Oil pastel (also called
wax oil crayon) is a painting and drawing medium with characteristics similar to
pastels and wax
crayons. Unlike "soft" or "Japanese" pastel sticks, which are made with a gum or
methyl cellulose binder, oil pastels consist of
pigment mixed with a non-drying oil and wax binder. The surface of an oil pastel painting is therefore less powdery, but more difficult to protect with a
fixative. Oil pastels provide a harder edge than "soft" or "French" pastels but are more difficult to blend.