Pastel Painting Atelier: Essential Lessons in Techniques, Practices, and Materials
$56.20
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Revel in the luminous and vibrant qualities of pastel with Ellen Eagle’s essential course in the history, techniques, and practices of the medium. In this comprehensive yet intimate guide, Eagle explores pastel’s rich but relatively unexamined past, reveals her own personal influences and approaches, and guides you toward the discovery and mastery of your own vision. In Pastel Painting Atelier, you will find:
• Advice on basic materials: guidance on building, storing, and organizing a collection of pastels; choosing the right paper; and the importance of experimentation
• Studio practice suggestions: ideas for creating your ideal working environment and recipes for making your own pastels and supports
• Study of the working process: lessons on proportion, gesture, composition, color, application, identifying and correcting problems, and recognizing when a work is finished
• Meditation on subject: cues for extrapolating the subtle details, presence, and temporal features of whatever you choose to paint
• Step-by-step demonstrations: Eagle’s acute insights into her own works as they progress
A magnificent selection of works by masters such as James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Rosalba Carriera, Mary Cassatt, and Eugene Delacroix augment this guide, as do works by contemporary artists including Harvey Dinnerstein, Elizabeth Mowry, and Daniel Massad. Aimed at serious artists, this guide enlightens, instructs, and inspires readers to create brilliant and sensitive works in the historic medium of pastel.
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260 reviews for Pastel Painting Atelier: Essential Lessons in Techniques, Practices, and Materials
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$56.20
R.L. –
I’ve read many books on “how to” paint pastels, and this one really stands out. It’s not just a tutorial on which supplies to buy, how to put marks down, or examples of fabulous pastel paintings–although it covers those things well. But it also includes the author’s introspection of her painting process and her answers to higher-level questions she receives from students, which helps me connect to the process I go through when working on my own art. The narrative is somewhat literary–a good thing, I prefer it–and well written–it’s a book to READ not just follow steps through.
The paintings included as examples in the book are drool-worthy. They outshine those in any other pastel painting book I’ve read (and I think I’ve read all of them!), especially for portraiture.
If you are very new to pastel, and a newbie at art in general, this book may not be introductory enough for you. Visit YouTube for pastel video tutorials–and then buy this book to get you to the next step.
This is a serious art book on pastel painting, in the league of books from other great American painters such as Carlson and Gruppe. (But far more enjoyable to read!) This is a book to read. To study. And to keep.
Urbanspinner –
I have a deep love of working with pastels. It began in childhood when my grandfather (trained at the academy in Rome in the early 1900s) created pastel paintings during family visits, and sometimes let me use sticks from his huge oak chest of drawers that contained his complete set of Rembrandt colors. It left me with an appreciation for pastel portraiture, in particular (my grandfather’s specialty), that only increased as I found the pastel work by Degas, for example, and other artists traditionally considered oil painters. But pastel was not taught at my art schools, nor are there many publications about them. Over the years I did read books on pastel and sometimes followed pastel forums on artists’ community sites. But none of these experiences matched memories of how my grandfather worked with them, and the primary focus seemed to be plein air landscape painting.
So it has been a joy to find Ellen Eagel’s book, and pore over her lucid, thoughtful writings on the medium. In particular, I found her use of various pastel hardnesses refreshing. (It seems these days that many artists develop a rather lopsided worship of the softest sticks they can find.) Also, the way she plays with transparency and opacity (allowing the ground to show through many color areas, using blending as a deliberate effect rather than as the default mode of pigment application) was a revelation for me. This is an artist who has developed her craft to a very high level, and even better, has a generous and candid teaching style that is a pleasure to read. Her book is not a “how-to manual” that describes a single method of creating works in pastels. Rather, it feels more like a studio visit, where she sits and explains the things you’re seeing her work with. Just as my grandfather once did.
Kindle Customer –
I liked that the author is thorough in her presentation of this medium. I also appreciate that there are so many lovely illustrations from both her own hand, and others. I think most people in to drawing or painting will get something out of reading this, particularly if they want to expand on their knowledge regarding portraits. I belive there is much to learn in this book about that specific topic, which also carries over to other mediums. The authors ability to capture personality and set a mood in her art is among the best I have ever seen. I have not been in contact with her art previous to buying this book. Very good resource I would say. For any artist, hobby or professional. I would not recommend this book to the absolute beginner. You should have at least some knowledge and experience with drawing/painting in realistic or semi realistic style be able to get anything out of this book.
Winter Woods Studio –
SO much good information. Maybe the best book I’ve gotten for soft pastels ever! And the tutorials for the portraits in the back are clear and very instructive! I’ve learned so much already! I love it!
Caroline Allertz –
A beautiful book – inspiring how Ellen Eagle observes her subjects, connects with them and is able to describe her loving process of creating their portraits. She gives details of colours used, choices made and shows the progress of each pastel painting session. An art book I read from cover tot cover and loved every page.
Chas –
I thought this was a wonderful account of how the author approaches making pastel paintings, especially portraits. In the process she gives lots of information about the stages she goes through in making a painting, and the characteristics of different makes of pastel and pastel papers.
W. Marquardt –
I confess that I have been privileged to study under the wise eye of Ellen Eagle. Upon first sight, one wonders how so much passion, generosity of spirit, and enormous talent could be contained within this diminutive, gentle woman.
She not only has the sight and sensitivity of a brilliant portrait artist; she is a patient, gracious, and gifted teacher–no matter what the level of talent or experience of The Student-she embraces their needs and guides them with intelligent sensitivity.
That said, I have been anxiously awaiting HER BOOK!
It is a visual delight and reads like poetry.
Yet, it overflows with practical, experienced information to aid any artist in their quest to successfully commit their vision to the paper of their choice with the pastel materials that best suit their desired outcome.
Yes, this treasure is jammed-packed with quintessential “Ellen Eagle”— Generous Spirit. Consummate Artist. Insightful Teacher. Aw-inspiring Paintings. History of Pastels. An instruction manual woven within a beautiful “coffee table” volume. It is quite special, indeed, and in many ways defies description.
It is a masterful work.
If I could own only two books to assist my artist endeavors–one would be Ellen’s book-“pastel painting ATELIER”. The other would be Betty Edwards: “Drawing On The Right Side Of The Brain”.
With these two books in hand, in heart, in mind, in sight—you are ready for a magnificent art-filled adventure and a way to express the journey of your life through your own personal style.
Kerr –
The book is inspiring and informative. The author muses about her creative process for different subject matters, which is a departure from the strictly “how-to” genre, but there is also plenty of practical advice and examples to help the novice develop their pastel skills. I have enjoyed reading the book and I’ve learned a fair bit. The explanations for the example paintings are excellent. The book complements well some simpler texts that I have on pastel painting.
Dencha –
Vous rentrez dans le monde du pastel et vous découvrez des douceurs, des transparences, des fondus. Une seule chose vous vient à l’esprit : Faîte que je sois capable de faire un peu comme….
surendra kr singh –
Nice book…