[ceenda]

I've been asking around for books on good painting methodology and practice. I've had a large number of people recommend the book "Alla Prima" by Richard Schmid. The thing is, the book is about $100, notwithstanding international postage and the hideous conversion rates from USD to GBP charged by Visa.

I wondered whether anyone had this book and would recommend it, and failing that, if anyone had any particular books on painting approach they could recommend?

[beat]

bought it. read it. and yes, I recommand it. excellent book IMHO. That is, if you're into alla prima stuff ( if you're looking for a book covering different approach to paint, you'll be disapointed... don't know any decent ones for that , before you ask
hope this helps.
_________________
---
http://www.BeetArt.com

[YVerloc]

I've been struggling to learn to paint, so I've bought a large assortment of how-to type painting books, among them Alla Prima. It's by far the best. That and "the Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques" by Ralph Mayer are the only reference I ever refer to now. So yeah, I heartily recommend it. In fact, I think I may try to cough up the dough for a second 'bookshelf' copy, because my studio copy is probably going to get pretty worn out.

I think my predicament may be similar to others here. Maybe to your situation as well Ceenda? I'm a fairly experienced working artist, who has basically no experience with painting technique. I went straight from drawing to digital painting and skipped the whole painting thing. I've found that trying to get useful information about painting techniques, as an already experienced artist, is quite tough. To most authors and teachers "an introduction to painting" and " and introduction to art" are one and the same. I took an "introduction to oil painting" course a year or two ago. And out of the twenty four hours of class time, I think there was about twenty minutes of it was of any use to me. Most of the stuff was aimed at the art novices in the class "think outside the frame" "try keeping the focus of your composition away from the center of the image" " warm colors make you feel happy" "Ok class. Look here. This is what we call a color wheel".

Schmid's book is one that I have found very useful. It was the type of information I needed to know, without all the filler. And as I mention above, "the Artist's handbook of Materials and Techniques" I also consider a must have.

cheers
YV

[ceenda]

beat: You're one of the best digital painters I know, so that recommendation has probably won me over.

YVerloc:

[Lev_0]

I uploaded the first few intro pages of the book and the first page of each chapter amazon.com style, I think it's probably the best book to buy on painting. Alla prima means direct painting or some variation of, each stroke you paint is the final one basically, whereas indirect is more old masters style. I don't think it matters much though, the info applies to both.

The files are Ap1.JPG to Ap16.jpg, didn't want to flood the topic-

--http://www.levicon.com/allaprimasamples/Ap1.JPG--

[eyewoo]

This is a good forum for questions about traditional techniques and materials.

http://studioproducts.com/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi
_________________
HonePie.com
tumblr blog
digtal art

[MadSamoan]

Yes, 'Alla Prima' is an excellent book. One of the very best, hands down. The cheapest you'll find it is directly from the publisher, Stove Prairie Press for about $100 after shipping and handling. (I think the company belongs to Schmid and exists specifically for the purpose of publishing the book). His direct approach to painting though is very demanding, exact, and quick and his style is very akin to the masters like Velasquez, Hals, Sargent, Zorn, Sorolla, etc.. If you're more into Old Masters or the French salon style, you might be disappointed because he doesn't use glazing at all and all his paintings are done while still wet, usually in one sitting or at the most several days if it's a complex still life. Watching him paint a portrait study in his video 'The Captain's Portrait' is fascinating, but the thing I like about him most is his sense of humor and the fact that he is incredibly sincere.

[Lunatique]

I've had Schmid's book for a while, and I love it to pieces. I even brought it back to China with me after going through my storage last week in California. I love the Tom Browning book just as much.

[glody]

*needs this book*..........will buy asap.

[gekitsu]

i'm searching for the best way to get that book, too.
pretty hard from good ol' europe. if they only offered that thing via freakin amazon...

[dyoung]

ceenda
This is my first post, but this is a book that I have on painting, and I thought it was a good investment. The book covers techniques used by the Old Masters and how they prepared their canvas to what mediums they used. It gives "recepies" for how to make your own mediums based on the old master's techniques. I like the book. I am in the same boat as you with Alla Prima. lol
The title of the book is as follows:

How To Paint Like the Old Masters
by Joseph Sheppard
ISBN: 0-8230-2671-x

hope that helps...
dyoung

[ceenda]

dyoung: aha! yup! I have that one!

The section on Carravagio is amazing. Sheppard is an awesome oil painter.

[dyoung]

ceenda
YES!!!! the section on Caravaggio is amazing indeed. The book is awesome all over. I want to get the book Alla Prima as well, and several others including Spectrum 9 but the prices make me cry! lol
Oh well save save save
dyoung