Oil Pastel Step by Step (Artist's Library) Paperback – March 1, 2010

It was hard to find instructional books for oil pastelss. I ordered this one and it is a good one. Talks about supplies and paper and gives examples, etc. I am quite satisfied.

Good book for beginners and intermediate artists wanting to further explore the medium. Good pointers on technique, good instructions and illustrations.

I hadn't drawn since art school, 28 years ago when I decided to give it a go again. This book provided the basics in getting acquainted with oil pastel. I was surprised at how nice my oil pastel drawings looked while just beginning to use them. This book was very helpful.

As an introduction, I think this book is okay, and it shows what can be done with an art medium that many look down on (as they used to do with coloured pencil, and especially water-soluble pencil). This book does suggest some marks to make with oil pastels, but it doesn't give any advice for actually APPLYING the pastel. The author provides some examples of paintings that take you through his stages, in that you can see the paintings as they develop -- but he does not, and this is key -- share his actual PROCESS of creating them. This is a how-to book that should do more in terms of showing *how*, especially since oil pastels come in thick and clumsy sticks or rounds (I'm thinking in particular of Senneliers but Holbeins aren't much easier to create small areas of colour with). How does one achieve fine lines and precise detail with such a medium? It seems to me that this is absolutely essential, and the author doesn't address it.Where I also wish the editor had intervened is in the matter of defining categories. We are told that needed materials include 'matte medium' and 'gesso'. I am not new to art and yet I don't know what either material is, how to use it, or how it is useful to the oil pastel artist. A brief discussion of each material, rather than a mere listing, would have been more helpful.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys working in this medium.

This book is not very informative as far as oil pastel is concerned unless you want to "color" your drawings. This process does not explore many of the strengths of the medium, such as the ability to create creamy impastos with vivid color or contrasting various thickness of lines.

Bought as gift for my grandson and I really liked how it was laid out. I think it will be very helpful for him. Thank you.

Not for a beginning artist. Meant for experienced artists wanting to delve into a new medium