Techniques for creating life-like portraiture with pastels. Contains eight step by step demonstrations which feature a variety of ages, complexions and expressions. Teaches how to build form and realistic features, the types of marks and textures produced by different papers, and palettes for creating an array of skin tones and hair colourings.

Would you love to take your art in a new direction? In Abstract Art Painting, you will enter a realm of tactile, intuitive excitement, combining pastel and acrylic to achieve results as unique as you are. You'll learn how to explore the use of color theory in abstraction and to use underpainting to bring structure and depth to your art. In addition you'll begin to understand how to work in a series and how this can help you develop your own personal style. A sampling of what you'll add to your creative toolbox: • Pastel and acrylic techniques to use to complete your own paintings • The benefits of expressing your ideas abstractly • How to loosen up by using your nondominant hand and drawing to music • Ways to express emotions through mark-making • Using color and symbolism for expression • Working with photos for inspiration • Tips for using color studies Step into your own abstract frame of mind today!

This guide encourages you to forget about creating a likeness, and instead, to concentrate on seeing and drawing the big shapes of dark and light. The likenesses will follow. In a clear, step-by-step format, with the help of nine start-to-finish portrait demonstrations, you will learn: • Easy, basic pencil and charcoal techniques • How to draw each feature of the face • How to communicate various facial expressions • Techniques for working from live models • How to draw a variety of people, different poses and lighting conditions

Pastel Painting Techniques That Are Revolutionary, Fun and Easy! Designed for beginners considering using pastel for the first time, for experienced artists who may feel uninspired, and for anyone in between, the skills you will gain with Pastel Innovations, will help you build confidence and open your world so you can paint what CAN BE, not just what you THINK is. Explore the unique joys of pastel painting with: • An exploration of the basics: You'll expand your artist's vocabulary learning to use the elements and fundamentals of design to create beautiful, balanced paintings. • 20 simple exercises build off each other and help you grow as an artist, little by little, building confidence. • 40+ innovative pastel painting techniques: Feel inspired as you learn new approaches to using pastel to build up and reveal layers, incorporate monotypes as underpaintings, create texture that cannot be duplicated by drawing or painting, and more. • Thoughtful self critique: Questions, approaches and checklists that will result in better art, while at the same time making you a better artist. Leave your expectations behind and engage in the process of pastel painting with a newfound freedom to play and explore!

Discusses the technical and artistic aspects of painting portraits in pastels and provides reproductions of works by masters.

Paint beautiful and expressive portraits by combining watercolor with other mediums! What makes an eye-popping, eye-stopping portrait? It's all about contrast and the play of opposites, round shape against square, light against dark, transparent against opaque. Combining mediums allows you to push the inherent properties of each for a lively play of opposites. You'll be able to paint glorious lights, richer darks, intriguing texture and mysterious passages that create mood and a strong sense of place, space and character. Jean Pederson gives you all the advice and instruction you need to paint beautiful, expressive portraits filled with life and spirit. Let your portraits speak to the world! In this essential guide to expressive portrait painting you will: • Stretch your watercolor skills to the limit. Achieve darks deeper and richer than you ever dreamed; let colors mingle in imaginative ways on your paper; accomplish radiant skin tones by daring to layer vivid colors from the start. • Journey into the "what-if" zone. What if you paint on the vertical and direct the paint with a spray bottle? What if you add heavy bodypaint to watercolors for one-of-a-kind texture? What if you accentuate your subject with pencil, crayon or gouache? Don't "what-if" about this book. Grab it today for dynamic results in your portrait painting!

Most people who journal use words. But words come from the left brain, which interprets experiences through our learned beliefs and expectations. As this breakthrough book demonstrates, there is a more effective way to journal---using images. Simple drawings, crayon art, even doodles and stick figures can help anyone---even those who believe they "can't draw"---move beyond thought into deep reaches of feeling and intuitive knowing. Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox have developed their Visual Journaling technique into an acclaimed workshop. This book, beautifully illustrated with black and white and color drawings from the journals of students in their workshops, makes this enjoyable tool for personal exploration accessible to everyone. A six-week plan of exercises and interpretive activities teaches readers a lifelong practice that can reduce stress, explore conflicts, and overcome obstacles. Its simple techniques can help everyone gain access to "soul-based" inner wisdom.