Customer Reviews
The only oil pastel book around! - By: Tilly Littlefoot, 05 May 2008 
I am so pleased to have found a book solely about oil pastels. This is a very informative, beautifully illustrated book. The techniques described within have been a great help.
The quality of the art presented on these pages, I will admit, seemed a bit daunting & posibly beyond my abilities; but then it is aimed at 'the Serious Beginner'.
I am still glad to have a book with instructions to allow me to further enjoy this wonderful medium!
A TRUEbook on Oil Pastels... at last! - By: Lin Goodwin, 30 Jan 2008 
At last someone has produced a book on oil pastels true to it's title!!!!
Just like the author I find the soft traditional pastels, messy, dusty & untidy to work with. I don't like them, but that's what is offered on nearly all books on 'pastels'! I purely enjoy workingin oil pastels, although as a beginner to this medium I have experienced incredible difficultyin getting any guidance.
All the books on 'Pastels' either completely ignore oil pastels altogether or only include them as a mixed media option or to use with watercolours. I don't want to have to buy watercolours to paint with oil pastels!
I was so pleased to finally find a book that taught me the techniques I needed to learn. I made many discoveries with this book, including the diversity of supports usable for oil pastels as well as some interesting techniques.
The artist is amazing & his true love of this media is obvious. Like the previous reviewer said he is 'too good'. I amin awe of some of his work so much so that I feel I can never reach that standard. But he certainly gives me incentive to try!
One drawback is that it is American. The suppliers contacts, availability of propriety items mentioned is not relevent to the UK. I also found some of the terminology confusing as Americans have different names for some things. I thought though that this was a small sacrifice to finally finding a totally dedicated book specific to oil pastels written by one who so clearly loves the medium!
If you can't use 'normal' soft pastels for health or economy reasons (you have to buy so many to get the tonal range)and wish to take up Oil pastels this book is an absolute must.
This is the only book for oil pastels alone available - By: RL, 13 Jan 2008 This American book is the only book solely for oil pastels available at the moment.
I am satisfied with this book but will detail the negatives first then the positives. From my point of view there are just 2 disadvantages to this book. The First disadvantage is that the artist is just too good! Some of the examples he draws with oil pastels are too hard & dazzling for an amateur hobbyist like myself to have a go at. But even with my limited ability I still found many examples that I could try & got a very satisfactory drawing of a sunset done as a result.
The 2nd disadvantage is that he describes all the many techniques that exist for using oil pastels, except one!
He missed out the technique that uses sectioning & then underpainting of a lighter shade of colour as described at the "fantasy art" "FARP" website. That technique was the main reason I had for buying this. Yet I was not disappointed overall.
Overall I do not regret buying this book. It is easy to follow, has beautiful illustrations & I hope that more books on oil pastels alone are publishedin the future.
