Art of Pastel Painting (Practical Art Books) (Hardcover)

by Alan Flattman (Author)

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 the Hardcover edition.

Product Description
For more than forty years, world-renowned artist Alan Flattmann has used pastels to capture the world around him in vibrant hues. His works reflect what he refers to as the modern pastel renaissance, an era that deviates from the traditionally perceived seventeenth-century use of pastels. Veering away from the conventional practice of using light tints and delicate touch to produce powdery coiffures, the modern pastel renaissance approaches its subjects with passion and color, attracting new audiences to the craft.

Flattmann's masterpieces now illustrate this detailed manual, which has served as a standard textbook for pastel techniques since its first publication in 1987. New paintings and photographs display methods involving lighting, palette, pigments, grounds, and preservation. With the skill of a master, Flattmann carries the reader from basic concept to advanced practices, all the while capturing the essence of the craft. Beginners and serious students alike find Flattmann's knowledgeable instruction and passionate advice indispensable. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (January 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823002748
• ISBN-13: 978-0823002740
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #404,443 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #32 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Pastel
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 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)

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_.

12 of 12 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: The Art of Pastel Painting (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.

10 of 11 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: The Art of Pastel Painting (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.