Book excerpt: The latest tips and techniques for working with pastels - in full color Pastels offer bright colors, a great level of portability, and no drying time - plus they're relatively inexpensive and can be used to draw and paint on almost any surface. Pastels For Dummies covers the many aspects of this exciting medium, from the fundamentals of choosing the right materials to step-by-step projects, including landscapes, abstracts, and portraits. Inside you'll find hands-on, easy-to-follow exercises and attractive full-color artwork. Presents drawing, painting, and shading techniques and styles in an easy-to-understand format Accessible to artists of all levels Discover your inner artist with Pastels For Dummies and make your artwork come alive!