I’m a reader and an artist so I’ve read my fair share of art books over the years. These are the books I find myself recommending over and over again.
“How to See Color and Paint It” by Arthur Stern is one of those books that many old-school painting professors recommend—and for good reason. It’s a solid choice. If you’re looking for a self-guided exploration through the foundations of representational painting, I highly recommend. It offers a wonderful mix that’s approachable for beginners yet still provides a deep skill set.
“Blue and Yellow Don’t Make Green” by Michael Wilcox is a great complement if color mixing has ever left you feeling blue—no pun intended. Understanding color theory can be a tough seed to crack because it’s a very encompassing subject. What might make sense in primary school as we learn the basic colors becomes more complicated when we try to mix unique paints out of tubes.
“Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards is my go-to book for both teaching and understanding drawing. It’s an incredibly thorough book, and if you complete all the exercises, it’ll completely change your relationship with drawing. Many people tend to think of drawing as a skill you either have or you don’t. If you’re skeptical about your own abilities, I recommend this book because I have a feeling it might just convert you.
“Interaction of Colors” by Josef Albers is a foundational text for anyone looking to understand color theory. Albers delves into the relational nature of colors, illustrating that a color is only truly ‘seen’ in the context of surrounding colors. This book not only explores color relationships in a way that is beautiful to look at but also enhances your understanding of how to build these relationships in your paintings.
“Composition of Outdoor Painting” by Edgar Payne is a book I purchased with the intention of enhancing my ability to devise compositions for plein air painting. It accomplished this and much more; it fundamentally reshaped my understanding of composition, breaking it down into simple terms. If you ever struggle with composition, I highly recommend this book.
