Capturing the Light in Pastel

Library Journal

These fine books from the same series are each written from an entirely different point of view. Aggett celebrates light as a means of painting in a truer relationship to nature, while Treanor uses pastels as a means of personal artistic expression. Aggett, a full-time painter and the author of Pastel Techniques (Crowood, 1993), believes a painting should be located firmly in a time and place. Thus, light and its effects on color and tone are paramount. When most people think of depicting light, watercolor is what comes to mind, but Aggett enjoys the immediacy and versatility of pastel. The proof is in his stunning illustrations, which fully prove the medium's ability to handle any lighting situation beautifully. In this highly recommended book, he depicts the same scene under differing conditions and even paints a Mediterranean scene in "English" light and English scene in "Mediterranean" light to illustrate a point. While Van Gogh might have been bored with Aggett's approach, he would be pleased with Treanor's vivid, sometimes nightmarish portraits of flowers. What they lack in sense of place or naturalistic light, they more than make up for in pure inspiration. Recommended for advanced collections.

From Barnes & Noble

Learn how to create light-filled landscapes using the pastel medium. Discusses materials & techniques; how to depict natural & seasonal light, weather conditions, & artificial light; differences in plein air & studio work; more. 8" x 11 1/4". Color illus.