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Learn how to use soft pastels (and pastel pencils) in
this useful primer. Hard ones get a brief mention and oil
pastels are omitted but there are other books on these media.
From tips on buying to working through the projects this is
an essential guide for anybody who is keen to work with pastels
but is not sure where to start. Find out what you need, learn
the basics of how to use it and then have a go at some paintings.
The subjects tackled are landscapes,
seascapes and flowers, but even if these are not your areas
of interest there are still many useful lessons to be learned.
Each of the five projects focuses on a particular area; for
example the coastal scene is all about creating atmosphere,
while the farm study looks at aerial perspective. Other subjects
include an iris, harbour scene and rural view of mountains
with old barns. The projects contain many detailed steps for
a foolproof result, and it is easy to see what is being added
in each one and why. There are other paintings by the author
with explanations on their working, plus various useful preliminary
sketches and photographs showing how you can progress from
a photograph to a finished work. Find out how to organize
your working area, learn how to cut down on dust and store
your work without it getting smudged. Even a total beginner
can get a lot out of this book, but I think the person who
would get the most out of it is somebody who is already adept
at art in other media and wants to try pastels.
The only thing I would change with
this excellent book is the title, as it truly is a book about
using soft pastels rather than other types. If you think this
book looks familiar it is because this is a revised edition
of the 2011 book Pastel Tips and Techniques: Painting With
Pastels.
If
you cannot find a good range of pastel painting materials
locally try www.searchpress.com for a list of suppliers.
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