GARDENS IN PASTEL
This paperback book is one of the best-selling titles from HarperCollins "Learn to Paint" series.
The book contains:
a chapter on
Materials & Equipment and moves on to
Pastel Techniques, a helpful guide with useful illustration and tips - for example:
"The majority of beginners make the mistake of pressing too hard, loading the paper with chalky pigment. Practice keeping the pressure light to begin with, building up colour gradually."
Sketching is examined, together with
Composition and Colour, and then the book explores
various types of subject matter - flowers, trees, garden still life, garden landscapes, water gardens, and the changing seasons in the garden. There is a very helpful chapter on
learning to simplify nature, and there are four step by step demonstrations to follow.
My approach is not that of a botanical painter; I couldn't even begin to tackle a garden scene if I had to paint every leaf and flower! Instead, I try to capture the essentials of my subject - life and movement, glorious colour, flickering light. I aim to stimulate your enthusiasm, since there can be few greater pleasures in life for artists than the satisfaction of managing to capture for ever a little of the beauty we see before us.
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