Oil Pastel for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter

this book was very helpful if you have never used oil pastels. Most books on pastels simply ignore oil pastels.

The author is a pioneer and talented artist in oil pastel.He gives very valuable info about this medium--a long forgotten and underrated, even though promoted by Pablo Picasso...The book ,however, is 'sketchy' in details and techniques.The illustrations and art work are excellent, but somewhat repetitive...A good introductory book for enthusiasts of oil pastels and beginners, till a better book is written by someone else---after this medium becomes better used and established in the fine art world.Soft pastels have been with us for many decades, thanks to Degas and Mary Cassatt...Oil pastels are still to be pushed by great masters....Fortunately oil pastels are available at various price ranges for students and professionals...One learns more by trying different brands rather that sticking to just a few brands---Holbein or Sennelier... With increasing concern for toxic dust particles from Soft pastels, oil pastels would be more widely used and this book would serve the newcomers well.

This book is a dream come true for the lovers of the long under-rated medium of oil pastel. Despite the fact that this worthy artists medium was first commissioned by none less than Pablo Picasso, it has remained at most despised by 'serious' artists, as a tool for students or the kindergarten or regarded as a means for sketching or preliminary working of ideas. John Elliot demonstrates with unbridled enthusiasm that oil pastel is not only an exciting form of expression but perhaps the medium of the future standing along-side oil, soft pastel and the usurper, acrylic as a real option for artistic expression. The book is a joy to own and J. Elliot leaves no doubt as to the power and flexibility of this medium. Everything is covered clearly and the illustrations again demonstrate the full versitality of oil pastel, both wax and the new water-soluble media. Instructions are clear and concise drawing from years of experience. This book is perhaps the 'Bible' of the oil pastel. At last oil pastel gets the recognition it desesrves.

As a figurative sculptor I know how to draw and I have been perusing various art books looking for an interesting new medium in which to draw. This book managed to convince me that oil pastels are just the thing. John Elliot has included sufficient information in this book to allow an artist to work in this medium. This book contains a lot of practical advice on materials and oil pastel techniques. To integrate this information it contains six illustrated demonstrations that walk though a drawing from its beginning to its completion. In addition the book is well laid out and contains extremely numerous photographic illustrations.