Painting Expressive Pastel Portraits [Hardcover]

Paul Leveille (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998

Paul Leveille captures the very essence of his subjects in vibrant, life-like portraiture in complete step-by-step demonstrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Perhaps the most successful portrait artist in New England, Leveille receives international commissions and is a much-sought-after teacher. In eight lessons, he takes the pastel enthusiast from sketches through final touches, with expert attention to each of the face's many problematic features. His models include a variety of ages, complexions, hair colors, and expressions, but the book doesn't attempt to cover all variations. James Horton's How To Paint Skin Tones (LJ 3/15/96) is an almost indispensable companion to this and other portraiture books. Leveille has produced the best pastel portrait book to date, one that manages to work for both the beginning and advanced artist. Highly recommended for all collections.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; 1st edition (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891348158
• ISBN-13: 978-0891348153
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #783,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Pastel

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mysteries revealed., August 10, 2000

By 

Steve (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Painting Expressive Pastel Portraits (Hardcover)

Paul Leveille is truly a master of Pastel Portraiture. The book reveals many of the mysteries of properly building up a pastel painting to achieve a lifelike, realistic looking portrait. The book takes you through eight detailed portraits, start to finish. One drawback for me was, Paul does not give us a starting photograph of the subject, so during the stages it is difficult to know why the lights and darks, colors and shadows are placed where they are until you see the finished portrait. More a tutorial of techniques than a means of following along and copying his works step-by-step. Still, an excellent source of learning that will leave you able to create realistic portraits in pastel.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An ice--breaking resource., May 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Painting Expressive Pastel Portraits (Hardcover)

This great oversized book gives good illustrated step by step projects on portraiture pastel painting. It takes out the complications of starting a painting of someone. Though on a few projects some more steps could have been included, but this does not diminish the overall guidance the book provides. It has superb color and a well explanation of tools and materials, and how to take care of them. Composition, perspective and light is also explained for the rendition of your project.

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect instructions for painting portraits in pastels, May 24, 2011

By 

joanann (spain) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Painting Expressive Pastel Portraits (Hardcover)

What an brilliant book, it really explains how to develope your pastel portraits, from which side of the paper to use, smooth or rough depending on your subject, to how to begin the portrait and how to improve step by step. This artist has an amazing technique and the end results are superb.