Home Forums Explore Media Oil Pastels Oil Pastel Talk Do Sennelier oil pastels melt during the summer?

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  • #469297
    assortedlives
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        Hello,

        I am deciding on an oil pastel and something that popped up when looking at reviews is Sennelier’s are so soft that they can melt during summer heat. I travel a lot and often live in a van, so no fridge or such, so that would not do at all to have them melt in a hot vehicle. Has anyone found this to be true?
        Thanks so much,

        Ruby

        #784463
        SarahY
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            Hello and welcome!

            They get soft and quite sticky, but I’ve never had them actually melt, even when left in the car on a hot day.

            http://www.shyeomans.co.uk
            \m/ neue deutsche härte \m/
            Nothing left but smoke and cellar, and a woman with a black umbrella...

            #784466
            Mira
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                I haven’t used Sennelier much and not in the summer, but just based on the reviews I’ve read here, many people complain about the Senns melting in the summer heat and being inconvenient to work with. Then there was a mention in Ken Leslie’s book (a famous book on oil pastels) and another mention in the old website of Oil Pastel Society that an artist had left the Sennelier oil pastels in the car during the summer, and they literally melt together.
                It doesn’t coincide with Sarah’s experience, so… I don’t know what to think. Maybe wait till more Sennelier owners share their experience :)

                I love oil pastels and have created a blog about this medium. While the blog posts are in Russian, still I invite you to get inspired with various artists' beautiful OP paintings in my blog's gallery: https://oilpastelist.wordpress.com/gallery

                #784461
                Rich A
                Default

                    They haven’t melted on me, but they do get really creamy, soft and buttery on hot days. I actually love that about them and love getting messy.

                    I wouldn’t be surprised if they did melt if left in car on a hot day.

                    #784467
                    assortedlives
                    Default

                        Sarah, does it get over a hundred degrees where you live? Also are they still workable, can you actually use them, when they are all soft and sticky from the heat, or will they just moosh in your hand? Thank yooo!

                        #784464
                        SarahY
                        Default

                            Well that’s a fair point, I live in the middle of England where it is ambient and grey and rather drizzly :lol:

                            We were blessed (some say cursed) with a ridiculously hot, long summer last year. Everything went brown and it caused lots of problems but the heat was glorious. Anyway, it reached nearly 100F most days, but I don’t think it really went over.

                            http://www.shyeomans.co.uk
                            \m/ neue deutsche härte \m/
                            Nothing left but smoke and cellar, and a woman with a black umbrella...

                            #784468
                            assortedlives
                            Default

                                Ok, that’s pretty hot, and you said you had your pastels in a car during the summer at one point? And when it’s that hot can you use them or do they just smoosh with handling. Sorry to be like an investigator, it’s just a spendy purchase for me..want to make sure it works out.
                                Thanks!

                                #784462
                                Rich A
                                Default

                                    I think on hot days and if left in car on a hot day, you’re gonna have issues with it being mushy and very sticky and messy. At that point you would need a stump, tortillions to basically move the pigment where you want. Kinda feels like painting in a way.

                                    You might want to consider a harder brand. Cray pas specialist are decent. Maybe add a some senns a little bit at a time. Just my two cents…

                                    #784465
                                    SarahY
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                                        They do smoosh, but it’s just different, not bad.

                                        I second the recommendation for Cray-Pas Specialists. They are my favourite and I think they’ll suit you best.

                                        http://www.shyeomans.co.uk
                                        \m/ neue deutsche härte \m/
                                        Nothing left but smoke and cellar, and a woman with a black umbrella...

                                        #784469
                                        assortedlives
                                        Default

                                            Thanks Sarah and Raizes. I think i’m going to stick with either mungyo or caran d’ache. I do want the soft smooth texture of sennelier, just want to be able to use them in the summer without refrigeration.

                                            #784460

                                            Take along one of those cold gel packs and sit the o.p.s on it.
                                            I think Holbeins melt faster in heat and direct sunlight than the Senns, which kind of get a texture like peanut butter. Specialists do not.
                                            Something worth mentioning is that Art Spectrum sanded paper can get hot enough to melt the oil pastels on contact. It can still work but the results will look different.

                                            Wendy C&C always welcome
                                            Everybody likes feedback! Please remember to comment on others' threads, even if it's just a "nice work" post.

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