7 Pastel Drawing Books That Ignite Your Artistic Journey

While working as a theatre and interior designer, Rebecca de Mendonça noticed how many beginners struggled to grasp pastel techniques, which inspired her to create this approachable guide. You’ll learn to confidently set up your workspace, select materials, and explore key pastel techniques through step-by-step exercises that cover everything from color theory to composition. The book focuses on practical projects like landscapes and still life, helping you develop essential skills while producing lively artwork. If you’re new to pastel art and want a clear path to mastering both hard and soft pastels, this book lays out what you need without overwhelming jargon or unnecessary complexity.

Dawn Emerson's extensive experience as a pastel artist and educator shines through in this collection of over 60 techniques designed to expand your creative repertoire. You learn not just how to apply pastel but how to rethink the medium through layering, texture, and monotype underpaintings, with exercises that gently build your confidence and skill. Chapters on fundamentals of design ground your work, while self-critique prompts help sharpen your artistic eye. Whether you're just starting or feeling stuck in your pastel practice, this book invites you to move beyond expectations and discover new ways to express what could be, not just what you see.

This tailored book explores the art of pastel drawing with a focus that matches your unique background and artistic goals. It covers foundational techniques such as color blending, layering, and texture creation while also examining advanced topics like composition and personalized style development. By integrating a rich variety of pastel methods, this book offers a learning journey designed specifically for you. It reveals how to master the medium's distinctive qualities by aligning expert knowledge with your interests and skill level. This personalized guide creates a pathway through the complexities of pastel drawing, ensuring you gain confidence and artistic insight in a way that’s relevant to your creative aspirations.

Drawing from her extensive background in painting and printmaking, Judy Martin crafted this encyclopedia to serve as an essential resource for pastel artists of all levels. The book breaks down pastel techniques alphabetically, offering clear explanations alongside step-by-step demonstrations that cover everything from blending methods to texture creation. You'll find practical guidance on materials and terminology, framed within easily digestible entries that make refining your pastel skills straightforward. Whether you're an aspiring artist or someone seeking to deepen your understanding of pastel media, this book equips you with foundational knowledge and nuanced insights that enrich your creative process.

Unlike many pastel art books that focus solely on technique, Anne Hevener’s expertise as editor of Pastel Journal shapes this collection into a vivid exploration of contemporary pastel expression. You gain unique access to works from 100 leading artists, accompanied by personal insights revealing how pastel captures fleeting moments and emotions. Chapters showcase a rich variety of subjects—from still life and cityscapes to abstracts—allowing you to appreciate the medium’s versatility and innovation. This book suits artists seeking inspiration and art lovers drawn to vibrant, modern pastel aesthetics.

Margaret Evans, alongside Paul Hardy and Peter Coombs, brings a wealth of artistic expertise to this guide that delves into pastel painting with clarity and precision. You’ll find detailed techniques on mastering tone, color blending, composition, and perspective, enabling you to elevate your pastel work beyond basics. The book breaks down complex concepts into manageable lessons, making it suitable whether you're refining skills or starting fresh. Those focused on figure work and portraiture will particularly appreciate Evans’s influence, given her extensive background with the Pastel Society and Royal Society of Portrait Painters. If you want to deepen your understanding of pastel media through practical instruction, this book offers a solid foundation without overwhelming.

This tailored book explores a focused 30-day journey to elevate your pastel drawing skills through daily, personalized exercises. It covers foundational techniques such as color blending, layering, and texture creation, progressively building your confidence and artistic expression. By addressing your unique background and goals, it reveals customized pathways through complex pastel concepts, ensuring each practice session is relevant and engaging. This approach matches your interests and current skill level, making advanced pastel artistry accessible and enjoyable. The book examines essential pastel materials, composition principles, and detailed step-by-step actions that foster rapid improvement, all tailored to your specific creative aspirations.

Elizabeth Mowry's decades of experience as a Master Pastelist and award-winning landscape artist culminate in this book, where she shares her nuanced approach to capturing nature's shifting moods. You learn how to select palettes, master materials, and use composition techniques to express the changing seasons, with 20 step-by-step demonstrations including challenging subjects like fog and reflections. The book guides you through keeping a nature journal to deepen your observational skills and develop a personal style, making it valuable whether you're just starting or looking to refine your pastel landscapes. Mowry balances technical skill with artistic intuition, offering a thoughtful path to painting nature authentically.

When Paul Pigram discovered the delicate balance between technique and expression in pastel painting, he crafted this guide to demystify the medium for beginners. You’ll explore essential skills such as blending, gradating, masking, and paper selection, each chapter offering clear explanations paired with practical exercises that build confidence stroke by stroke. Pigram’s deep connection to landscapes and seascapes shines through, inspiring you to capture vibrant scenes with pastel’s unique texture and color. If you’ve ever hesitated to try pastels because they seemed too complex, this book breaks down barriers and makes the medium approachable without oversimplifying.