Oil Painting for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter

After giving up art and oil painting in college, and switching my major from art to philosophy, I finally came back to art this summer, 22 years after graduating. At the time I wanted to be an "artist" creating paintings with "meaning." Well, its taken me that long to realize that's nonsense, and it's okay to just make beautiful paintings for myself. With 22 years wasted, I was looking for some instruction to get me kick-started and back in the game. I was first drawn to this book by the beautiful paintings and harmonious color: here, unlike it seems many how-to books by people who didn't know how to paint themselves, was a book by someone who could truly paint. If I could make a painting like that, I thought, I would be very happy with my work. I've read the whole book and return to it for inspiration and tips or techniques. I love it when he writes, "Every time you pick up a brush, you sould try to do the best painting you've ever done--but at the same time you shouldn't concern yourself with the possibility of doing a bad painting, or really even care. I'm convinced that if you focus only on your enjoyment of the process of painting, a good work will follow." This is exactly the advice, or permission, I need to hear as I take up brush and canvas after too many wasted years. I only regret I cannot take lessons from this teacher.

- Sumptuous paintings, oh so inspirational! My style is more wild than the classical, Winslow Homeresque style of this guy, but I can definitely appreciate his incredibly well steeped knowledge and the way this translates into gorgeous paintings.- Very good introduction to oil painting techniques, which is more than you get in some college classes these days.- What is great, though, is that every "rule" comes with the disclaimer that you are free to break it ... to see what happens or to create your own unique style.- I was even inspired to try still life painting outside of the class room (where it was always kind of a *yawn* type experience)- My landscapes evolved: better use of color makes them more vivid nowadays (I stripped my palette to the basic tricolor, plus white) & use of foreground/background etc. gives them better depth, when I choose to give that effect ... (sometimes I opt for the "flatness a la gaugin", with more or less satisfactory results! ;)- If you are a landscape painter, this book will give you a good grounding in classic technique. If you are looking to paint stuff your aunt melda will like, buy the big book of oil painting and get a snap shot camera.

This is a great little book! It is not a "How-to Guide" in the strictest, pedantic sense. It's an honest book by a serious artist intended for those new to oil painting, just as the title suggests. That's not to say, however, that it would not be useful to more advanced artists.Those features that the book lacks are among its greatest qualities-there are no "10 Commandments" that are usually found in books of this genre. Most artists approached to write a book of this nature feel obligated to forbid X and insist on Y (with some justification, perhaps) but this book is just a well-considered, sincere, very personal discussion of one person's approach to his art and all the craft that it entails. Allrich's strength as a writer comes from his balanced, encouraging, honest approach to his topic. Basically, in this book, he says what he does and why he does it. He is never condescending when he discusses the techniques that "many other artists" employ. It's more as if he is inviting his readers to see things his way, if they are so inclined, (and to pick up some of his tricks) or to go the way that the Muse takes them. I'd strongly recommend this book for art students, would-be writers, people interested in the art and craft of oil painting and, of course, to anyone who wishes to "become a good (or better) painter". I'll re-read this book dozens of times!

Don't be put off by the size of this book. There's a great deal packed into this little tomb - much more than I've found in the piles and piles of oil painting instructionals that I've perused or (sometimes to my dismay) purchased. Note the title, though. The less-than-serious beginner - but moreso the complete art novice - is going to flounder (as s/he will with most oil painting instructionals, frankly). Steve Allrich is an exceptionally clear and thorough teacher. The chapters are set up logically, and flow easily, with just enough repitition of the important points. If you have a fair amount of drawing or painting background and have always longed to give oils a try, this is the book for you. And it's cheap! The small size is actually a plus: it's easy to keep at hand as you make your first forays into oil. My copy is already well paint-stained.