This is one of the best books on pastels I've ever read. The information is so well done and so clearly explained that much of the information can be applied to other mediums such as oils, acrylics or watercolor. The information alone on color theory is outstanding - simple yet very clear and in-depth.
Highly recommend this one!

Maggie Price is a great pastel painter, as well as a good writer. This book conveys her tips about pastels in a concise, well written manner. This is a good informative book for novice painters as well as more mature painters.

This is a terrific book for those moving to or starting with pastels.
I'd highly recommend this as a solid reference.

That being said there is an issue with the printing quality.
The is printed in China (go figures) and it shows. On almost every single image, except perhaps the cover, there is a distinct bronzing problem with the colors.
Depending on how it's held in the light you can see the edges around various parts of the image light up in reflection. These are not the quality reproductions of images you'd see with a lot of other books by different publishers. The quality is sub-par.

This same issue occurs in certain pigmented inkjet printers when using glossy paper. The micro-encapsulation of the ink particles reflects certain type of light to produce this effect and is always an issue when making high quality prints on this type of paper.

As I said earlier, the information in the book and Ms. Price's explanations are wonderful but perhaps they should have it printed in a country where quality control is taken seriously.

It's a shame that such nice images has to have this effect.

I have begun dabbling in pastels after working with acrylics for many years. My work just didn't seem to go the way I wanted, so I explored the various books out there and purchased several of what I thought would be great beginner books and also for those of us with some artistic background. I have to say "Painting with Pastels" by Maggie Price is my favorite! She covers all the necessary bits (types of pastels, papers, workspaces, choosing subject matter, composition, strokes, color (in many different ways - paper, underpainting, application), use w/watercolor), blending....and so much more. I also loved the sections where discussion, with appropriate figures to compliment the written work, on using either photos, slides, still life, landscape, and models, as your subject when using pastels. I now feel confident in my own work and know I can now expand into producing works of art that even I can be happy with and hopefully someday become an expert, well at least adequate, artist using pastels as my medium.

Maggie's book covers many of the techniques for which this veteran artist is famous. The section on painting with light alone, makes this book an invaluable addition to any artist's library. Her writing style is clear and accesible whidh makes following along with the lessons simple. The examples of works in progress that Maggie provides walk you through each exercise effortlessly.
If I were attempting to paint in pastels for the first time - or, if like me, you would like to kick your pastel painting up a notch, BUY THIS BOOK. You will be delighted!