Discover the unique joys of pastel painting with this easy-to-use guide to one of the most versatile and forgiving mediums.

Discover the unique joys of pastel painting with this easy-to-use guide to one of the most versatile and forgiving mediums. More than 100 visual sequences reveal key techniques such as mixing, blending, scumbling, sgraffito, hatching and feathering. Includes tips on composing your painting, using color, adding highlights and shadows, and creating textured effects. Step-by-step demonstrations show how to approach a range of subjects from landscapes and flowers to portraits and still life. Over 65,000 copies sold worldwide.

This information-packed book is divided into five sections. The first, Materials, introduces you to the range of pastels and papers that is available to you, with examples of how paper textures and colors can affect your work. The Color section looks at the principles of color and gives suggestions for mixing colors and choosing a basic palette, especially important since manufacturers produce a bewildering array of colored pastels.