Customer Reviews (2)

A not so useful oil pastel painting book
Having recently purchased a few books on oil pastel I think this is one of the least useful. Overall, the discussion is more devoted to painting aspects such as colour theory, perspective, inventing a composition. But this information is available in any quality book on drawing and painting. There is simply not enough information relating to actually using the oil pastels. Of the books available this would be my last choice. If you are making a collection, you will probably pick one up quite cheaply. I did; but a quick flick through and it is is now on the shelf and probably will not be used again. Definitely better choices available in my opinion.

Good introduction to oil pastels
Ms. Hughes offers a nice concept of instruction book, selection of art paper, and 16 oil pastel crayons.The book is very informative with a useful cross section of techniques and examples.My only complaint: the oil pastels in the kit have their shortcomings.They are somewhat subdued in hue and tend toward the earth tones, so the student will quickly need to purchase more crayons in order to achieve meaningful results.Since the true maker of "Workstation" oil pastels is not identified, the crayons are difficult to match or replace. ... Read more

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These are 60 colour reproductions of Delacroix pastels. Delacroix, a leader of the French Romantic movement in painting, was also a great colourist. The pastels are too fragile to exhibit, but seen as a group, they not only provide pleasure, but also offer insight into Delacroix' work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

focus on pastels
This coffee-table sized, but somewhat slim, volume is not a definitive study of Delacroix' art nor is it meant to be. The focus is on his pastels, where the medium of application is crayon or chalk-like sticks in which the pigment is embedded, rather than oils or watercolor. This medium results in brighter tones than oil painting. Delacroix made pastels both as preparatory studies and after-the-fact versions of his oil paintings. Several of his more famous oil paintings are shown with pastel sketches which he made as preparatory studies. While this is not intended to be a comprehensive examination of Delacroix, there is much interesting information about the artist's life as well as his work. It could serve as either an introduction to the larger work of Delacroix or as a complement to that larger work for someone already familiar with it. ... Read more

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Frances Treanor, who is best known for her paintings of flowers in pastels, sets out to demonstrate how vibrant images of flowers can be achieved with maximum speed and minimum fuss, and that the colour and texture range of pastel is as varied as that of the flowers themselves. Intended for all levels of artistic ability, the book encourages an approach based on personal response and interpretation. Whatever an artist's style, Treanor's structured approach to the basics of pastel drawing and painting techniques, colour, and flower pattern and decoration, offers a framework on which to build. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Flowers in Pastel
This is a lovely book, but sadly too many photos without 'step by step' instructions that can replicate them.The few instructions that were given were very helpful.I would just like to get an instruction book that allows you to replicate a number of photos however.

hopeless
I was extremelydisappointed with this book. I do not know enough negative words to describe it!!!

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!
THIS IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS INSTRUCTION BOOK EVER!looking at the blurb,you would think the book is full of demos on coloring flowers,but it is untrue!it has only a mere 3 demos and is a pathetically short book.don't waste your money on it!!!!! ... Read more

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An introduction to the fundamentals of pastel, this book is for aspiring artists who want to develop their creative side using one of the purest forms of colored pigment application. Lessons show artists how to easily draw marvelous trees, landscapes, sunsets, and much more using pastels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Really good book with a Real problem
I would like to give 5 stars, this book has a lot of content for a smallish volume. Especially when about 20% of it is actually another book!That is right, on page 73 (of 95 total), the publisher/printer has put in the pages from the oil painting book from the same series.I know as I have both works and the oil painting book has THIS book's ending and not its own - the reverse!In my travels have seen the same thing in 4 other of these books in Borders, etc. They just messed up at the printers.
So for me, it's just a little odd but I have both in their entirety, just not in the right books.Another thing is the English translation is stilted at times.
Still, I think this is a great book, excellent photos, logical approach and the artist is very skilled.Its just that to get the whole book you may need to buy the oil painting book too. ... Read more

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Emphasizing more "show" than "tell," this very visual instructional takes even the most hesitant, absolute beginners of all ages by the hand and demonstrates, stage by stage, how to start painting in pastel with enthusiasm, confidence, and success. The book assumes no prior painting experience, opening with the essentials: materials, making marks, mixing color, understanding foreground and distance, and making objects look three-dimensional. Step-by-step exercises show how to paint separate features of pictures-plants, flowers, trees, skies, stones, water-then how to combine them into finished paintings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

One of the better
This is one of the better books on beginning Pastels use.I used it in my art class for Middle Schoolers.

Excellent Basics Book
This book enables a beginning pastel artist to grasp the fundamental. I have looked over a number of books on pastel painting and this one is more comprehensive and useful.

GREATBOOK!
I am an absolute beginner and this book was a great help. It takes you step by step through techniques to making pictures and includes a list of the colors you need. It helps build up your skills. If you know nothing about pastels but would like to, BUY THIS BOOK! ... Read more

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This best-selling title will be relaunched in June 05 with a fresh new cover design. In Learn to Paint Landscapes in Pastel Jenny Keal demonstrates all the basic techniques for painting landscapes in this colourful and popular medium. Combining the subtle and beautiful medium of pastel with the scope and grandeur of landscape painting, Jenny Keal teaches you how to create the very best landscapes in pastel. The book includes many practical exercises and step-by-step demonstration paintings of a variety of different landscapes and seascapes, featuring mountains, snow, meadows and water. There are also useful sections on pastel techniques, composition, creating recession, painting skies and trees, and adding buildings and figures to your landscape paintings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An excellent, basic beginner's guide
Jenny Keal's Landscapes In Pastel offers the beginner everything necessary to get started painting landscapes, from an introduction to sources of inspiration and equipment to techniques of creating detail, capturing sun and shadow, and depicting animals, landscapes and people. An excellent, basic beginner's guide. ... Read more

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This beautifully designed all-in -one package contains a Techniques Book that has step-by-step instructions to master every style and use of pastels; a Projects Book with over 15 easy projects; plus materials including 5 pastel pencils, 1 lead pencil, 12 soft pastels, an eraser, and a blending tool. ... Read more

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The newest addition to Barron's All About Techniques art series explains the fundamentals of art theory, then proceeds to step-by-step instruction on how to create complete, highly finished illustrations with pastels. Clear, instructive text is supplemented with a wealth of full-color photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

For beginners and seasoned artists.
I love this book. I am a beginner in pastels and needed a book to show me all of the different techniques. This book does that beautifully. The explanations of technique are well demonstrated with photos. There are also many different styles of finished artwork featured so that you can get a broad view of what is possible with the medium.

A great reference book of ideas
All About Techniques in Pastel (All About Techniques Art Series)
I bought this book to see what can be done with pastels.The tips are great for setting up shop and how-to-do-it.Excellent photos (plural)cover what an artist needs for painting a given subject.It does not deviate from pastels by giving you Drawing 101 basics, other than by examples dealing with each technique.I call it a reference book now.

Pastel for beginners
Although I haven't tried to do a pastel painting, this book gives step by step instructions and seems easy to follow.

Neat book
It had many techniques to get me started on discovering new ones of my own.

Good book for beginner..
I am an absolute beginner in pastels and have bought some books which I intend to review. This is a good one with lots of beautiful work and step by steps, The only thing that kept it from 5 stars is it is poorly organized and kind of jumps around. ... Read more

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Pastel paints require no mixing, offer permanent colour, can be used alone or in conjunction with other media, and are appropriate for any scale of painting. This introductory guide to their use is aimed at beginners who wish to develop their skills quickly and easily. It is illustrated on every spread, with many pictures taken specially for the book. It covers all the appropriate techniques and includes a number of step-by-step projects designed to give confidence and inspiration to the beginner. ... Read more

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A technical historical examination of selected works from 1500 to 1750 executed in dry color. ... Read more

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Tom Robb's introduction for the beginner, encouraging the reader to pick up some pastels and start drawing complete pictures right away. ... Read more

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One in a series of art books designed to take people from the basics to finished pictures. It gives advice on the materials required and step-by-step demonstrations which the reader can try out. This title covers pastel painting. ... Read more

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A practical guide to painting in pastel from one of Britain's foremost pastel artists. Stage-by-stage demonstrations and detailed explanation of the paintings and sketches illustrated reveal the full potential of this exciting medium. Pastel is an ideal "next step" for anyone learning to draw or paint. Aubrey Phillips emphasizes the spontaneity and freedom of using pastels which are excellent for outdoor work because so little equipment is needed. Beginning with some simple demonstrations of colour and texture, he goes on to explore a range of themes, showing a wide variety of paintings and sketches (including some stage-by-stage demonstration paintings) and giving detailed explanations of the colours and methods used. Topics include composition, water, skies, distance and space, trees, light and shade and working indoors. ... Read more