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

I got this book from the library. I always knew I could draw, and I always wanted to oil paint. I have a lot of books on oil painting, but I still struggle. Oil paints are tricky, sort of like playing the violin: you have to learn to control them before you start creating with them. Now, it IS for beginners, but it also says for "experienced" because she shows you tricks that maybe you didn't cover in other classes. ... Read Full Review

This book IS the oil painting course I've always wanted. I've taken a oil painting course at my local community college, but did not recieve the detailed instruction this book offers. I highly recommend it for the beginner painter. I also recommend Color Mixing Recipes by Walter Foster. It really helps you to get the color just right. It has an index on everything from apples to wet sand.Color Mixing Recipes

I would encourage anyone interested in purchasing art books to go to your local library and check some out before you purchase. That is what I did and that is why I bought this wonderful book. Her presentations are very clear and easy to understand. She has carefully constructed lessons, just as if you were taking a class. I like the structure. I like the fact that there is a whole lesson spent learning to use the brush... Read Full Review

I'm a begining painter and I felt this book helped me get off to a good start. It helped me learn the mixing of colors (which I refer to often when using the greens) I liked the practice exercises which helped me to visualize the highlights and shading. The first landscape I did was the step-by-step in the book and it turned out ok for my first. I would recommend this book!!

This book happened to be the Oil Painting Course I had wanted. So many books and instructors talk in generalities, and say "mix the colour till it's right", but this book describes what colours are, what we are trying to do, and how to achieve it. And again with shapes, still life, landscape and up to portrait. Theory is presented, excersizes are given, we are led through a "paint along", and then encouraged to blossom... Read Full Review