You Can Paint Pastels [Paperback]

Marie Blake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000

Emphasizing more "show" than "tell," this very visual instructional takes even the most hesitant, absolute beginners of all ages by the hand and demonstrates, stage by stage, how to start painting in pastel with enthusiasm, confidence, and success. The book assumes no prior painting experience, opening with the essentials: materials, making marks, mixing color, understanding foreground and distance, and making objects look three-dimensional. Step-by-step exercises show how to paint separate features of pictures-plants, flowers, trees, skies, stones, water-then how to combine them into finished paintings.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

I worry when I see books claiming categorically that everyone can be taught to paint. These two books confidently insist that the "absolute" beginner can produce pastels and watercolors in no time. In Blake's attempt to prove this, she sensibly points out that pastels can be seen as crayons for adults no messy oils, tubes, and brushes to deal with. She takes the student from simple marks on a page through tone, perspective, and so forth to simple still lifes, landscapes, and figures. Despite initial doubts, Blake does deliver in this volume, and for those on a budget, it's less than half the price of Jackie Simmonds's more comprehensive Pastel Workbook: A Complete Course in Ten Lessons (LJ 11/15/99). With an identical format and purpose, Crawshaw takes on watercolor for the beginner. Starting with a basic flat wash, he advances to simple fruits and flowers, people and buildings. Unlike Blake, he skips certain drawing fundamentals. Nevertheless, this delightful little book will complement Mary Whyte's Watercolor for the Serious Beginner (LJ 3/15/98). Both step-by-step guides for the absolute beginner are recommended, especially for libraries on limited budgets.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Marie Blake is an experienced professional pastel artist who has had years of experience teaching beginning art students of all ages and skill levels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823059901
• ISBN-13: 978-0823059904
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #991,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Pastel

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!, July 19, 2003

By 

Earl Burdick (Pocatello, ID United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Can Paint Pastels (Paperback)

I am an absolute beginner and this book was a great help. It takes you step by step through techniques to making pictures and includes a list of the colors you need. It helps build up your skills. If you know nothing about pastels but would like to, BUY THIS BOOK!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Basics Book, September 18, 2009

By 

Janice Kelly "moon river" (Ottawa, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: You Can Paint Pastels (Paperback)

This book enables a beginning pastel artist to grasp the fundamental. I have looked over a number of books on pastel painting and this one is more comprehensive and useful.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book, November 22, 2011

By 

Erica - See all my reviews

This review is from: You Can Paint Pastels (Paperback)

I have got the french version and yes this book is suited for the beginners.
Just 6 pastels for the beginning (3 warm color and 3 cold color) and move on