The Complete Handbook of Pastels
A Professional's Guide to Selection, Technique, and Care
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
Understand the chemistry, master the technique, and preserve the work. The definitive technical reference for pastels.
About this book
The Complete Handbook of Pastels is a practical, technical reference for anyone who uses pastels as a serious medium. It is not a gallery of pretty pictures or a list of celebrity artists. It is a manual that explains what a pastel stick actually is—the pigment, the binder, the filler—and how those components determine its hardness, lightfastness, and blending behavior. It details the differences between hard, soft, and oil pastels, the critical role of the ground's tooth and texture, and the science behind why some pastels fade while others last for centuries.
The book moves beyond materials into methodology. It covers studio setup, paper selection and preparation, layering and blending techniques, and the proper use of fixatives. It includes a comprehensive troubleshooting section that addresses the most common failures: crumbling sticks, muddy colors, and pastel dust contamination. You will learn how to clean and store your work, how to frame it safely, and how to ensure its archival longevity.
For the professional and the entrepreneur, the handbook also provides a strategic view of the marketplace. It profiles major manufacturers, explains their product lines and pricing tiers, and outlines concrete business opportunities—from retail specialization and restoration services to conducting workshops and developing proprietary products. Finally, a forward-looking chapter identifies emerging trends in materials and technology, and a glossary and FAQ provide quick answers for the working studio. This is the reference book that should sit next to your easel, not on a coffee table.
Reader Reviews
George Wilson
★★★★★I was pleasantly surprised by the technical depth. The first chapter alone clarified a lot about why my soft pastels behave differently on different papers, something I never quite grasped despite years of selling them. It feels more like a textbook than a casual guide, which is exactly what I needed. I dock one star only because I wish the troubleshooting chapter had a few more specific case studies, but overall it's a solid desk reference for my shop.
Michelle Walker
★★★★★Finally, a book that treats pastels with the seriousness they deserve. As a professional portrait artist, I've wasted a lot of money on expensive sets that crumbled or faded. The explanation of binder types and pigment load in Chapter 1 (and expanded on later) has completely changed how I buy. The maintenance section on keeping sticks clean and uncontaminated has also saved me from ruining a few good pieces. This is not a fluff art book, it's a legitimate handbook.
Robert Brown
★★★★★It's well-organized and the information seems accurate, but I was hoping for more on actual drawing techniques. The book spends a LOT of time on the physical properties of the stick and the business side of things, which is fine, but I bought it to improve my layering and blending, and those sections feel a bit brief. The first chapter is a bit dense for a beginner, too. If you're a pro who already knows how to draw, it's great. Just know what you're buying.
Gary Nguyen
★★★★★This is the reference I've been missing for years. The breakdown of the chemistry and how it affects finger blending versus using tools was spot on and fixed a persistent issue I was having with my figures looking chalky. The information about the archival qualities of different pigment families is critical for my commission work, and the business chapter gave me some practical ideas for monetizing my spare stock. It’s written clearly without dumbing it down. A must-have for any serious studio.