I believe that it is a universal truth that there is more than one version of EVERYTHING 😂. That's both a good thing and a very daunting thing I think. Who needs so many options for one thing?! Well, knowing this truth, I decided to test out Crayola's Slick Stix after having used, and been impressed by, Kwik Stix's Solid Tempera Paint sticks. Check out how I used those to make a nifty portrait of the super talented Alan Cumming by clicking on 23beCumming24!
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| Gene Wilder |
Now, the Crayola Stix are, from my dim understanding, just softer crayons while the Kwik Stix are made of tempera paint that was just shoved into a recycled glue stick tube. Allegedly. DONT SUE ME PLEASE KWIK STIX! 😂 Using the Crayola Stix was easier and more difficult than the Kwik. Truly what made them easier was what also made them slightly more difficult: they're SOFT! 😂 The Crayola's softness did allow for better blending and spreading across the paper (for this one I just used basic sketch paper, unlike with my 23beCoumming24 where I used pastel paper), which was great trying to get "realistic" skin tones (still didn't happen, BUT I TRIED! 😂).
However, that same softness meant that the colors had trouble sticking to one spot, tended to move around -vs blend- when other colors overlapped, and soft blending was a bit of a pain in most spots because...reasons. It's not because I don't know what I'm doing! Well, not usually. 😁 I also had trouble covering up the sketch lines because the colors aren't really that opaque but they're thick in texture. Yea, I know. Twilight zone nonsense, what can I tell you? Now, if I had experience with these beforehand, I could see these making a really interesting abstract portrait instead of trying to go for more realism. Especially considering the standard Crayola color pallet isn't very realisticy unless we're in The Simpsons or something. Then we're good to go! 😂
My suspicions are that these Crayola Stix are Crayola's version of a specific type of paint stick, similar to oil pastels and, yes, even the tempera paint sticks. There's also a medium called a pigment stick which, from my researching, can be used similarly to oil pastels, but, you can also use brushes, pallet knives and even solvents/mediums with them directly. I've seen one brand in person before (and been VERY tempted to purchase them, but, I must subtract from the hoard, not add! 😭) and they are about as long as your standard pencil and about as thick as the handle of a hammer! Here's an idea of just how big these pigment/oil sticks (not oil pastels, apparently there's a difference and not just in size 😂) can get!
(Anyone else just want to squeeze those tubes like they were raw cookie dough? Just me? Mmkay.)
Overall I enjoyed the Crayola Stix about as much as I enjoyed the Kwik Stix. I don't overly enjoy their collective refusal to spell the word sticks properly, but that's marketing so I'll let that slide 😂. I plan on using BOTH together and separately until they're all used up, so that should tell someone that they're a good product. Otherwise I'd just have donated them to Goodwill or something. Maybe 😂
I hope you enjoyed Wilder Stix and got more than a little curious to try out one, two or ALL of the different pigment/oil/soft crayon sticks that you can find! If you do, tag me on social media so I can see YOUR creations! And please feel free to let me know YOUR thoughts on this piece/medium. If you would like to challenge me, please check out my Contact Me page, or, if you'd like to purchase one of my works or a work of your own design, check out my Commission page.
Till next time MMP fans!