Let’s clear something up right away: real artists absolutely use crayons.
They just come in many more forms than the ones you remember from childhood.
From chalky soft pastels to wax-based crayons and rich oil pastels, these tools each behave differently—and knowing how they work can open up an entire world of creative possibilities. Let’s break down the main types and what makes each one special.
Soft pastels—often called chalk pastels—are a favorite for loose, expressive work and underpaintings. Brands like Winsor & Newton are known for their smooth texture and rich pigment.
Why artists love them:
Ideal for blocking in large areas
Blend beautifully with fingers or blending stumps
Create soft transitions and atmospheric effects
Great for underpaintings and early layers
They do tend to be dusty, but that softness is what makes them so versatile and forgiving.
Now here’s where things get fun. Water-soluble chalk pastels look similar to traditional soft pastels, but once water is added, they come alive.
Add a little spray from a squirt bottle and suddenly:
The pastel dissolves and moves
It behaves almost like watercolor paint
Colors flow, blend, and create unexpected textures
This makes them fantastic for experimental backgrounds, expressive washes, and mixed media work.
Wax-based crayons come in both permanent and water-soluble varieties, and while they may look similar, they behave very differently.
Stay exactly where you put them
Do not react to water
Great for bold lines and resist techniques
Brands like Caran d’Ache and Derwent offer wax crayons that dissolve when water is added.
With these, you can:
Draw dry, then activate with water
Turn marks into painterly strokes
Work wet into dry layers for unique effects
They offer the control of drawing with the fluidity of paint—a powerful combination.
Water-soluble graphite deserves a special mention. Dry, it behaves like traditional graphite. Add water, and it:
Softens
Dissolves
Spreads into moody, expressive washes
You can work both wet and dry, spray it after the fact, or layer into it for depth. It’s subtle, dramatic, and incredibly versatile.
Oil pastels are the kings of crayon-like media. Rich, creamy, and intense, they behave much like oil paint in stick form.
What makes oil pastels unique:
Water-resistant (they repel water completely)
Stick firmly to paper
Can be layered endlessly
Perfect for bold, graphic, or painterly effects
Use them before or after watercolor washes to create resist effects, or let them stand alone for powerful color statements.
Here’s the honest answer: all of them.
Each type of crayon, pastel, or stick medium has a different purpose:
Chalk pastels for soft blending and underpainting
Water-soluble versions for painterly effects
Wax for structure and resist
Oil pastels for richness and permanence
The magic happens when you experiment, layer, and let the materials surprise you.
So yes—real artists use crayons.
They just use all kinds of them. 🎨✨
Curious is where it starts—confidence is where it leads. Inside the Mastery Program, you’ll learn how to fully understand your materials, trust your process, and create art you’re proud of.
Start your transformation today. Your future as a professional artist begins now.