Portfolio: Beginning Pastel — Illustrated Pastel Painting Guide
Painting Guide: Portfolio: Beginning Pastel is an illustrated introduction to pastel materials and techniques, with explanations and step-by-step exercises for new artists. It covers choosing paper, pastels and colours, then introduces blending, gradating and masking.
At a glance
- Introduces pastel paper, pastels and colour choices before moving on to techniques.
- Covers blending, gradating and masking, with clearly explained, illustrated instruction.
- Step-by-step exercises let readers practise the techniques introduced.
Reference price: £21.95
Price checked: 13 Nov 2026
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Pros and cons
Pros
- Combines foundational material guidance with practical exercises in one book.
- The approachable format is aimed at aspiring and beginning artists, while the series also addresses intermediate artists.
Technical specifications
9 specifications| Publisher | Walter Foster Publishing |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 1 April 2017 |
| Edition | Illustrated |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 128 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1633221946 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1633221949 |
| Dimensions | 21.91 x 1.27 x 28.26 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight listed | 576 g |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Artists starting to learn pastel who want basic material guidance and structured exercises.
- Art students seeking a concise foundation in pastel techniques.
Less suited to
- Readers looking primarily for an advanced or specialist pastel reference.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
68% 68% - 4 stars
13% 13% - 3 stars
9% 9% - 2 stars
4% 4% - 1 star
6% 6%
Customer feedback describes the book as helpful for learning pastel basics, with practical exercises and step-by-step guidance. Readers also mention using it as a foundation for art students and following landscape examples. This aligns with the book’s stated focus on introductory techniques, but the feedback does not establish how much depth it offers beyond the basics.
Positive themes
- Customers highlight the helpful content and usefulness for building pastel foundations.
- Feedback mentions practical exercises and step-by-step instructions.
Frequently asked questions
What does this book teach?
It introduces pastel materials and colour choices, then covers blending, gradating and masking through illustrated explanations and step-by-step exercises.
Who is the book intended for?
The description presents it as an introductory resource for artists just starting with pastel, with the wider Portfolio series also aimed at aspiring, beginning and intermediate artists.
How long is the book?
The listing gives a print length of 128 pages.
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