Pastels

This book is great for the beginner that is curious about using soft pastels. Author wrote it like a textbook in the way of explaining what he is going to do; using a couple of examples of his drawings, then walks you through creating a new drawing using the lesson he just explained. As you progress through the book, the drawings get more complex and more detailed, but the beginner can still draw them and get reproducible results. I recommend this book for those that want to use this easy media for drawing. This book provides you with the basics of using soft pastels, but at the end, touches on how to draw more complex drawings like the masters: Monet, Redon, Degas, and Mir, by drawing one of their most famous paintings. Great book!

This book is a thorough guide to the use of pastels as an art medium with an abundance of illustrations. You do need to know the fundamental basics of drawing and perspective to achieve the results shown. Easier said than done.The first section covers the different art materials required and details the difference between oil pastels and chalky pastels. It then explains different techniques and step by step examples of almost anything you will want to draw including still life, people, animals, sky, water, vegetation, etc. It does not cover hatchcrossing methods well.The last section is devoted to studying the styles of famous pastel artists Degas, Monet, Redon and Mir. You can imitate their classic techniques or follow the earlier examples of work which are more modern and contemporary.Pastel can prove to be a very satisfying medium to use as its colours are vibrant and instantaneous and provide a luminosity other mediums strive for. It is not without its drawbacks, ie smudges easily. This book shows you how to blend colour to achieve a spectacular result but expect much practise before you can place your masterpieces on display.Pastels For Beginners is translated from Spanish although you wouldn't know it. It was published in 1999 by Konemann and is excellent value for the budding artist.