100 Best Painting Books of All Time (Updated for 2026)

1

Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often To Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Artist

Carol Marine

5.0

A unique system for jump-starting artistic creativity, encouraging experimentation and growth, and increasing sales for artists of all levels, from novices to professionals.

Too many artists find themselves in a frustrating rut: unable to sell paintings hanging in galleries, bogged down by projects they can't finish "or "abandon, and using any excuse to avoid working in the studio. Author Carol Mar

2

Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter

James Gurney

4.9

From New York Times best-selling author of the Dinotopia series, James Gurney, comes a carefully crafted and researched study on color and light in paintings. This art instruction book will accompany the acclaimed Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist.

James Gurney, New York Times best-selling author and artist of the Dinotopia series, follows Imaginative Realism with his second art-

3

The Artist's Way

Julia Cameron

4.8

Preview Summary

"Without The Artist's Way, there would have been no Eat, Pray, Love.” —Elizabeth Gilbert

A stunning gift edition of the powerful bestselling book on creativity.The Artist’s Way is one of the bestselling gift books of all time. Beautifully packaged with a slipcase and ribbon, this tenth anniversary gift edition is the ideal gift for loved ones engaged in creative lives.

Recommended by Anand C and Emma Gannon.

Anand C

STARTING FROM AUTHENTICITY: by observing, showing humility and being grateful - I started being open to what’s in the sub-conscious more (30+ sessions in). Speaking your truth is a powerful result of this. One great book to help explore this. https://t.co/sOAgAHhWsO [source]

Emma Gannon

Instead of all these fast paced books saying: ‘Here’s how to be amazing, here’s how to get a side hustle, here’s how to hustle, hustle, hustle.’ This is the total opposite. It’s about slowing right down and connecting with yourself again. [source]

4

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!

Karen Beaumont, David Catrow

4.7

A dab of blue here, a splash of red there, a goopy smear of green . . . everywhere. To the tune of "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More," one creative kid floods his world with color, painting first the walls, then the ceiling, then HIMSELF! Before this feisty artist is through, he'll have painted his head, back, hands, legs, feet, and . . . Oh no--here comes Mama!

Karen Beaumont's zippy text and David Cat

5

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

4.7

On its first publication The Picture of Dorian Gray was regarded as dangerously modern in its depiction of fin-de-siècle decadence. In this updated version of the Faust story, the tempter is Lord Henry Wotton, who lives selfishly for amoral pleasure; Dorian's good angel is the portrait painter Basil Hallward, whom Dorian murders. The book highlights the tension between the polished surface of high

Recommended by Andra Zaharia, Eric Berkowitz, Marc Montagne, and 1 others.

Andra Zaharia

A copy from 1903 of this book is my most prized possession. [source]

Eric Berkowitz

The Picture of Dorian Gray is now a part of the canon that no one would admit to not having read. Most of us have read it and delighted in its witticisms. It’s hard to imagine, but when Dorian Gray was first published, the book was not well received at all. It was totally panned. It was held against him as being an example of an effete character. It was being serialised by Lippincott’s Magazine, and the serialisation of the novel stopped when it became too inflammatory. [source]

Marc Montagne

My favorite fiction book is the The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I'm a huge Oscar Wilde fan, he has one of the brightest minds and the Picture is a masterpiece and his unique novel. I consider that you should only read books that you would consider reading again at some point while still enjoying the same pleasure. The Picture is definitely one of those. [source]

6

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Tracy Chevalier

4.7

With precisely 35 canvases to his credit, the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer represents one of the great enigmas of 17th-century art. The meager facts of his biography have been gleaned from a handful of legal documents. Yet Vermeer's extraordinary paintings of domestic life, with their subtle play of light and texture, have come to define the Dutch golden age. His portrait of the anonymous Girl w

7

Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist

James Gurney

4.6

From the award-winning artist, learn to see and shape the world in a way you never before imagined.

An award-winning fantasy artist and the creator of Dinotopia, James Gurney instructs and inspires in Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist. Renowned for his uncanny ability to incorporate amazing detail and imagination into stunningly realistic fantasy settings, James Gurney teaches bu

8

Ways of Seeing

John Berger

4.6

Preview Summary

John Berger’s Classic Text on Art
John Berger's Ways of Seeing is one of the most stimulating and the most influential books on art in any language. First published in 1972, it was based on the BBC television series about which the (London) Sunday Times critic commented: "This is an eye-opener in more ways than one: by concentrating on how we look at paintings . . . he will almost certainly change

Recommended by Dave Elitch, David McCammon, John Harrison (Eton College), and 1 others.

Dave Elitch

Dave Elitch recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show". [source]

David McCammon

Ways of Seeing goes beyond photography and will continue to develop your language around images. [source]

John Harrison (Eton College)

You have to understand the Marxist interpretation of art; it is absolutely fundamental to the way that art history departments now study the material. Then you have to critique it, because we’ve moved on from the 1970s and the collapse of Marxism in most of the world shows—amongst other things—that the model was flawed. But it’s still a very good book to read, for a teenager especially. [source]

9

The Girl You Left Behind

Jojo Moyes

4.6

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Giver of Stars, a sweeping bestseller of love and loss, deftly weaving two journeys from World War I France to present day London.

Paris, World War I. Sophie Lefèvre must keep her family safe while her adored husband, Édouard, fights at the front. When their town falls to the Germans, Sophie is forced to serve them every evening at her hotel. From t

10

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Betty Edwards

4.6

When Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain was first published in 1979, it hit the New York Times bestseller list within two weeks and stayed there for more than a year. In 1989, when Dr. Betty Edwards revised the book, it went straight to the Times list again. Now Dr. Edwards celebrates the twentieth anniversary of her classic book with a second revised edition.Over the last decade, Dr. Edwards

Recommended by Adam Robinson and Adam Robinson.

Adam Robinson

One of five books that confirm there is far, far more in our unconscious mind than is dreamt of in our philosophy. [source]

Adam Robinson

One of five books that confirm there is far, far more in our unconscious mind than is dreamt of in our philosophy. [source]

11

Everyday Watercolor: Learn to Paint Watercolor in 30 Days

Jenna Rainey

4.5

A contemporary paint-every-day watercolor guide that explores foundational strokes and patterns and then builds new skills upon the foundations over the course of 30 days to create finished pieces.

This beautifully illustrated and inspiring guided watercolor-a-day book is perfect for beginning watercolor artists, artists who want to improve their watercolor skills, and visual creatives. From strok

12

The Art Spirit

Robert Henri and Forbes Watson

4.5

Embodying the entire system of Robert Henri's teaching, The Art Spirit contains much valuable advice, critical comment, and inspiration to every student of the arts.

Recommended by Jack Dorsey, Ron Conway, and Estella Ng.

Jack Dorsey

Co-Founder/Twitter

The first book is a book called The Art Spirit by Robert Henri, who was a painter and I know there’s a lot of affinity for painters in these parts. This is about creativity through the lens of an art student. … What he means by this is purely you have to be a master of your own tools. That mastership is not a destination, it is a process and it’s constant practice that gets you there. [source]

Estella Ng

Question: What five books would you recommend to young people interested in your career path & why? Answer: The Art Spirit by Robert Henri What Me Worry by Andrew Kuo [source]

13

Hackers & Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age

Paul Graham

4.5

“The computer world is like an intellectual Wild West, in which you can shoot anyone you wish with your ideas, if you’re willing to risk the consequences.” —from Hackers & Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age, by Paul Graham

We are living in the computer age, in a world increasingly designed and engineered by computer programmers and software designers, by people who call themselves hackers. W

Recommended by Ev Williams, Evan Williams, Brian Armstrong, and 8 others.

Evan Williams

Co-creator/Blogger

I want everybody I know to read "How to Make Wealth" and "Mind the Gap" (chapters 6 and 7), which brilliantly articulate the most commonly, and frustratingly, misunderstood core economic principles of everyday life. [source]

Bob Frankston

A wonderful book and required reading. Paul helps others understand why I chose the name 'Software Arts' for the company Dan Bricklin and I started. Those who don't understand the language of software cannot consider themselves literate. [source]

Chris Anderson

A delightful ping-pong around the brain of a really smart guy. The chapter that answers the key question of our age-- why are nerds unpopular?-- is worth the price of admission alone. [source]

14

Alla Prima: Everything I Know about Painting

Richard Schmid

4.5

15

Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting

John F. Carlson

4.4

Written by a famous American painter and teacher, whose landscapes are found in many of the world's most noted museums, this book is known as one of the art student's most helpful guides. It provides a wealth of advice on the choice of subject; it tells what to look for and aim for, and explains the mysteries of color, atmospheric conditions, and other phenomena to be found in nature.
Through his

16

Duma Key

Stephen King

4.4

From the Flap:

NO MORE THAN A DARK PENCIL LINE ON A BLANK PAGE. A HORIZON LINE, MAYBE, BUT ALSO A SLOT FOR BLACKNESS TO POUR THROUGH . . .

A terrible construction site accident takes Edgar Freemantle's right arm and scrambles his memory and his mind, leaving him with little but rage as he begins the ordeal of rehabilitation. A marriage that produced two lovely daughters suddenly ends, and Edgar beg

17

Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light & Color Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light & Color

Kevin Macpherson

4.4

These pages practically glow with Kevin Macpherson's rich and powerful paintings He shares his techniques for quickly capturing the mood of a scene in bold, direct brushstrokes, with step-by-step instructions that make it easy--simply a matter of painting the colors you see. Follow his lead and you too, can create landscapes and still lives in a vibrant, impressionistic style.

18

Creative Paint Workshop for Mixed-Media Artists: Experimental Techniques for Composition, Layering, Texture, Imagery, and Encaustic

Ann Baldwin

4.4

A workshop-style book, oriented to the wide community of crafters and artists including those interested in paint, surface design, mixed media, and collage, which explores a wide variety of innovative and experimental paint techniques. Chapters cover composition, abstraction, texture, layering, using found objects, encaustic, integrating text, and adding digital imagery.

19

The Goldfinch

Donna Tartt

4.3

A young New Yorker grieving his mother's death is pulled into a gritty underworld of art and wealth in this "extraordinary" and beloved Pulitzer Prize winner that "connects with the heart as well as the mind" (Stephen King, New York Times Book Review).

Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the fam

Recommended by Kaci Lambe Kai.

Kaci Lambe Kai

More modern, I recently read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and I love the way it was written. A great story brought to life with long, descriptive, sometimes frenetic sentences. She paints some scenes and some ideas that are unlike anything I've ever read. It's like watching magic on the page. [source]

20

Classical Painting Atelier: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice

Juliette Aristides

4.3

Want to paint more like Manet and less like Jackson Pollock?

Students of art hailed Classical Drawing Atelier, Juliette Aristides’s first book, as a dynamic return to the atelier educational model. Ateliers, popular in the nineteenth century, teach emerging artists by pairing them with a master artist over a period of years. The educational process begins as students copy masterworks, then graduall

21

The Story of Art

E.H. Gombrich

4.3

This text is the 16th revised and updated edition of this introduction to art, from the earliest cave paintings to experimental art. Eight new artists from the modern period have been introduced. They are: Corot, Kollwitz, Nolde, de Chirico, Brancussi, Magritte, Nicolson and Morandi. A sequence of new endings have been added, and the captions are now fuller, including the medium and dimension of t

22

Alla Prima II Everything I Know About Painting - and more

Richard Schmid with Katie Swatland

4.3

23

Color: A Natural History of the Palette

Victoria Finlay

4.3

Discover the tantalizing true stories behind your favorite colors.
For example: Cleopatra used saffron—a source of the color yellow—for seduction. Extracted from an Afghan mine, the blue “ultramarine” paint used by Michelangelo was so expensive he couldn’t afford to buy it himself. Since ancient times, carmine red—still found in lipsticks and Cherry Coke today—has come from the blood of insects.

Recommended by Jane Jelley.

Jane Jelley

If you’re going to do any kind of experimentation about a 17th-century painter, you’ve really got to know something about the materials they’re working with. One of the many books I looked at was Victoria Finlay’s. She not only documented what colours Vermeer used, she went to find them in the real world. So her book is a travelogue. She’s rushing around the world trying to find the source of particular pigments. [source]

24

Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking

David Bayles, Ted Orland

4.3

"This is a book about making art. Ordinary art. Ordinary art means something like: all art not made by Mozart. After all, art is rarely made by Mozart-like people; essentially-statistically speaking-there aren't any people like that. Geniuses get made once-a-century or so, yet good art gets made all the time, so to equate the making of art with the workings of genius removes this intimately human

Recommended by Juliette Aristides.

Juliette Aristides

The authors believe that art can be taught, and moreover learned, and the traps that waylay our efforts can be avoided or managed with some cheerful guidance. [source]

25

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Michael Hampton

4.3

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention is an instructional figure drawing book geared towards the novice and experienced artist alike. This book emphasizes a simplified understanding of surface anatomy, in order to clarify the mechanics of the figure, facilitate invention, and ultimately create a skill-set that can be successfully applied to other media. In addition, this book focuses very strongly

26

Art & Max

David Wiesner

4.3

Max and Arthur are friends who share an interest in painting. Arthur is an accomplished painter; Max is a beginner. Max’s first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various artistic media, which turn out to have unexpected pitfalls. Although Max is inexperienced, he’s courageous—and a quick learner. His energy and enthusiasm bring the adventure to its tri

27

I'll Give You the Sun

Jandy Nelson

4.3

"We were all heading for each other on a collision course, no matter what. Maybe some people are just meant to be in the same story."

At first, Jude and her twin brother Noah, are inseparable. Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude wears red-red lipstick, cliff-dives, and does all the talking for both of them. Years later, they are ba

28

The Dot

Peter H Reynolds

4.3

With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark -- and follow where it takes us.

Her teacher smiled. "Just make a mark and see where it takes you."

Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herse

29

Gustav Klimt: 1862-1918

Gilles Neret

4.2

Cult of pleasure: Feminine sensuality by the Vienna Secession's greatest proponent

Gustav Klimt's ornate, sensual, and decadent style made him not only the most prominent of the Vienna Secessionists but one of the best loved artists of all time. In his own time, Kilmt (1862-1918) was a highly successful painter, draftsman, muralist, and graphic artist; in the intervening years, iconic works such as

30

Urban Watercolor Sketching: A Guide to Drawing, Painting, and Storytelling in Color

Felix Scheinberger

4.2

A guide that shows painters, drawers, doodlers, and urban sketchers how to bring their drawings to life with colorful, bold, yet accessible painting methods.

COLOR YOUR LIFE

Bring new energy to your sketches of urban scenes with this fresh and simple approach to watercolor painting. Whether you’re an amateur artist, drawer, doodler, or sketcher, watercolor is a versatile sketching medium that’s perf

31

Mix It Up!

Herve Tullet

4.2

Accept Hervé Tullet's irresistible invitation to mix it up in a dazzling adventure of whimsy and wonder. Follow the artist's simple instructions, and suddenly colors appear, mix, splatter, and vanish in a world powered only by the reader's imagination. Tullet—who joins such greats as Eric Carle and Leo Lionni as a master of his craft—sets readers on an extraordinary interactive journey all within

32

The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook

Gordon MacKenzie

4.2

Painting with watercolors gives you endless opportunities to create the world you want. You choose whether to let the sun blaze or the rain pour, to move a maple tree here or make the trail wind over there, to subdue a hillside with quiet greens or make a forest glow with dazzling golds and reds. It's not only a matter of what to paint, but how to go about painting it.

This book examines, one at a

Cover unavailable

33

Compendium of Acrylic Painting Techniques: 300 Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets

Gill Barron

4.2

Aimed at all painters, from beginners to the more experienced, this book is packed with expert advice on all aspects of acrylic painting: what to do, and what not to do. Learn how to choose and mix colors, and create a multitude of effects using only one set of tubes. Discover how to make your own equipment, set up a "studio" space, and use household materials to save money. Beginners can follow p

34

Rock Art Handbook: Techniques and Projects for Painting, Coloring, and Transforming Stones

Samantha Sarles

4.2

Discover all of the best techniques for creating amazing rock art! Brush painting isn't the only way to decorate a rock. Almost anything you do on paper or canvas, you can do on a rock. Rock Art Handbook will show you how, with more than 30 step-by-step tutorials featuring dot painting, marbling, embellishments, and much more. It's the perfect opportunity to use your favorite craft supplies, from

35

The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook - Landscapes

Gordon MacKenzie

4.2

Painting with watercolors gives you endless opportunities to create the world you want. You choose whether to let the sun blaze or the rain pour, to move a maple tree here or make the trail wind over there, to subdue a hillside with quiet greens or make a forest glow with dazzling golds and reds. It's not only a matter of what to paint, but how to go about painting it.

This book examines, one at a

36

The Oil Painting Course You've Always Wanted: Guided Lessons for Beginners and Experienced Artists

Kathleen Lochen Staiger

4.2

Everything you always wanted to know about oil painting...but were afraid to ask. Or maybe you weren’t afraid—maybe you just didn’t know what to ask or where to start. In The Oil Painting Course You’ve Always Wanted, author Kathleen Staiger presents crystal clear, step-by-step lessons that build to reinforce learning. Brush control, creating the illusion of three dimensions, foolproof color mixing

37

Mastering Composition: Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting (Mastering (North Light Books))

Ian Roberts

4.2

38

Oil Painting Techniques and Materials

Harold Speed

4.2

Stimulating, informative guide by noted teacher covers painting technique, painting from life, materials — paints, varnishes, oils and mediums, grounds, etc. — a painter's training, more. Speed also provides expert analysis of works by Velasquez, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Hals, Rembrandt, and others. 64 photos. 5 line drawings.

39

The Story of Painting

Wendy Beckett, Sister Wendy Beckett

4.2

Featuring over 450 masterpieces, this best-selling book includes more than 150 oversized details from key paintings.

40

The Complete Watercolorist's Essential Notebook: A Treasury of Watercolor Secrets Discovered Through Decades of Painting and Expe Rimentation

Gordon MacKenzie

4.2

This special 10th-anniversary collection combines two of the best-loved North Light watercolor guides available: The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook and The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook: Landscapes. Clarifying and simplifying the various aspects of painting with watercolor, Gordon MacKenzie's The Complete Watercolorist's Essential Notebook will encourage and challenge you with new possibi

41

Landscape Painting: Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice

Mitchell Albala

4.2

Because nature is so expansive and complex, so varied in its range of light, landscape painters often have to look further and more deeply to find form and structure, value patterns, and an organized arrangement of shapes. In Landscape Painting, Mitchell Albala shares his concepts and practices for translating nature's grandeur, complexity, and color dynamics into convincing representations of spa

42

The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross

Robert N. Ross

4.2

43

Lust for Life

Irving Stone

4.2

Lust for Life is the classic fictional re-telling of the incredible life of Vincent Van Gogh.

"Vincent is not dead. He will never die. His love, his genius, the great beauty he has created will go on forever, enriching the world... He was a colossus... a great painter... a great philosopher... a martyr to his love of art. "

Walking down the streets of Paris the young Vincent Van Gogh didn't feel li

Recommended by Magda Marcu.

Magda Marcu

For non-business books, I really enjoyed the book about Vincent Van Gogh’s life “Lust for life”. [source]

Cover unavailable

44

Country Scenes in Acrylic

Jerry Yarnell

4.1

Best-selling author, instructor and PBS TV show host, Jerry Yarnell delivers his latest offering with dozens of all new lessons and 8 full step-by-step landscape painting projects. Features detailed materials lists and advice on how to set up a palette. Learn the terms and techniques necessary to achieve your desired effects. Get lessons on color mixing, composition, negative space, perspective, v

45

Botany for the Artist: An Inspirational Guide to Drawing Plants

Sarah Simblet

4.1

Following the success of Anatomy for the Artist and Sketch Book for the Artist, this latest title from the acclaimed artist Sarah Simblet investigates the extraordinary structure and variety of every type of plant-from mosses and lichens to flowers and trees-and teaches the reader how to draw them.

The book starts with the history of plant drawing and painting. The author follows the trail of the e

46

Mouse Paint

Ellen Stoll Walsh

4.1

One day three white mice discover three jars of paint--red, blue, and yellow. Both parents and children alike will appreciate this lighthearted presentation of a lesson in color. “Walsh’s cut-paper collage illustrations have bold colors and just the right simplicity for the storyline. A real charmer that’s great fun as well as informative.”--School Library Journal

47

Charles Bargue and Jean-Leon Gerome: Drawing Course

Gerald M. Ackerman, Graydon Parrish, Charles Bargue

4.1

The Bargue-Gerome Drawing Course is a complete reprint of a famous, late nineteenth century drawing course.

48

Matisse

Volkmar Essers

4.1

Henri Matisse (1869-1954), a cofounder of Fauvism, understood the expressive power of pure colors and simple forms. As seen here, his color harmonies can be analogous to musical compositions, complex and expressive. Full-color reproductions and thorough text provide a quick yet solid introduction to this master.

49

Creative Illustration

Andrew Loomis

4.1

During his career as one of America's most sought-after illustrators, Andrew Loomis (1889-1959) taught at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, and in 1939 he codified his lessons in his first manual, Fun with a Pencil. Four years later it had already been through six printings, and he followed up over the next two decades with a series of even more successful how-to books that remain the gold s

50

The Painterly Approach: An Artist's Guide to Seeing, Painting and Expressing

Bob Rohm

4.1

Create paintings with feeling

The Painterly Approach bridges the gap between what you see as an artist, and what you feel. More than painting an appealing landscape, it's about making your viewer feel the wind, experience the dance of shadows and sunlight, and admire the wondrous intermingling of colors that attracted you to your subject in the first place.

In this gorgeously illustrated book, Bob R

51

Van Gogh

Rainer Metzger and Ingo F. Walther

4.1

Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith galvanized readers with their astonishing Jackson Pollock: An American Saga, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for biography, a book acclaimed for its miraculous research and overwhelming narrative power. Now Naifeh and Smith have written another tour de force—an exquisitely detailed, compellingly readable, and ultimately heartbreaking portrait of creative genius V

52

Lucian Freud: Beholding the Animal: Unflinching Truth

Sebastian Smee

4.1

British artist Lucian Freud is widely considered the most important figurative painter working today. Master portraitist and specialist in nudes, Freud uses impasto to create depth and intensity while restraining his color palate to mostly muted hues. His portraits may be physically unflattering to their subjects, but they are honest, frank, and unapologetic. I paint people, Freud has said, not be

53

Water Paper Paint: Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media

Heather Jones

4.1

This book is not only for "painters" but for all types of creative individuals who want to experience and play with watercolor, whether their background is mixed-media, textile art, journaling, or paper craft. Unlike the typical watercolor textbooks, this unique, beautiful volume is a field book of inspiration, creative ideas, how to's, and projects, all from an artist's perspective. Each creative

54

Surface Treatment Workshop: Explore 45 Mixed-Media Techniques

Darlene Olivia McElroy, Sandra Duran-Wilson

4.1

Breaking the Surface

Pondering how to begin a new piece of art? Surface Treatment Workshop has the answer! The authors of Image Transfer Workshop are back to show you 45 stepped-out mixed-media techniques that will add depth and texture to your artwork. These techniques are the perfect jump-off point for creating art you will love to look at, and, in some cases, touch!

In this comprehensive guide, y

55

Vitamin P: New Perspectives in Painting

Barry Schwabsky

4.1

This highly illustrated overview of the state of painting documents concerns and ideas among contemporary painters. Often moving beyond the traditional image associated with this medium, this survey illustrates the richness, eclecticism, dynamism and contemporaneity of painting.

56

On Painting

Leon Battista Alberti, Martin Kemp

4.1

Artist, architect, poet and philosopher, Leon Battista Alberti revolutionized the history of art with his theories of perspective in On Painting (1435). Inspired by the order and beauty inherent in nature, his groundbreaking work sets out the principles of distance, dimension and proportion; instructs the painter on how to use the rules of composition, representation, light and colour to create wo

Recommended by Juliette Aristides.

Juliette Aristides

Alberti’s alternation between poetic passages in the text with technical advice is so memorable that you only need to read it once. [source]

57

Luncheon of the Boating Party

Susan Vreeland

4.1

Bestselling author Susan Vreeland returns with a vivid exploration of one of the most beloved Renoir paintings in the world

Instantly recognizable, Auguste Renoir's masterpiece depicts a gathering of his real friends enjoying a summer Sunday on a café terrace along the Seine near Paris. A wealthy painter, an art collector, an Italian journalist, a war hero, a celebrated actress, and Renoir's futur

58

Gustav Klimt: Complete Paintings (XXL)

Tobias Natter

4.1

During his lifetime, Gustav Klimt was a controversial star whose works made passions run high. He stood for Modernism but he also embodied tradition. His pictures polarized and divided the art-loving world. The press and general public alike were split over the question: For or against Klimt?

This monograph explores Klimt’s oeuvre with particular emphasis upon such contemporary voices. With a comp

59

The Secret Lives of Color

Kassia St Clair

4.1

The Secret Lives of Colour tells the unusual stories of seventy-five fascinating shades, dyes and hues. From blonde to ginger, the brown that changed the way battles were fought to the white that protected against the plague, Picasso's blue period to the charcoal on the cave walls at Lascaux, acid yellow to kelly green, and from scarlet women to imperial purple, these surprising stories run like a

60

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers

Deborah Heiligman

4.1

From the author of National Book Award finalist Charles and Emma comes an incredible story of brotherly love.

The deep and enduring friendship between Vincent and Theo Van Gogh shaped both brothers' lives. Confidant, champion, sympathizer, friend--Theo supported Vincent as he struggled to find his path in life. They shared everything, swapping stories of lovers and friends, successes and disappoint

Recommended by Marc Favreau.

Marc Favreau

Heiligman’s book is a multi-layered work of cultural history. It is a tightly wound story of two brothers, one of whom goes on to become one of the most famous impressionist painters and the other a seller of paintings. Both Van Gogh brothers played a central role in the history of late 19th-century art and ended up dying tragically, within months of one another. [source]

Cover unavailable

61

Bob Ross by the Numbers

Bob Ross

4.1

Discover the joy of painting, just like Bob Ross himself, with this one-of-a-kind mini art set! Kit includes:
Three pre-printed canvases with numbered sections -- 2 landscapes and 1 of Bob's famous face. Each canvas in around 3-1/8 x 2-3/4 inches.
7 paint pots
Mini paint brush
Mini easel for displaying finished paintings
Full-color, fold-out sheets with detailed painting instructions
32-page book on Bo

62

Chinese Painting Techniques for Exquisite Watercolors

Lian Quan Zhen

4.1

Capture the beauty and vitality of Chinese painting in your watercolors!

Using a few brushes, some rice paper and a small number of inks and paints, you can explore new realms of artistic expression in your watercolors. Author and artist Lian Quan Zhen shows you how, providing you with the clear, practical instruction you need to master every element of this intriguing style - from holding a bamboo

Cover unavailable

63

How to Paint Fast, Loose and Bold: Simple Techniques for Expressive Painting

Patti Mollica

4.1

Bold
Exciting
Powerful
A new level of artistic expression!

Every artist strives to achieve the kind of painting that commands attention from across the room and delights the eye up close. In this book, artist and workshop teacher Patti Mollica walks you through surprisingly simple and efficient strategies for achieving that kind of powerful composition, whatever your subject.

Complete with timed e

64

Composition of Outdoor Painting

Edgar Payne

4.1

65

The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques

Ralph Mayer

4.1

Cover unavailable

66

Learn to Paint in Acrylics with 50 Small Paintings: Pick up the skills * Put on the paint * Hang up your art

Mark Daniel Nelson

4.1

Learn all you need to know about acrylic painting as you create 50 stunning mini paintings. Following an overview of painting fundamentals, illustrated step-by-step instructions accompanied by lessons on specific techniques lead your way.

This unique book is a complete course in acrylic painting, built up from key techniques. As you progress through the sections of the book, the author demonstrate

67

Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Designs Animals, Mandalas, Flowers, Paisley Patterns And So Much More: Coloring Book For Adults

Cindy Elsharouni

4.1

64 Unique Designs to Color!
- Various Levels Of Intricacy Keeping You Excited!
- Garden Designs, Animals, Mandalas, and Paisley Patterns
- Each Coloring Page Is Designed To Help Relax And Inspire
- Perfect For Every Skill Level
- Perfect With Your Choice Of Coloring Tools (Crayon, Gel Pens, Markers, Colored Pencils)
- Each Coloring Page Is On One Sheet. Printed One Sided.

68

Drawing the Head and Hands

Andrew Loomis

4.1

69

Brush of the Gods

Lenore Look, Meilo So

4.1

This gorgeous picture book biography, according to Kirkus Reviews in a starred review, is "a cheerful introduction not only to Wu Daozi, but to the power of inspiration."

Who wants to learn calligraphy when your brush is meant for so much more? Wu Daozi (689-758), known as China's greatest painter and alive during the T'ang Dynasty, is the subject of this stunning picture book. When an old monk at

70

Modern Watercolor Botanicals: A Creative Workshop in Watercolor, Gouache, & Ink

Sarah Simon

4.1

71

The Letters of Vincent van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh

4.1

A new selection of post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gough's letters, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh put a human face on one of the most haunting figures in modern Western culture. In this Penguin Classics edition, the letters are selected and edited by Ronald de Leeuw, and translated by Arnold Pomerans in Penguin Classics.

Few artists' letters are as self-revelatory as Vincent van Gogh's, an

72

The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism

Ross King

4.1

With a novelist's skill and the insight of an historian, bestselling author Ross King recalls a seminal period when Paris was the artistic center of the world, and the rivalry between Meissonier and Manet.

While the Civil War raged in America, another revolution took shape across the Atlantic, in the studios of Paris: The artists who would make Impressionism the most popular art form in history wer

73

Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium

Nancy Reyner

4.0

• Manufacturers see acrylic paint as the most versatile paint with the most growth potential and are putting marketing and product development dollars behind their products to help educate readers on the benefits of this paint—there are currently over 225 different types of acrylic paints

* The first book to address the most popular applications of acrylics and the accompanying mediums

* With 101 tr

74

Anatomy for the Artist

Jenö Barcsay, Jeno Barcsay

4.0

It’s the classic in its field—a reference work of unparalleled importance for all professionals and students of art.

This superb art manual is the best guide available on a subject that has fascinated artists for centuries: the human body. Jenö Barcsay, a professor who taught applied anatomy at the Budapest Academy of Fine Arts, offers a detailed portrayal of the body for the fine artist in 142 f

75

An Illustrated Journey: Inspiration From the Private Art Journals of Traveling Artists, Illustrators and Designers

Danny Gregory

4.0

Travel + Sketching = Inspiration

When we travel, we don't want to follow the same itinerary as everyone who's come before us. We want to feel like explorers, adventurers in undiscovered territory. And that's exactly what sketching can bring to the travel experience.

An Illustrated Journey captures the world through the eyes of 40 talented artists, illustrators and designers. You'll experience the wo

76

Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters

David Hockney

4.0

Join one of the most influential artists of our time as he investigates the painting techniques of the Old Masters. Hockney’s extensive research led him to conclude that artists such as Caravaggio, Velázquez, da Vinci, and other hyperrealists actually used optics and lenses to create their masterpieces.In this passionate yet pithy book, Hockney takes readers on a journey of discovery as he builds

77

Making Color Sing: Practical Lessons in Color and Design

Jeanne Dobie

4.0

Through clear, illuminating exercises, this best-selling book stimulates new ways to think about color, generating responses that unlock personal creativity and allow artists to express themselves with paint as never before. Readers are shown how the interplay of complementary hues can trigger vibrations; how the push and pull of warm and cool colors can create a feeling of space; how to disguise

78

Figure Drawing for All It's Worth (How to draw and paint)

Andrew Loomis

4.0

The illustrator Andrew Loomis (1892-1959) is revered among artists - including comics superstar Alex Ross - for his mastery of figure drawing and clean, Realist style.

His hugely influential series of art instruction books have never been bettered, and Figure Drawing is the first in Titan's programme of facsimile editions, returning these classic titles to print for the first time in decades.

79

Harley Brown's Eternal Truths for Every Artist

Harley Brown, Lewis Barrett Lehrman

4.0

Here, Harley Brown offers artists his 'truths' for painting success - the stuff he hopes they teach in art school. A well-established artist, Harley has gained a large following with his frank, no-nonsense approach to teaching art.

80

The Swan Thieves

Elizabeth Kostova

4.0

Kostova's masterful new novel travels from American cities to the coast of Normandy, from the late 19th century to the late 20th, from young love to last love. The Swan Thieves is a story of obsession, history's losses, and the power of art to preserve human hope.

Psychiatrist Andrew Marlowe, devoted to his profession and the painting hobby he loves, has a solitary but ordered life. When renowned p

81

Leonardo's Notebooks

Leonardo da Vinci

4.0

An all-new, jewel-like, reader-friendly format gives new life to this relaunch of an international best-seller.

Leonardo da Vinci—artist, inventor, and prototypical Renaissance man—is a perennial source of fascination because of his astonishing intellect and boundless curiosity about the natural and man-made world. During his life he created numerous works of art and kept voluminous notebooks that

82

If Picasso Painted a Snowman

Amy Newbold, Greg Newbold

4.0

If someone asked you to paint a snowman, you would probably start with three white circles stacked one upon another. Then you would add black dots for eyes, an orange triangle for a nose, and a black dotted smile. But if Picasso painted a snowman…

From that simple premise flows this delightful, whimsical, educational picture book that shows how the artist’s imagination can summon magic from a prosa

83

Traditional Oil Painting: Advanced Techniques and Concepts from the Renaissance to the Present

Virgil Elliott

4.0

The only book that lets artists explore the highest levels of realistic oil painting.

As more and more artists today look to the past, there has been a tremendous resurgence of interest in painting realistically--in creating convincing illusions of three-dimensional depth on two dimensional surfaces. How did the Old Masters create their masterpieces? What kind of education allowed these great artis

84

False Impression

Jeffrey Archer

4.0

When an aristocratic old lady is brutally murdered in her country home the night before 9/11, it takes all the resources of the FBI and Interpol to work out the connection between her and the possible motive for her death – a priceless Van Gogh painting. It’s a young woman in the North Tower when the first plane crashed into the building who has the courage and determination to take on both sides

85

Monet: Or the Triumph of Impressionism

Taschen

4.0

The definitive Monet biography by Daniel Wildenstein, a leading authority on Impressionist painting and author of the catalogue raisonné of Monet's works, is lavishly illustrated with 572 reproductions and complementary photographic documents. A visual representation of an extraordinary artistic career, that simultaenously brings to life the spirit of a whole era.

The author: Daniel Wildenstein (19

86

Bosch

Walter Bosing

4.0

If Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516) remains an enigma today, it is little wonder. Even his contemporaries found the Dutch painter’s work difficult to decipher—and it still presents riddles to contemporary art historians. Part of the problem in analyzing his shocking and richly allegorical paintings is that virtually nothing is known of the artist himself, apart from his birthplace. There is no record

87

Vincent Van Gogh: The Complete Paintings

Ingo F Walther

4.0

Van Gogh, who took up a variety of professions before becoming an artist, was a solitary, despairing and self-destructive man. This richly illustrated and expert study follows the artist from the early gloom-laden paintings in which he captured the misery of peasants and workers in his homeland, through his bright and colorful Parisian period, to the work of his final years, spent under a southern

88

The Artist's Complete Guide to Drawing the Head

William Maughan

4.0

In this innovative guide, master art instructor William Maughan demonstrates how to create a realistic human likeness by using the classic and highly accurate modeling technique of chiaroscuro (Italian for “light and dark”) developed by Leonardo da Vinci during the High Renaissance.

Maughan first introduces readers to the basics of this centuries-old technique, showing how to analyze form, light, a

89

The Joy of Watercolor: 40 Happy Lessons for Painting the World Around You

Emma Block

4.0

Enjoy the meditative art of watercolor with simple supplies, forty colorful illustrated lessons, and easy step-by-step instructions!
For a soothing boost of creativity and whimsy, try your hand at watercolor. With a few simple steps, anyone can discover their artistic side and achieve moments of peace and tranquility. Forty straightforward lessons promise fun and colorful results -- no pressure and

90

The Helga Pictures

John Wilmerding, Andrew Wyeth

4.0

The Helga pictures galvanized public attention in 1986, when articles appeared in the press about a large cache of work previously unknown not only to the art world but even to the Wyeth's wife. At first, attention was given to his private project-depicting the same subject in secrecy from 1971 to '85. Away from the publicity that accompanied the debut of these works, they remain a striking, thoug

91

Oil Painting Secrets From a Master

Linda Cateura, David A. Leffel

4.0

Some of the most popular art instruction books ever written have been based on student notes culled over the years from actual workshop sessions, with all their power and immediacy - and with practical, on-to-one contact between student and teacher. This is such a book. For more than two years, Linda Cateura has pursued teacher / artist David A. Leffel, notebook in hand, as he critiqued the work o

92

The Practice and Science of Drawing

Harold Speed

4.0

Much of the learning to practice as well as to appreciate art is concerned with understanding the basic principles. One of these principles is what Harold Speed calls "dither," the freedom that allows realism and the artistic vision to play against each other. Very important to any artist or work of art, this quality separates the scientifically accurate from the artistically accurate. Speed's app

Recommended by Juliette Aristides.

Juliette Aristides

The past is a source of inspiration and fellowship, allowing our solitary lives and artistic body of work to be seen in a larger context, and we are propelled forward in its current.The book is a hundred years old, yet is as true and useful now as when it was first released. An underlying theme through all the books we’re discussing is that art is a skill that can be taught and mastery achieved by cultivating your skills [source]

93

Lessons in Classical Painting: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier

Juliette Aristides

4.0

Cover unavailable

94

Painting with Bob Ross: Learn to paint in oil step by step!

Bob Ross Inc

4.0

Painting with Bob Ross—with artwork created by Bob Ross himself using his specially formulated oil paints, brushes, basecoats, and other tools—introduces artists and Bob Ross fans to the basics of painting landscapes. Everyone will enjoy Painting with Bob Ross, as his “happy accidents” approach makes this challenging subject matter enjoyable for all ages, regardless of skill level and materials us

95

Watercolor Essentials

Birgit O'Connor

4.0

Everything you need to know to make magic with watercolor!

Features 80+ lessons, exercises and demonstrations, including live instruction on the enclosed DVD

Watercolor moves like no other medium. Just add water, and the pigment takes on a life of its own. This book makes learning to paint equally dynamic, with page after page of step-by-step demonstrations, plus more than 40 lessons on the compan

96

Classical Drawing Atelier: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice

Juliette Aristides

4.0

Ateliers have produced the greatest artists of all time—and now that educational model is experiencing a renaissance. These studios, a return to classical art training, are based on the nineteenth-century model of teaching artists by pairing them with a master artist over a period of years. Students begin by copying masterworks, then gradually progress to painting as their skills develop. Classica

97

Picture This: How Pictures Work

Molly Bang

4.0

Molly Bang's brilliant, insightful, and accessible treatise is now revised and expanded for its 25th anniversary. Bang's powerful ideas—about how the visual composition of images works to engage the emotions, and how the elements of an artwork can give it the power to tell a story—remain unparalleled in their simplicity and genius. Why are diagonals dramatic? Why are curves calming? Why does red f

98

Color Mixing Recipes for Portraits: More Than 500 Color Cominations for Skin, Eyes, Lips, and Hair: Featuring Oil and Acrylic - Plus a Special Section for Watercolor

William Powell

4.0

99

Portrait Painting Atelier: Old Master Techniques and Contemporary Applications

Suzanne Brooker, Domenic Cretara

4.0

The art of portraiture approached its apex during the sixteenth century in Europe with the discovery of oil painting when the old masters developed and refined techniques that remain unsurpassed to this day. The ascendance of nonrepresentational art in the middle of the twentieth century displaced these venerable skills, especially in academic art circles. Fortunately for aspiring artists today wh

100

Vermeer, 1632-1675: Veiled Emotions

Norbert Schneider

4.0

The 35 paintings that have come down to us from the hand of Jan Vermeer (1632-1675) place him beside Rembrandt and Frans Hals as one of the great masters of the golden age of Dutch art. Most of his pictures, all of which are reproduced in this text, show women about their daily business. Vermeer records the tasks and duties of women, the imperatives of virtue under which their lives were lived, an