Customer Reviews

Pastel for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter (Practical Art Books)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is a great reference book for those just staring to learn pastel painting. It starts with the very basics and provides a solid foundation for the artist who has aspirations of taking their work to a commercial level.

The book starts out examining materials including the pastels themselves as well as surfaces, fixatives and tools. It also discusses studio and pallet setup as well as protecting finished artwork. It then explains the fundamentals of design and composition such as color, value, light, shadow and space, and the basics of technique such as starting with shape outlines, color blocking and working from dark to light.

Selecting and setting up subject matter is then discussed, including working from life, selecting a camera and using photography as and reference. Subsequent chapters focus on pastel drawing types including still life, landscapes, figures and portraits. Each section details the necessary procedures and elements such as lighting a still life, keeping a landscape in balance or posing a figure. A step-by-step demonstration of each type accompanied by reference photos is also included.

Drawing on the author's experience and expertise as an artist, this is a book you can truly follow from beginning to end to develop and improve your own skills and abilities in working with pastels.

I recently bought this book and "Painting the Landscape in Pastel." Both of these books are devoid of any real discussion on technique. There is page after page of discussion on color, hue, value, etc. That is all well and good but there is no thorough discussion or demonstration of how to actually apply pastel to paper, only a page or two that glosses over the subject in a couple of paragraphs. There are a couple of demonstration paintings in which the author goes through a painting's different stages but it seems a book of this nature should include more than a couple of such demonstrations.

Don't waste your time or money on this one. There are other books out there that are superior for the beginner.

Mr Blovits is a great artist and his paintings are stunning. But I am a serious beginner and this book was of little help. I need a step by step book that tells me the color and techniques used...There is nowhere near enough step by step technique but the man can paint and shows what is possible in pastel.

I really enjoy reading this book. Larry is a master pastellist with over 30 years of experience. His enthusiasm and spirit really come across in this book. He walks you through his recommendations for paper selection, pastels and studio set-up. He provides some step-by-step illustrations working from sketches to completed illustrations in still lifes, landscapes and potraits which serve as excellent examples.

This book is exactly what the title describes. Lots of basic information on art principles that apply to any medium, not just pastels. It is presented in a clear and logical format that makes it easy for a beginner to understand and use. Information on pastels is also perfect for someone who is new to the medium. There is enough here to last the serious beginner for a good amount of time, but not so much that you become overwhelmed. Wonderful book.
I also have Colored Pencil for the Serious Beginner by Bet Borgeson. I recommend that one, too! There are quite a few differences in the use of pastels vs. colored pencil so the two books make for a good set. Also, the discussions of art principles is presented slightly differently. Reading them both reinforced and clarified those principles in my mind.

The title of Larry Blovits book "Pastel for the Serious Beginner" really tells it all.
Never having used Pastels Blovits book sets one on the path of producing some really acceptable paintings.
The instructions are clear...and step by step he moves you along the path of creation.
But, as the title declares, it does take some serious effort.

Good coverage of concepts, but not enough specifics on color applications, etc. No step by step instructions.

I have used this book now for 2 years and have found it a great help. My first really wonderful painting I did was from this book. I found this book great because it had beautiful paintings that I would want to copy and for the beginner copying others work is usually where you start. The fundamentals on how to use the pastels for different backgrounds is also very good. I hilly recommend this book.

I purchased this book without taking into consideration that i had a brief affair with pastels already.That's what disappoint me.
Otherwise is an excellent book for an absolute beginner.

To me this book followed a format and subjectdiscussion many art books follow. Although the techniques were demonstrated , the paintings in the book look very difficult for even a serious beginner to observe. I did not feel that if I used the techniques in the book I could paint any of the examples of paintings given . Still a nice book if you are more than a beginner. Creative Painting for the Young Artist