Best of Pastel

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as Best of Pastel 2
Review: Sorry to disagree but this volume has almost no figure works and has little if any explanation of the paintings and drawings. The next volume has figures and helpful explanations and background.

Rating:
Summary: nice format
Review: This is a nice small book: however, if readers have Best of Pastels and Pastels 2, it the same examples of pastels from these two books.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful grouping of contemporary pastelists
Review: This is a richly illustrated book of some of the best contemporary pastelists working today. The introduction by Flora Giffuni (founder of the Pastel Society of America) re-affirms for the reader that pastel is, indeed, a glorious medium, as do the many fine examples illustrated throughout the book. The full color reproductions are of very good quality, nicely demonstrating the vivacious qualities of this fabulous yet often misunderstood medium. Each reproduction is accompanied by the title and dimensions of the work, the artist's name, and the support used. Future editions would benefit from artists' statements (as is the case in "The best of Pastel 2"), as well as the types of pastels used by each individual artist. One minor criticism is that there are often four reproductions to a spread, which of course can distract from each individual piece (the 2nd edition eliminates that problem by placing one image to a page). The directory of artists in the back of the book is also a nice addition. This book is highly recommended to both the devout pastelist and those who are unfamiliar with the medium.