Pastel Art of James Southworth

Home | 2006 | Gallery | Workshops | Demo | Odds n Ends | Jean's Stories

Library

Topic: Color

This is where I found a coherent explanation of color theory

 Color Choices - Steve Quiller

Topic: Value/Composition/focal point 

After doing these exercises in watercolor I began to understand visual planes and color as values and establishing a focal point

 You Can Paint Vibrant Watercolors - Dan Burt - isbn 0-89134-903-0

Topic: Value/Composition

 Good shapes make good painting. Where I learned to simplify shapes

 Painting Light And Shadow in Watercolor - Skip Laurance

Topic: Texture/color

Color as "notes" and exercises that help one to think like Monet! Great book 

 Painting the Impressionistic Landscape - Lois Griffel

Credit: notes on papers and books  from Dakota Pastel Web Page

Painting The Landscape In Pastel by Master Pastelist Albert Handell is a great book for both beginners and accomplished pastel artists. Handell covers all aspects of creating landscape paintings in pastel by discussing materials, concepts of design, composition and color. He utilizes stepped demonstrations for illustrating specific aspects of the landscape. This paperback book has 128 pages, is 9" x 9" and has 150 color illustrations.

The Poetic Landscape by Master Pastelist Elizabeth Mowry is an exploration of what constitutes the poetic in landscape painting today. This richly illustrated book explores the emotion in landscape painting, for the artist and the viewer. The author analyzes color, time of day, season, climate and atmosphere, and the more elusive qualities that define the genre: a sense of place recognition and grace of line. This paperback book has 160 pages, is 9.25" x 9.25" and has 100 color illustrations.

Creative Painting With Pastel by Carole Katchen has put together this book using 20 artists’ approach to pastel painting. Using step-by-step methods and beautiful illustrations, these artists show how to master the versatility of pastels. Paperback, 8.5" x 11", 144pp. and 120 color illustrations.

Express Yourself With Pastel by Carole Katchen and published by International Artist Publishing Inc. In a direct, enjoyable, motivational and very visual manner Carole Katchen inspires the artist to make art with pastels. The first part of her book deals with understanding pastels and how you can make them work for you. The second part is directed at exploring ones own creativity to produce a unique vision. This paperback book has 144 pages, is 8.5" x 11.5" and has 238 color illustrations.