Product Description
Thanks to the practical instruction in these pages, you will soon know how to use the beautiful, delicate pastel medium to create light-filled landscapes, sophisticated still lifes, and pleasing portraits. Beginning with materials and methods, then moving on to practical, step-by-step demonstrations, master pastelist Larry Blovits shares with readers the time-tested theories and techniques he employs in producing his widely admired, award-winning paintings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Pastel for the serious intermediate
To me this book followed a format and subjectdiscussionmany art books follow. Although the techniques were demonstrated , the paintings in the book look very difficult for even a serious beginner to observe. I did not feel that if I used the techniques in the book I could paint any of the examples of paintingsgiven . Still a nice book if you are more than a beginner. Creative Painting for the Young Artist

Great tips
Just like the title says...Pastel for the Serious Beginner. This book is geared toward those who already have a good grasp on pastels, but need a little more instruction.

Get Serious
The title of Larry Blovits book "Pastel for the Serious Beginner" really tells it all.
Never having used Pastels Blovits book sets one on the path of producing some really acceptable paintings.
The instructions are clear...and step by step he moves you along the path of creation.
But, as the title declares, it does take some serious effort.

not enough "how to"
Good coverage of concepts, but not enough specifics on color applications, etc.No step by step instructions.

Good Start for Pastel Artists
Lots of good information and tips for using pastels.The illustrations and step by step activities were very helpful.The beginning information on supplies is very valuable.
Knowing what type of tools you need and the best types of paper make starting to work with pastels much more enjoyable. ... Read more

Product Description
This second edition of "The Best of Pastel " continues to honor the best artists from around the world working in pastels. Selected from hundreds of entries, the 130 images presented in these pages represent the most talented artists and their works in a wide array of styles, techniques, and subjects, including landscapes, portraits, still-lifes, and abstracts.

Displays one per page, each work is reproduced in color and features artist, title, materials, dimensions, and the inspiration for the work in the artist's own words.Includes an essay by Alden Baker on how to critique your own work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Recommended
This is an incredibly beautiful book, with improvements over the first Best of Pastel:one large picture per page, and two captions for each--an artist's statement about the painting, and a few words about technique and style.The works chosen for the book are diverse, and show the artists' range and considerable skill.The only downer, in my view, is the "Critiquing Your Own Work" section at the end.Though it contains valuable information for beginning and perhaps advanced pastellists, it is written in such a snobby and condescending manner it puts a sour ending to an otherwise very sweet book.

A Must-have for Pastel Artists and Lovers
This volume has a good range of works, including figures (which the first volume did not), and includes explanations and background on the works. Good for ideas, techniques, and just appreciating "painting without a brush".

The Best of Pastel 2
Wow! What an inspiring book for pastel and all art lovers. Makes you realize the amazing amount of talent in this country with our artists. This book really gets you excited about working in pastels. You will be runningto your drawing tables, with book in hand. The reproductions are beautifulfull page color drawings representing countless styles all beautifullyexecuted. Can't wait to see, "The Best of Pastel 3". ... Read more

Product Description
The book outlines basic setting up and preparation, taking the reader step-by-step through all the techniques, with practical projects to follow at home. Once the basics have been mastered, the book then details more specialized methods, explaining clearly and simply how to achieve increasingly advanced effects. Throughout, works by contemporary artists illustrate the skills in action, while special focus features look at popular subjects such as figures and portraits, animals and buildings. At-a-glance step-by-step photographs, clear instructions and examples throughout provide visual guidance. With tried and tested techniques and expert advice, this book provides an invaluable practical reference source in an easy-to-use format. ... Read more

Product Description
Colorful, blendable, and fun to handle, pastels are one of the easiest art forms for novice artists to grasp and an engaging medium for experienced artists. Enclosed in a handy, portable case, this innovative kit offers everything you'll need to get started. The illustrated instruction book explains pastel materials and techniques, while the examples dotting each page will inspire your imagination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Kit
My son is into art/shading/sketching/drawing and this kit offers so much. A great value ... Read more

Product Description
Absolutely the most thorough guide to pastel materials and techniques ever assembled in a single volume, this is the book for anyone working with pastels, from beginners to experienced artists looking to develop more professional skills. 450 color illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

review response
Informative book for new pastel artists and for the experienced artist too. Good range of detailed info well organised in chapters. Pictures/photos support a visual learner. Lots of techniques to try and to master. Demonstrations suit the budding artist working without face-to-face teaching support.Item arrived with excellent packaging for international shipping.

The Pastel Book:Materials and Techniques for Today's Artist
I am enjoying this book very much and expect to refer to it often in future.The color pictues in the book are dazzling and the descriptions and instructions in the text are comprehensive and easily understood.

A good reference
This book seems to cover a lot more than other pastel books, and it has become something I want to keep to refer to over and over.It is written in a straightforward way that avoids meaningless "arty" expressions that are irritating in some art books.As with other pastel books, though, I wish it had more pages.

SPECTACULAR!! THE SERVICE ONTIME EVERYTHING GOOD THE BOOK LIKE BRAND NEW!!!
I'M VERY HAPPY TO ANOUNCE THAT THIS BOOK IS AMAZING NOT ONLY THE PERSON WHO WROTE IT BUT THE SERVICE THAT AMAZON.COM GAVE ME I ORDERED THE BOOK A FRIDAY AND I GOT MONDAY, I NEEDED FOR A PASTEL CLASS NEXT DAY, I AM REALLY HAPPY...
GOOD LUCK
ALBA

The Pastel Book
This is an excellent book.My only one complaint was the writing in the side pictures.I found it difficult to focus on the style chosen.I would recommend this book to beginners and pros alike. ... Read more

Product Description
Pure color is pure inspiration for all artists. It celebrates the limitless possibilities of pastel through a showcase of more than 125 glowing works from the top pastel artists working today.

Artists will find:

-A diverse range of contemporary styles and subjects

-Insightful commentary from the artists themselves on their creative processes and techniques

-Oversized pages that reveal the rich color and striking detail of every piece ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Amazing collection of paintings
Every painting in the book is a jewel and this book is a treasure. It is divided into four chapters: 1.still lifes, 2.figures and faces, 3.landscapes, 4.lights, reflections and shadows. Information about contributors is very helpful. This is not an art instruction book, but it can certainly teach you a lot about the medium, color, composition, etc. by example.

Good presentation of other artists' work only
I was looking for a book that would show other artists' work AND also give me some insight into how they chose the colors they did and a little about how they composed the piece, at least if I want the book to keep in my own library. This is a beautiful book, but doesn't teach me anything about working with pastel colors or about composition. For that, look at "All About Pastels" and for hands-on practice, I loved the book "Pastel Workbook," which is coming out in paperback soon. I did enjoy looking at this book from the library, but don't see a need to own it.

Pure Color: The Best Of Pastel
This one is the most comprehensive book on pastel art I've seen. Beautifully presented, it's the ideal companion to my other art books. Carefully chosen artists show their work and describe the process involved in creating each masterpiece.

Best of the "Best" so far
This edition of Pastel Paintings is outstanding for the quality of the artwork.It goes beyond the usual predictable landscapes and still lifes.There is a variety of painting styles, many loose and free.The inclusion of a beautiful figure drawing among several portrait and figure paintings is refreshing.This is a wonderful book to add to your collection of pastel art. The color and style of these works are supremely exciting.

Cover Hype
I was challenged to buy book based on the cover review. Upon receiving the book, I was somewhat disapointed in the content within. I expected a higher caliber of colorists than illustrated.

Jim Gola, Sec
NW Oil Painters Guild

www.oilpantersguild.com

... Read more

Product Description
Easily portable and versatile, pastels are a popular medium both for beginners and practising artists. This book contains a structured course in pastel art covering materials and equipment, basic techniques and compositions and then, using the individual talents of experienced artists and a range of pastel effects, the book demonstrates how the medium can be applied to landscapes, still life, flowers, portraits and figures. A section at the end of the book provides guidance on "fixing" pastels. ... Read more

Product Description
Master the basic skills and special techniques of painting in pastel

Explore the colorful art of painting in pastel with this compelling how-to guide. Renowned artist Marla Baggetta demonstrates a variety of subject matter--from expressive portraits and beautiful landscapes to realistic animals and dynamic still lifes--with colorful illustrations and simple instructions. Follow the 12 step-by-step lessons, and along the way, you'll find helpful advice and practical tips that will enable you to create your own impressive works of art in pastel! ... Read more

Product Description
From an expert painter of pastels, here are hundreds of proven ways to capture the glory and color of the seasons.The palette and soft motifs of pastels are perfect for capturing the beauty of nature in every phase of the year. Now every artist can learn how to use them like the professionals.

In The Pastelist's Year: Painting the Four Seasons In Pastel, Master Pastelist Elizabeth Mowry demonstrates, step by step, how to paint pastels that distinctly capture the mood, color, and majesty of the four seasons.Whether you're a novice artist or seasoned professional, The Pastelist's Year has something to offer anyone who loves to create beautiful art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Pastelist's Year
This is a great book for a beginner, or an advanced artist.Alot of good information, and photos.

Great help with choosing pastels, hard or soft, brand etc.
When I became interested in pastels, I took a dozen books out from the library including Mowry's THE PASTELIST'S YEAR, all of Paul Taggert's books, THE PASTEL BOOK, etc.
I found Mowry's books helpful regarding her use of color in this book to change the season of a scene - it's amazing. I learned a lot looking at her different views of the same scene painted to represent the different seasons. Very illuminating to say the least.
I thought thee pictures were small and could have been made larger for the serious student to see the illustrations better.

PRINT QUALITY IS FINE.THOSE ARE PHOTOS OF CONSTRUCTION
There doesn't appear to be any print quality issues with the photos in the book.There are several step-by-step photos that don't have some of the colors added yet because they are showing how the pastel sketches were made!See pg 81 for an example.There are also some extreme close ups which show the natural grain of the strokes to show how the larger image was created.These type of photos are exactly what any reader (beginner or expert) wants in an art technique book.The previous reviewers that didn't bother to read the captions of the photos should be a little ashamed if this is what they were describing.The book also has photos of the finished pastels.In general, the book and is filled with quality photos of pastel landscapes and appears to have good instruction throughout.

A Traditional Pastellist with a Modern Flair
Elizabeth Mowry has taken the time to establish a palate for the colors appearing in the four seasons; however, they were difficult to study since they were on different colored backgrounds.I especially liked the way she heightened the color temperature on some of her paintings.I wish she had used a greater variety of strokes.I recall that she favors the feather stroke, which was effective.She seemed to work more saliently with contrast, composition, color temperature, texture using traditional landscape themes.It would have been helpful to have a couple of paintings actual size so that I could have seen the "actual" painting.The cover has two flaps which could be used as bookmarks, which is a thought!

One of the very best !!
I have read this book twice and some portions three times. I find Elizabeth Mowry to be very sharing and knowledgeable and willing to show you how she achieves certain passages in her paintings. I had been going through a dry period, and this book opened up new worlds for me. I especially liked that she tells you to make small sketches, color sketches and use photographs. All these things were beneficial to me and I wish I could thank her personally for her very inspirational book. I have also given her book to friends and they all love it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

pastels made easy
I am new to the use of pastels. this book is easy to read and understand. I appreciated the step by step techniques and the recommendations for the types and brands of pastels to purchase.

Good Paintings, but Little Instruction
The book has excellent paintings throughout; however, this is an instruction book and it fails in telling or showing the reader how to develop the painting in pastels.The first few steps are the foundation of any painting and in this area the book is inadequate.Their is some instruction in this area, but not enough.

The author also fails to show alternative ways to achieve the results desired.I like art instruction books that show more than one way to get to certain results but few do this.It is important, especially in books that are introductory in nature, to show more than one way to get to a result.Most art books fail to do this and this book is not an exception.

Pastels Made Easy
All a person needs to get started and keep going. The demonstrations and directions when done her recommended way create a sense ofaccomplishment and curiousity to try the next hurdle.

If your looking for a Pastel book, This is the one.
In my travels between EU, USA and Argentina I have been looking for a book that would provide me with the basic pastel information, and this is the one. I have looked everywere and reviewed other books before I purchased. Anne Heywood has a great way of putting things in a way that help you imagine and understand and this is something that a lot of books lacked. I have read the review on Amazon.com noting that her book needs "step by step on how to", I would agree if this was a book that was meant to be a Basic Pastel learning with step by step, but it is not. I am hoping to find a step by step Pastel book from Anne Heywood, if anyone is aware of one by this artist, please post it, as in my office 5 personal (including myself) have purchased this book and would like to read and learn from her being she has a way of making you understand, not many people have this talent. I was on Amazon looking for Anne Heywood step by step, but as of today, nothing yet.

Extremely Basic
The art work in this book is beautiful; she is a talented artist. She gives some good ideas however her book is too basic there are not any real step-by-step projects to put to practice what you learn in the book. I am looking for a book that give basic explantion and projects to work on. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Light in Pastel
The step by step instructions were very good, but there were not enough 'how to do' steps for too many photos.An instruction book should be just that I believe and showing lovely pictures of paintings does not help an amateur. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Painting the Changing Seasons in Pastel
Of all the pastel books out there, this is the keeper!I cannot believe it is out of print! Elizabeth Mowry is well known in the Pastel world and in this manificently detailed and illustrated book, she demonstrates why. This lady writes well,and unlike most artists who write books, has no vague generalities concerning what to use and how to use it to achieve the results that she demonstrates. Elizabeth Mowry's talents are in the use of pastels in the landscape and her work is stunning!As a professional portrait artist, I have utilized her pallet and techniques in combination with my portrait work and would recommend ANY of her books to any level of artist! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Pastel Beauty
This is a wonderful guide to pastels and color. Even if you don't follow this as a teaching guide, it is a beautiful book to look at and own.

Learn more
So you think you know all about pastel?Read this book and learn more.Learn how to make your pastels really sparkle with feeling. Learn how to use pastels of differing hardness to advantage. The book has good basic information and a wealth of insights the author has garnered over years of painting. It is well written in a sort of humble, thankful, forthright way. The pictures and Mr. Leach's use of color (colour), are very exciting. Don't skip the more subtle images, study them.

Raw Colour with Pastels
I highly recommend this book for those who want to go to the essence of color and design. This is a wonderful book, that concentrates on pure color and uncomplicated shapes. I think everyone who wants a fresh look to their painting style can benefit from this book in their repetoire. Sylvia Casillas

Great for learning abstraction
One of the best books in my art library.Mark Leach describes clearly his process in developing luminous color with pastels, while abstracting subject matter to the simplest of shapes. I love this book and use it constantly, and I am an oil painter.Valuable, in my opinion, regardless of your medium.

That person is SO wrong!
The first person who commented on Raw Colour evidently was under the impression that this wonderful book was merely a how-to title. Having read Raw Colour from cover at least twice, I can truly say that the person who wrote that negative comment was totally wrong in interpreting this book as a how-to for abstraction! That could not be more mistaken! It's definitely not a how-to book. It's a wonderfully exciting book covering one artist's way of exploring his feelings about his subject and how he is able to express them through his use of color. I found it a very freeing book and one that reignites my desire to paint every time I open it, which is often. It is an exciting new addition to my very large library on art and pastel in particular. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in color, pastel and art expression in general. Mikki Root Dillon, PSA ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in hardback in 1994, this is a practical course in pastel painting. It is part of the "Collins Painting Workshop" series for the leisure painter, where the approach to learning to paint is based on active, "hands-on" participation by the student. This approach combines instructional teaching by a professional artist with practical exercises and projects which are specifically designed to encourage students to develop their own style and ideas, rather than just copying those of other artists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Outstanding Lessons --Hands-on approach
This is an excellent book to learn pastels with.The author begins by explaining that the purpose of her book is to "encourage you to learn by doing, just as you would in a practical painting workshop."It is filled with exercises and projects.Most of the chapters contain one main project along with several exercises.

The book begins with the usual materials and set-up chapter and then goes on to teaching techniques-ex:blending, stippling, gradations,layering, broken color, pastel over gouche, pastel over watercolor, pastel w/ charcoal, then gives a project to practice using the pastels followed by a self-assessment.

I will briefly describe some of the chapters and what they cover:
Understanding tone with simple exercises (lots of pictures too) on drawing fruits followed by a step-by-step demonstration on Fruit Tonal Study and another demo on Learning to See and Draw Tone.

Use of Colour--very well explained--everything from definitions to how complementary colors are used, to temperatures, colour harmony, colour retlationships,psychology of color.The demonstration that follows is quite thought-provoking, involving creating a collage out of black and white paper arrangements, and then making three color interpretations from it using: harmonious color, a primary color and it's complementary, an arrangement of warm and cool colors.

Space and Perspective: Teaching different types of perspective and how to measure, perspective construction, followed by a project of evaluating different perspectives (excellent exercises not covered in most art instruction books I have seen--this book will definitely make you a better artist.

Compostition.This chapter covers the elements of designing a strong painting (well taught), followed by project of exploring composition by analyzing other art for the elements discussed.

Sketching.
Choosing A Subject.
Still Life.Composing a still life, lighting, drawing, relating objects, negative shapes, massing forms and mastering edges, painting pattern, followed by a project on Still Life of Bread and Rolls and then a self-assessment.Flowers in Still life, with a good simplification ofunderstanding structure of flowers and perspective and proportion when drawing flowers. The step-by-step demonstration on painting Hydrangeas, Apples and Grapes becomes more exciting--building on skills learned from previous chapters and explaining how theauthor adds vertical and horizontal linesto "help the structure and placement".There is another still life flower project, but not step-by-step, in which the author leaves the artist to decide the exact subject matter and arrangement as a teaching tool.

Gardens.How to simplify what you see, where to begin, followed by a step-by-step demo of a Summertime Garden, along with a lesson on color harmony, foliage and such issues as color hue and temperature and rhythms created by plants, characteristic shapes, etc.A guided project of painting a garden, with concentration on two aspects of painting a garden scene:1. planning, making thumbnail sketches, with a checklist of such things as making sure you have a focal point, direction of light, etc.., 2.simplifying the scene,followed by self-assessment.

Landscapes. The author has a unique way of teaching the student how to determine what the emphasis of the landscape painting will be, without just diving in without thought, explaining about "a sense of place", cloud and sky perspective, time of day, colour, etc., followed by a stepped demo on"Light, Clouds and Rain".There are several other lessons concerning creating a sense of place, including people, seascapes, etc.

I found this book to be one of the best pastel lesson books I have seen.This book is useful not only to learn pastels, but also for building basic art skills and learning to see with an artists eye.I highly recommend this book.

really inspiring
I can't say enough about this book.It doesn't matter if you are experianced or have never touched a pastel before, everyone can gain something from this wonderful book.Not only does she lay out the different materials and papers, she touches on just about everything such as color theory, perspective and composition.This is so much more than just a book on pastels.Beyond all the useful info, the pictures are just so inspiring and beautiful to look at.If you only buy one pastel book, let it be this one.

Comprehensive and enjoyable
Apractical and comprehensive instruction pastel workbook. Nicely laid out and easy on the eye too. The author has in mind the beginner who also needs encouragement to paint as well as adding ideas about creativity to the work not just frontal art instruction and just techniques. Definately a new generation of instruction where development of ideas, creativity, inspiration, confidence building, self assesment, demonstrations are all integrated. I also enjoyed looking at the examples used to instruct pastel painting and these were very varied giving a wide idea about what can be done with pastels. I really recomend this book for the beginner pastel artist as well as an art instructor who wants to develop an art workshop and needs some ideas. Jason Alster- author-
Creative Painting For The Young ArtistCreative Painting for the Young ArtistAnyone Can Improve Their Handwriting (CD) ... Read more

Product Description
Walter Foster's classic How to Draw and Paint series provides aspiring artists with an exceptional array of art instruction books featuring all subject areas and media. Each title includes easy step-by-step exercises as well as finished illustrations or paintings that will inspire artistic talent in anyone.

Packed with practical information, helpful tips, and fundamental techniques, the How to Draw and Paint series offers a complete library of resources to which artists of all skill levels can refer again and again.

What you'll learn from this book ...

• Thorough information on tools and materials necessary for creating works of art in pastel

• Simple steps for pastel application, color blending, and background tinting

• The process of planning a composition to achieve proper placement and balance

• Ways to use pastels with other media, such as watercolor or India ink

• Helpful tips for accurately rendering portraits, still lifes, animals, and landscapes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Horse Painter
I'm a professional artist and have owned this book for the last 40 years and I use it all the time when I'm painting horses. It can't be beat when it comes to the color and texture of horses and tack. Many times when I photograph the horses I want to paint and because of the limits of cameras and my talent as a photographer, I just need more detail and definition when it comes to transfering the photo to canvas. That's when this book comes in handy. ... Read more