Craig Witte, a visual artist known for his expressive and exploratory approach to materials, holds a deep affection for oil pastels, often affectionately dubbed “adult crayons,” a term he personally cherishes. This unique medium blends rich pigments with a non-drying oil and wax binder, resulting in a texture that is both soft and creamy. Its composition allows for a wide range of techniques and effects that are difficult to replicate with other materials.

Though often underappreciated, oil pastels have long been favored by renowned artists such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Georges Seurat, who recognized their potential for creating vibrant, expressive works. Witte shares this appreciation, having developed a profound love for working with oil pastels in his own practice. He frequently creates drawings based on his paintings, using oil pastels to explore effects that traditional paint cannot easily achieve.

The medium’s ability to layer colors, blend seamlessly, and build texture makes it ideal for experimentation and creative expression. For Witte, the tactile experience of drawing, feeling the pastel glide across the paper, adds a sensory richness to the process that is both engaging and meditative.