Richard Schmid Paints Landscapes: Creative Techniques in Oil

I rarely posts reviews but felt obliged to add one here to clarify the value of this book. I own Schmid's "Alla Prima" (which is excellent) and have also enjoyed many of his DVDs. I was pleasantly surprised when this book arrived because it also excellent, but in a different vein then "Alla Prima". For one, this book predates the other by several decades so naturally the color pages are going to be fewer. This book is dense with the nuts & bolts of Richard Schmid's approach to the landscape. There is much more rudimentary (but not basic) information here that was not appropriate for the higher level approach of "Alla Prima". Plus there are many more examples. So what if they're black & white. The text that accompanies them, with Richard's insights to each painting, is worth it. So buy "Alla Prima" and watch some of his DVDs to acquire an appreciation to Richard Schmid's approach to painting and to also whet your artistic appetite for more. And once you are hungry for more, buy this landscape book to "savor" his painting instruction.

Some photos are black and white but there are many demo photos are in color. This is quite a substantial book for its genre; the author is very generous with his considerable knowledge, and I recommend it for serious landscape painters. It may be a little too technical for beginners and casual hobbyists.

I stumbled upon this book in a library and knew I had to own it so I could study each and every word. Richard Schmid paints landscapes like no one else! (If you don't beleve me check out his website and you will buy this book! ) My paintings improved immediately! I take it with me when I paint now! He gives clear steb by step guides but this book is clearly above and beyond a "how to paint landscapes" book. I'm now saving my "starving artist" pennies to buy his "Alla Prima" book!