RECOMMENDED READING

Click on the images of the books to purchase from Amazon.com

 

“Alla Prima; Everything I Know About Painting” Richard Schmid

This book has got it all. Written by living master Richard Schmid, he beautifully illustrates concepts and various approaches to the painting process. He writes at length about the importance of Shapes, Value, Color, and Edges.

 

 

  

  

 

 

“The Art Spirit” Robert Henri

This book contains countless invaluable thoughts and notes that Henri’s students took during his lessons.

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

“Composition of Outdoor Painting” Edgar Payne

This book is packed with great information about what I have come to think of as the most difficult aspect of painting, composition. Payne writes in a style that is a bit dated, but beautifully structured prose on every aspect of designing shapes within the picture plane.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

“Fill Your Oil Paintings With Light and Color” Kevin McPherson

This is a book that I recommend because of the keen sense that Macpherson has of lighting and pulling of light effects naturally and effectively. Despite the fact that Thomas Kinkade is the self-proclaimed “Painter of Light,” we are all painters of light, so this book goes in to great depth on the subject.

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

“Landscape Painting Inside and Out” Kevin McPherson

 Macpherson is an accomplished painter mostly known for his landscapes and his “limited pallet” of colors. The book is a wealth of information on everything from “Value Relationships” to right practice in terms of quickly becoming a better artist. He’s also written a lot about setting up a studio space and the ins and outs of working in a creative place.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

“Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting” John F Carlson

Carlson has truly written a gem of a book here. It’s unfortunate that, it being an older book, the illustrations are all in black and white, because the paintings are so “put together.” He writes a great deal on the subject of composition, color, masses, line, value, and form. The book empowers the artist to see in their own unique way, the beauty of their immediate surroundings. He also writes a bit about setting up a studio space and names and defines a lot of the oil painter’s paraphernalia.

 

 

 

 

© Joshua Been | www.joshuabeen.com