Bill Creevy has written an invaluable resource that helps artists to define the pastel medium broadly. The Pastel Book: Materials and Techniques for Today`s Artist is a fantastic volume that deals with soft and hard pastels as well as oil pastels and oil sticks. Among the many priceless ideas and tips, you’ll learn how to combine pastels with water, acrylic, alkyd gels and oil paint. 175 pages.