The Art of Pastel Painting (Practical Art Books) [Hardcover]

Alan Flattman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1987

Distinguished artist and teacher Alan Flattmann provides invaluable information about theory and technique as well as making crayons, designing proper studio lighting, and much more. Both amateur and professional artists will find this book informative and useful. Highlighted techniques include the painterly blended and the Impressionistic broken-color approaches. There are also illustrated discussions of concept and technique, mood and technique, mixed media, form and space, aerial perspective, modeling, and the importance of simplicity.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Flattmann seamlessly advances through the process of creation while offering invaluable advice on every aspect." -- --SirReadaLot.org

"Provides fresh advice from a renowned pastel artist." -- --The Pastel Journal

"The Art of Pastel Painting thus expands expertise and options and remains a standard, highly commended pick..." -- --The Midwest Book Review

"The purity and intensity of dry color produce an extraordinary range of effects on a variety of surfaces." -- --The Gallery of International Fine Art, Bryant Galleries

"This volume has been considered a standard work in this field . . . Highly recommended..." -- --Library Journal --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Alan Flattmann has an international reputation and his own line of pastel colors, CITYSCAPES, manufactured by Great American Artworks. Flattmann has received numerous major awards and honors, including his 2006 induction into the Pastel Society of America Hall of Fame (the most important honor a pastel artist can receive). In 2001, he won first place for landscape in the Inaugural Pastel Artist International Magazine Awards for World Wide Excellence. R ecognized as one of Americaís most outstanding and gifted artists, Flattmann has also received the 1996 American Artist Art Masters Award for pastels. September 28, 2002, was the first official Alan Flattmann Day in New Orleans, Louisiana. This honor, awarded by the mayor of New Orleans, was given in recognition of Flattmannís decades of success painting the historic New Orleans French Quarter. His work has been featured in Alan Flattmannís French Quarter Impressions , written by John R. Kemp and produced by Pelican. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (January 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823002748
• ISBN-13: 978-0823002740
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,171,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For the Intermediate Artist Who Likes to Get Dirty, September 25, 2005

By 

Holly Ingraham "ailurophile" (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Pastel Painting (Practical Art Books) (Hardcover)

Besides drawing with the things, Flattman shows how to prepare your own papers, and even roll your own pastels! Wonderful for the incurable do it-yourselfer who wants custom ranges of colors, but you'll need a garage or basement space you can devote to the messy business (and you'll need a respirator, too, not just a dust mask). There are lots of finished works, but the how-to step-by-step stuff uses too few steps usually. You need to have a good background in drawing already, and experience with composition. Flattmann comes to pastel from watercolor, and never thinks you might not already be accomplished in another form of painting. Pastels were my *first* media, when I began lessons when I was six, so they are not "inherently advanced." I would recommend you use this in conjunction with Bet Borgeson's _Color Drawing Workshop_.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Will Be In Every Pastel Artist's Book Case, August 15, 2007

By 

John Preble "UCM Museum Director" (ABITA SPRINGS, LA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art of Pastel Painting, The (Hardcover)

Alan is a master pastel artist and also a master teacher. No fluff here - just page after of page of real tips from a guy who really knows how to communicate at all levels. This book will teach even the pros a few things yet this book is really easy to understand. It will be THE pastel reference for years to come. The color reproductions could have been better on some pages, but it really doesn't hurt the overall message. Sometimes I like a book that I can pick up, flip through, and learn something without much investment of time -- this books can work like that. But it is also a great book to read cover to cover because of the author's ability to keep you interested in the creation of pastel art. This book should be read by anyone who plans to use pastels. Alan also includes some good "money-saving" tips -- so much so that the book will easily pay for itself if you take his advise.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Art of Pastel Painting thus expands expertise and options and remains a standard, highly commended pick, September 1, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art of Pastel Painting, The (Hardcover)

The art and technique of modern pastel is taught in a text which revises an original 1987 version to include the latest details on new technical advancements, plus new demonstrations and new paintings from the artist author, who was indicted into the Pastel society of America hall of Fame in 2006. From surface texture and lighting to basic painting and preservation concepts, The Art of Pastel Painting thus expands expertise and options and remains a standard, highly commended pick for any art library catering to amateur painters who would learn professional techniques.