Alla Prima II Everything I Know about Painting--And More

This is a timeless classic direct painting book. Tons of great advice for the serious painter. Expensive but worth it!

I got the paperback, I usually prefer it. The book arrived in great time and in excellent condition with a thin plastic shrink wrap.I find the author’s opinions a bit biased, and quirky. If you’ve met him or seen videos of him you know what to expect and take it in stride.There are lots of great big beautiful lush paintings of his, it doubles as a picture book.At nearly 300 pages, we can tell that in this final edition, he did not hold anything back, and answered as many questions the reader may have.I’m only in the beginning chapters but already enjoy reading very much and though the size is considerable find it an easy and thought provoking read. Because of the size, I might get a hardcover if I were to get a new copy, but I’m very happy with mine will give this a very positive review.

ALLA PRIMA II by Richard Schmid, either here on Amazon or $95.00 (from his website), is worth every penny! Richard Schmid is a master painter. I would put him in the category with Rembrant, Monet, Sargent, etc.. How lucky for us! Finally, a master painter has written and shared “Everything He Knows About Painting”. Not only that, he writes extremely well, breaking down the techniques for artists, art teachers and art lovers who crave to improve their art and want to know how to do it. He writes with humor and joy which makes Alla Prima II a great read for an art lover like me! The images in this collection of Richard's paintings are worth the cost of the book. It is like a visit to a museum! I will cherish Alla Prima II all my life and pass down in my family. Really worth it!

Absolutely the loveliest art book, it is an art book you want to read and learn something while enjoying it. It helps that Richard Schmid was a master of the paint brush and his wife Nancy Guzik, is of equal talent but different. I love the way they seemed to model for each other.

Artists are so hard on themselves, never really feeling like they really belong but Richard Schmid builds them up by teaching them that it takes more than mere talent to make a good artist. His paintings are beautifully illustrated in this gorgeous art book, filled with tips and encouragement and lessons on achieving your goals as an accomplished artist.

A life career spilled into print so we can learn (and lust) how to make better paintings. Just the notion of keeping your sharp edges reserved for your center of interest is old hat...unless you have never heard it before. Keep your focus on your center of interest and lose the edges is a similar notion. To read this, then watch one of Schmid's DVD demonstrations will astound you with the care that he puts into the "non-important" parts of his paintings. When I completed good detail in my center of interest, I usually slapped some paint around to finish the work. That will be impossible to do after you realize that very little about Schmid's work is accidental or slap-dash, no matter how casual it may seem. Schmid is a really good painter and this is a really good book. Plaudits to him and Ms Swatland.

I'm a student into oil painting 2 years and have purchased, borrowed and read dozens of books, videos and guides in addition to my lessons. This is the best I've found. I put off buying it because of the price, but finally caved because so many others gave it such exceptional reviews. I appreciate most: his depth of knowledge, the way he explains things, the psychological support he gives, and his respect for painters and the process of painting. It's been an enormous boon to my art and will continue to be for years to come.

This book is filled with so much helpful information about painting. It is written is clear language but is fun to read. The author has a sense of humor. It is not dry like a text book. I started from the beginning and am working my way through the entire book. Now I am making color charts from my palette colors. This is something I know I should have done a long time ago. Very worthwhile purchase for serious painters.