Pastels for the Absolute Beginner

Take your first steps with pastels and learn how to produce modern, lively and colourful artwork with this exciting medium.

'This thorough guide to the rewarding medium of pastel will teach you much more than just the basics and may be the only pastel book you'll ever need!' - The SAA

Artist and teacher Rebecca de Mendonça offers the beginner a complete course in using pastels.

• Easy-to-follow techniques for soft and hard pastels.
• 8 projects broken down into simple steps.
• Includes a wealth of finished paintings to provide ideas and inspiration.

Step-by-step exercises and longer projects help you to build essential skills and allow you to produce a range of pictures, including landscapes, still life, portraits and animals. Vital drawing skills are explained and demonstrated, along with an easy-to-follow guide to colour theory, and a huge wealth of finished paintings provide ideas and inspiration for your own future pastel work.

Book Contents

Introduction 6
Materials 8
Setting up your workspace 12
Starting to draw 16
Pastel techniques 28
Bauble step by step 36
Teasel step by step 46
Colour 56
Rolling Fields step by step 62
Landscapes 70
Rocky Tor step by step 74
Billowing Clouds step by step 92
The Birches step by step 104
Life in your paintings 110
Child with Fishing Net step by step 120
Toby step by step 130
Composition 140
Index 144