world around me. It has become very difficult for me to go anywhere now without taking loads of pictures and then I can't wait to get home and see what I can "smudge" from what I've seen. How exciting it is to discover that I can enjoy something new in my life this much! Thank you, Carol.
Student Testimonial - Stain Glass Artist & Smudger: Cindy Oberlander
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I had such fun and really felt unbridled in this medium. It was so free flowing and creative! Thank you for inventing such a dramatic technique. I think you are a genius!
January 2014 Craft & Hobby Assoc. (CHA) Mega Show held in Anaheim, CA
22 Members attended from all over the Globe
Here are a few of their comments
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Great Technique, never seen it before "Awesome! Beautiful!" I really like the technique.
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Really amazing and fun! Extremely innovative. New technique; easy too!
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Very interesting and great for all ages. Fun and different.
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Awesome!!! It is a very easy technique to do, to achieve a great result. Good for all ages.
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Awesome technique - I was looking for something different. Really inspiring!
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Love this technique! A great class.
My goal in offering the Smudge technique is not to have you create art that looks like my art, but to create something that is uniquely you.
By putting your twist to the technique you are able to make it shine in the way only you know how.
That is what being creative is. It is your expression in a particular medium, that is making ART!
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My mission is to share the "Oil Pastel Smudge" technique and having you take it from there.
This site is meant for sharing, display and inspiration.
Student Testimonial - Arts Educator, Gallery Owner & Smudge Artist: Vivian Olds
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Hi Carol...Well, I taught what I learned in your great class today, to my 6th grade class (26 Students)...I used the Elmo (like an overhead projector) and did a sample demo. I had all the tables ready with the template vellum, pastels, and scratch paper, you would have been proud of me! WOW! They got it so fast, and they loved it. I only have them for 45 minutes, and I forgot to take photos. Next week, we are going to make holiday cards. Really, it was an awesome lesson for them. So Thank YOU!!!
When working with a hand designed and cut template
you are able to create abstract and repetitive patterns easily.
Take a look at many of the images shown.
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I might suggest you start working with abstract shapes and repetitive patterns to begin with.
This will help you learn what it actually feels like to smudge and blend the colors.
Learn how to hold the template and smudge the colors together for a clean, crisp and pure color effect.
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What fun smudging can be, when you loosen up, play and not worry if it is right, or perfect!
Cindy Oberlander - Owner/Founding Artist of the Art Glassery Reno, NV
Cindy is an award-winning designer in the medium of stained glass, and also she creates decorative glass etchings. Shortly after accepting the invitation to join the Nevada Museum of Arts teaching staff, she heard about the Oil Pastel Smudge art technique. Instantly captivated by its creative aspects, she joined a beginning class soon thereafter.
Her reaction: " I was drawn to the unusual aspect of this method at once. I love the idea of working with negative space and within this technique lies such freedom. There are limitless possibilities. I found the lack of boundaries was really a stretch for me, as my medium of glass work requires intense focus on precision. What fun!!!
PS: That is her image of a horse on the above upper right!
STUDENT TESTIMONIAL - HELAINE GREENBURG
OVER MY LIFETIME, I'VE TAKEN A MULTITUDE OF ART CLASSES, STARTING IN HIGH SCHOOL. I EVEN TAUGHT ART TO 8TH GRADERS IN CHICAGO. NOW RETIRED WITH GROWN CHILDREN, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOFT PASTELS, ACRYLICS, COLORED PENCILS, TEMPERA, OILS, CALLIGRAPHY, WATERCOLORS, COLLAGE, PEN AND INK AND DRAWING IN THE NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART, PLEIN AIR, AND OTHER VENUES. BUT, I MUST SAY, I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED DOING THE OIL PASTELS (TAUGHT BY CAROL) SINCE IT IS SO UNIQUE A PROCESS THAT YIELDS SUCH INTERESTING PIECES--THE FIRST ART WORKS THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY FRAMED TO DISPLAY IN MY HOME.
OVER MY LIFETIME, I'VE TAKEN A MULTITUDE OF ART CLASSES, STARTING IN HIGH SCHOOL. I EVEN TAUGHT ART TO 8TH GRADERS IN CHICAGO. NOW RETIRED WITH GROWN CHILDREN, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOFT PASTELS, ACRYLICS, COLORED PENCILS, TEMPERA, OILS, CALLIGRAPHY, WATERCOLORS, COLLAGE, PEN AND INK AND DRAWING IN THE NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART, PLEIN AIR, AND OTHER VENUES. BUT, I MUST SAY, I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED DOING THE OIL PASTELS (TAUGHT BY CAROL) SINCE IT IS SO UNIQUE A PROCESS THAT YIELDS SUCH INTERESTING PIECES--THE FIRST ART WORKS THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY FRAMED TO DISPLAY IN MY HOME.
ALL MY STUDENTS MAKE ME PROUD! LOOK WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH A "SMUDGE!"
HOW ABOUT YOU, WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A SMUDGE?
HOW ABOUT YOU, WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A SMUDGE?