Painting with Pastels: Easy Techniques to Master the Medium [Paperback]

Maggie Price (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 18, 2007

Come enjoy the art of pastel painting with beloved workshop instructor Maggie Price. In this step-by-step guide, she teaches you everything you need to know to make the most of this accessible art form. From selecting the right materials to learning the fundamentals of composition, Maggie starts with the basics and progresses to 21 complete pastel demonstrations that detail specific painting techniques and effects.

You'll learn how to:

• Create depth and movement with color
• Paint using a range of strokes
• Blend colors to create luminous skies, reflections and more
• Underpaint to achieve brilliant light and deep shadows
• Mix pastels with watercolor and gouache to create fluid effects
• Create new compositions from photographs

In addition to step-by-step guidance, you'll be inspired by the work of ten nationally renowned pastel artists. Their contributions to this book illustrate the limitless possibilities of pastel painting and offer additional insight for working with this versatile medium. Maggie also includes dozens of helpful sidebars to help you save time, avoid mistakes and work more efficiently.

With its blend of visual instruction, thorough guidance and breathtaking artwork, this is the only guide you need to experience the joy and satisfaction of painting with pastels.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Maggie Price is the co-founder, former editor and current contributor of The Pastel Journal. She currently conducts her own workshops on painting with pastels in the US and other countries, and is an active member in numerous art societies. Visit her website at www.maggiepriceart.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (May 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581808194
• ISBN-13: 978-1581808193
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Pastel

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 71 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive book! July 8, 2007

By Marjorie Teske

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm just getting started with pastels and fell in love with this medium. Prior to this I have done oils for years, and teach in other mediums as well. I buy reference books all the time in the areas that interest me. PAINTING WITH PASTELS by Maggie Price is the best of those I have purchased. It seemed to be written just for me! It is VERY informative; the examples are marvelous! Landscapes are my favorites and there is a strong unit on them. I have a student who likes to do portraits and there is good advice for this too. However, if you are looking for guidance on painting animals there isn't any. But the important things like values, composition, focal points, lots of stuff on colors including layering colors, and much more is in this book. Thank you, Maggie Price!

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pastel painting pleasures August 4, 2007

By Tatova Donya

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Maggie's book covers many of the techniques for which this veteran artist is famous. The section on painting with light alone, makes this book an invaluable addition to any artist's library. Her writing style is clear and accesible whidh makes following along with the lessons simple. The examples of works in progress that Maggie provides walk you through each exercise effortlessly.
If I were attempting to paint in pastels for the first time - or, if like me, you would like to kick your pastel painting up a notch, BUY THIS BOOK. You will be delighted!

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book! Pastel techniques for beginners. March 19, 2008

By CLG

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have begun dabbling in pastels after working with acrylics for many years. My work just didn't seem to go the way I wanted, so I explored the various books out there and purchased several of what I thought would be great beginner books and also for those of us with some artistic background. I have to say "Painting with Pastels" by Maggie Price is my favorite! She covers all the necessary bits (types of pastels, papers, workspaces, choosing subject matter, composition, strokes, color (in many different ways - paper, underpainting, application), use w/watercolor), blending....and so much more. I also loved the sections where discussion, with appropriate figures to compliment the written work, on using either photos, slides, still life, landscape, and models, as your subject when using pastels. I now feel confident in my own work and know I can now expand into producing works of art that even I can be happy with and hopefully someday become an expert, well at least adequate, artist using pastels as my medium.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best on Pastels but great info for all mediums August 25, 2009

By M. Crawford

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is one of the best books on pastels I've ever read. The information is so well done and so clearly explained that much of the information can be applied to other mediums such as oils, acrylics or watercolor. The information alone on color theory is outstanding - simple yet very clear and in-depth.
Highly recommend this one!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Top Quality Pastel Book December 21, 2008

By C. Stanphill

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Maggie Price is a great pastel painter, as well as a good writer. This book conveys her tips about pastels in a concise, well written manner. This is a good informative book for novice painters as well as more mature painters.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars BetterThan I Thought December 30, 2009

By Amy L. Powers

Format:Paperback

I gave this as a gift to my sister, who is an accomplished artist, though not with pastels. At first I thought it might be too basic for her, but she said it was really quite helpful and had some excellent tips!

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book...somewhat poor printing May 6, 2008

By J. Myers

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a terrific book for those moving to or starting with pastels.
I'd highly recommend this as a solid reference.

That being said there is an issue with the printing quality.
The is printed in China (go figures) and it shows. On almost every single image, except perhaps the cover, there is a distinct bronzing problem with the colors.
Depending on how it's held in the light you can see the edges around various parts of the image light up in reflection. These are not the quality reproductions of images you'd see with a lot of other books by different publishers. The quality is sub-par.

This same issue occurs in certain pigmented inkjet printers when using glossy paper. The micro-encapsulation of the ink particles reflects certain type of light to produce this effect and is always an issue when making high quality prints on this type of paper.

As I said earlier, the information in the book and Ms. Price's explanations are wonderful but perhaps they should have it printed in a country where quality control is taken seriously.

It's a shame that such nice images has to have this effect.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars book quality issue January 25, 2013

By concerned parent in NJ

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book as a requirement for my daughter's art class. I was just told by her art instructor that the book she received is not of the quality that is expected. The instructor has this book and I can see the difference. The color of the pages were richer and deeper. The quality of the pages were more glossy as well. The book I received from Amazon seem faded in comparison and the paper quality of the pages were not glossy. The entire book is like that, even the cover. Even the wording on the spine of the book was off-centered. I wonder if Amazon got a bad batch. Being that this book is for an art class, I will need to return the book as it will affect my daughter's drawing. Disappointed.