This is a practical and comprehensive guide for all soft pastel painting enthusiasts, from the beginner to the experienced artist. Starting with advice on materials, it moves on to pastel basics such as blending, adding tone and using a limited palette, then there is a section on landscape painting featuring advice on composition and painting trees and water, then capturing light in pastels, with tips on colour mixing, and finally there is a section of flower painting, with additional information on adding water to pastels. Throughout, the art of painting in pastels is taught through beautiful, easy to follow step by step projects, with a total of 13 included, and each section is accompanied by a selection of inspirational paintings by the three featured artists, in a rich variety of styles. Uses material from the following titles in the Step-by-Step Leisure Arts series: Painting with Pastels by Peter Coombs Landscapes in Pastel by Paul Hardy Flowers in Pastel by Margaret Evans Light in Pastel by Paul Hardy

Author Biography

Margaret Evans is a well-known artist and practical art teacher who specialises in figure work and portraiture, as well as pastel painting. She has exhibited her work with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, the Pastel Society and the United Society of Artists and now runs extremely successful painting courses from her studio in Scotland, as well as working on commissions in all media. Margaret is an established contributor to the leisure painting press and has made a number of practical art videos. Paul Hardy studied architecture at Bristol University and Columbia Pacific University. After graduating, he became Assistant to the Architect/Surveyor at Exeter Cathedral. He went on to become a Methodist Minister in South Africa, USA and the UK. Although retired, Paul has not lost touch with his architectural roots and is author of several 'City Profiles' and The Care and Preservation of English Medieval Cathedrals and Churches. He spends his time painting, writing and holding regular demonstrations at Arts Societies and schools. Paul also demonstrates for a major art material supplier and has produced two videos on pastel and watercolour techniques. A member of various Art Societies, he has exhibited his work widely throughout the UK and some of his paintings are held in international private collections. Peter Coombs first learned to paint with his artist mother when he was a child. As he grew up he progressed on to cartoons, oils and pastels. He started work, but decided to paint full time when he began receiving many commissions. He has exhibited in the UK, France, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, America, Canada, Japan and Australia. He has also appeared on television and given radio talks and interviews about his life as an artist, and his love of cricket.