Acosta, Cristina. Paint Happy North Light, 2002. A joyous approach to spontaneous painting with pastels and acrylics.

Agnew, John. Painting the Secret World of Nature. North Light, 2001. Awesome paintings of wildlife using techniques in brush and airbrush painting.

Bagnall, Brian. Creative Drawing and Painting. North Light, n.d. Richly illustrated with examples in all media.

Baughan, Kalon & Brook M. Baughan. Painting the Faces of Wildlife. North Light, 2000. A variety of animals and birds covered primarily in oils. Very general on technique and materials.

Beam, Mary Todd. Celebrate Your Creative Self. North Light, 2001. More than 25 exercises to unleash the artist within.

Beam, Mary Todd. The Creative Edge . North Light, 2009. Exercises to celebrate your creative self.

Beck, James. Leonardo's Rules of Painting. Viking, 1979. An unconventional approach to modern art.

Becker, David. Watercolor Composition Made Easy. North Light, 1999. Composition ideas that work in all media.

Betts, Edward. Creative Landscape Painting. Watson-Guptill, 1980. Different approaches to landscapes by a variety of artists.

Betts, Edward. Creative Seascape Painting. Watson-Guptill, 1981. Different approaches to seascapes by a variety of artists.

Bossom, Michael. Encaustic Art: How to Paint With Wax. Search Press, 1997. A lot of information in a small book with how-to-do-it photographs and text.

Brady, Patti. Rethinking Acrylics: Radical solutions for exploiting the world's most versatile medium. North Light, 2008. Excellent reference for the wide variety of acrylic paints and how to use them. (See also Nancy Reyner's book)

Brommer, Gerald. Emotional Content: How to Create Paintings That Communicate . International Artist, 2003. The key question is "What do you feel?" Brommer's books are always filled with useful tips and techniques.

Brommer, Gerald and Nancy Kinne. Exploring Painting: A Guide for Teachers. Davis, 1995. Excellent overview of painting media.

Brooks, Leonard. Painter's Workshop: A Basic Course in Contemporary Painting and Drawing. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1969. Good program for teachers or self-study.

Brooks, Leonard. Painting and Understanding Abstract Art. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1964. Very helpful book on the process of abstraction.

Brooks, Leonard. Painting and Understanding Abstract Art. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1964. Very helpful book.

Brouillette, Al. The Evolving Picture. Watson-Guptill, 1987. Watercolor techniques with acrylics, beautiful work.

Brown, Harley Harley Brown's Eternal Truths for Every Artist. International Artist, 2001. A seasoned artist shares his techniques and philosophy.

Bulgin, Sally. Acrylics Master Class. Search ABEbooks Techniques of British artists.

Bulgin, Sally, ed. The Artist's Problem Solver.. North Light, 2001. Practical solutions from ten professional artists for painting in watercolors, oils, pastels and acrylics.

Carlson, John. Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting. Peter Smith, 1984. A classic in the field of techniques and composition.

Carr, Betty. Seeing the Light: An Artist's Guide. North Light, 2003. Shows you how to create depth, form and atmospheric light in watercolor and oil paints.

Ceninni, Ceninno d'Andrea. The Craftsman's Handbook: Il Libro dell-Arte. Translation of one of the earliest art techniques books ever written.

Crook & Learner. Impact of Modern Paints. Watson-Guptill, 2000. How paint chemistry and the advent of acrylics influenced 20th century painters.

Dews, Pat. Creative Composition & Design. A painter's workshop.

Duca, Alfred & Lynn Loscutoff, jurors. The Best of Acrylic Painting. Rockport, 1996. Outstanding contemporary work.

Dunce, Brian. Make Your Paintings Look 3-Dimensional. North Light, 1994. Has some useful tips.

Dunn, Charles. Conversations in Paint. Workman, 1996. A useful notebook of fundamentals for painters.

Dye, Sean. Painting With Water Soluble Oils. North Light, 2001. 15 artists show how to create successful paintings with this exciting new medium.

Elkins, James. What Painting Is: How To Think About Oil Painting Using the Language of Alchemy. Routledge, 1999. A very unusual approach to oil painting.

Ferry, David. Painting Without a Brush. Wellfleet, 1991. Try some unusual techniques.

Friend David. The Creative Way to Paint. Watson-Guptill, 1970. Improvisation, imagination and personal approach.

Genn, Robert. The Painter's Keys: A Seminar With Robert Genn. Studio Beckett, 1997. Entertaining and informative seminar with a popular Canadian painter.

Goerschner, Ted. Oil Painting: The Workshop Experience. North Light, 2001. Tips for all levels by a master painter and colorist.

Gottsegen, Mark David. The Painter's Handbook: Revised and Expanded. Watson-Guptill, 2006.

Green, Jean Drysdale. ArtEffects. Watson-Guptill, 1993. Textures and illusions, lots of creative ideas.

Greer, Hugh. Acrylic Landscape Painting Techniques. North Light, 2002. Good step-by-step demos, basic palette, special attention to various aspects of the landscape.

Griffel, Lois. Painting the Impressionist Landscape. Watson-Guptill, 2003. Lessons in interpreting light and color.

Hamm, Jack. First Lessons in Drawing and Painting. Perigree, 1988. A complete and easy guide.

Harrison, Hazel. Painting Great Pictures From Photographs. North Light, 2001. Gain a new visual vocabulary and find creative possibilities.

Hartley, Ann, ed. Bridging Time & Space: Essays on the Art of Layering. Markowitz SLMM, 1998. A book on the spiritual aspect of painting with illustrations by contemporary artists.

Hawthorne, Charles. Hawthorne on Painting. Dover, 1965. Collected notes from Hawthorne's painting classes.

Henri, Robert. The Art Spirit. Lippincott, 1960. Notes, articles, fragments of letters & talks to students, bearing on the concept & technique of picture making, the study of art generally & on appreciation. A big favorite, very quotable.

Hofmann, Hans. Search for the Real & Other Essays. MIT, 1967. A must read for visual artists.

Howard, Rob. The Illustrator's Bible: The Complete Sourcebook of Tips, Tricks, and Time-Saving Techniques in Oil, Alkyd, Acrylic, Gouache, Casein, Watercolor, Dyes, Inks, Airbrush, Scratchboard, Pastel, Colored Pencil, and Mixed Media. Watson-Guptill, 1992. Great studio handbook, especially for commercial art techniques.

Howe, Patrick. Dramatic Light: Paint Eye-Catching Art in Watercolor and Oil. North Light, 2006. Patrick Howe makes painting light doable for most painters in watercolor and oil

Hunt, William Morris. On Painting and Drawing. Dover, 1976. Notes from Hunt's class lectures.

Huntly, Moira. Imaginative Still Life. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1983. Demos of different media and techniques.

Huntly, Moira. Painting in Mixed Media. North Light, 1989. Ideas and demos in different media and subjects.

Jameson, Kenneth. Starting With Abstract Painting and Abstract Work in Other Media. Watson-Guptill, 1970. An early book that helps understand abstraction.

Johnson, Robert A. On Becoming a Painter Sunflower Publishing, 2001. Some words of guidance from a master painter.

Katchen, Carole. 200 Great Painting Ideas for Artists. North Light, 1998. Examples from different artists and media.

Katchen, Carole. Dramatize Your Paintings with Tonal Value. North Light, 1993. 20 artists demonstrate techcniques emphasizing value.

Katchen, Carole. Figure Drawing Workshop. Watson-Guptill, 1985. How to make inspiring figure drawings in all media with examples from several artists.

Katchen, Carole. Painting Faces and Figures. Watson-Guptill, 1986. Good examples of different media, artists and poses.

Katchen, Carole. Painting With Passion: How to Paint What You Feel. North Light, 1997. Painting more creatively by expressing yourself.

Kelley, Ramon. The 5 Essentials in Every Powerful Painting. International Artist, 2001. One of our contemporary masters describes the foundation for his work.

Killeen, Earl Grenville, with Leah Raechel Killeen. The North Light Book of Acrylic Painting Techniques. North Light, 1995. Good resource for materials and techniques.

King, Jennifer, ed. Expressing the Visual Language of the Landscape International Artist, 2002. Delightful collection of contemporary landscapes in various media.

Knapp, Stephen. Creative Inspirations: A Collection of Drawing and Painting Ideas for Artists. Rockport, 1997. Exciting selections of contemporary paintings.

Knapp, Stephen. Landscape Inspirations: A Collection of Drawing and Painting Ideas for Artists. Rockport, 1997. A beautiful collection of contemporary art.

Kriesberg, Irving. Working With Color: A Manual for Painters. John Wiley, 1997. Some interesting ideas and exercises for the painter.

Lalumia, Frank. Plein Air Painting in Watercolor and Oil. North Light, 2000. Equipment, colors and demos--good coverage of the subject.

Lawrence, Rod. Painting Wildlife Textures Step-by-Step. North Light, 1997. Excellent reference on painting animal details.

Lawrence, Rod. Wildlife Painting Basics: Waterfowl and Wading Birds. North Light, 2000. A good reference for bird painters.

Le Clair, Charles. Color in Contemporary Painting. Watson-Guptill, 1997. Fine examples and good information.

Lefens, Tim. Flying Colors. Beacon, 2002. The inspiring story of the transformative power of art with disabled artists.

Lehrman, Lew. Energize Your Paintings With Color. North Light, 1993. 12 artists show their different approaches to color.

Lehrman, Lou. Freshen Your Paintings With New Ideas. North Light, 1994. Ideas from 23 artists for more creative paintings.

Leland, Nita. Exploring Color: How to Use and Control Color in Your Painting. North Light, 1998. The best book on color for artists--trust me! More than 80 exercises and demos, plus wonderful examples by 65 artists. Look here for more information.

Leland, Nita. Exploring Color Coloring Book. Moonflower Books, 2000. A color reference handbook and workbook for Exploring Color printed on acid-free watercolor paper. You don't need the book to do the workbook (but it helps) Look here for more information.

Leonard, Elizabeth. Painting Flowers. Watson-Guptill, 1991. Composing and painting still lifes with flowers.

Lidzey, John, et al. Color Mixing for Artists. Barrons, 2002. Minimum colors for maximum effect using watercolors, acrylics and oils.

Lord, Vicki. Painting Acrylics (First Steps Series). North Light, 1996. A good basic book.

Macpherson, Kevin. Fill Your Oil Paintings With Light & Color. North Light, 2000. A classic.

Martin, Judy. 100 Keys to Great Acrylic Painting. North Light, 1995. Handy pocket-size guide.

Mayer, Ralph. The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques. Fifth ed. Viking, 1991. A technical reference all serious artists should be familiar with.

McMurry, Vicky. Mastering Color Cinn: North Light, 2006. The essentials of color illustrated with oils.

Metzger, Phil. The Artist's Illustrated Encylopedia: Techniques, Materials & Terms. North Light, 2001. A comprehensive reference, lavishly illustrated with contemporary art works, photographs and charts.

Mattera, Joanne. The Art of Encaustic Painting. Watson-Guptill, 2001. Contemporary expression in the ancient medium of pigmented wax

Metzger, Phil. Enliven Your Paintings With Light. North Light, 1993. Creating light effects with different media--instruction.

Montanari, Sally. Look Again! Clues to Modern Painting. Starrhill, 1990. Lively overview of modern art.

Mowry, Elizabeth. The Poetic Landscape Watson Guptill, 2001. An inspiring pastel book for artists in all media.

Nelson, Craig. 60 Minutes to Better Painting. North Light, 2002. Sharpen your skills quickly in oils and acrylics.

Nicholas, Tom & John Terelak. The Best of Oil Painting. Rockport, 1996. Beautiful collection of mostly realistic art.

Norton, John. Painting & Drawing Children. Watson-Guptill, 1979. Anatomy and features in different media.

Oelke, Barbara. Drawing and Painting Horses. Watson-Guptill, 2000. The art of the equine form in different media.

Onslow-Ford, Gordon. Painting In the Instant. Search ABEbooks Thames & Hudson, 1964. Journal of one artist's creative journey.

Paul, Stephen, ed. Illustrator's Figure Reference Manual. Bloomsbury, 1997. Hundreds of photos of men, women and children engaged in different activities.

Perry, Vicky. Abstract Painting. Watson-Guptill, 2005. Concepts and techniques. Interesting take on abstract expressionist and color-field design and techniques.

Pitz, Henry. How to Use the Figure in Painting & Illustration. Search ABEbooks Watson-Guptill, 1968.

Purdon, Douglas. Color Secrets for Glowing Oil Paintings. North Light, 1998. Luminous landscapes in oil and alkyd.

Pyle, David. Paint & Colors: What Every Artist Needs to Know. Krause, 2000. The book is comprehensive, covering everything from the history of pigments to the behavior of paints and safety issues.

Quiller, Stephen. Acrylic Painting Techniques: How to Master the Medium of Our Age. Watson-Guptill, 1994. One of the best books on acrylics.

Quiller, Stephen. Color Choices. Watson-Guptill, 1989. Using color in your paintings--good book.

Quiller, Stephen. Painter's Guide to Color. Watson-Guptill, 1999. Good content on intensity contrast.

Rayfield, Susan. Painting Birds. Watson-Guptill, 1988. Instruction on details and techniques. Good resource for bird painters.

Reid, Charles. Flower Painting in Oil. Watson-Guptill, 1976. The inimitable Reid technique with flowers.

Reid, Charles. Pulling Your Paintings Together. Watson-Guptill, 1990. A master tells you how to do it.

Reyner, Nancy. Acrylic Revolution: New tricks and techniques for working with the world's most versatile medium. North Light, 2008. Excellent reference for the wide variety of acrylic paints and how to use them. (See also Patti Brady's book)

Reynolds, Robert. Painting Nature's Peaceful Places. Watson-Guptill, 1993. Painting serene, beautifully understated pictures.

Richards, David. How to Discover Your Personal Painting Style. North Light, 1995. Finding what makes you paintings unique.

Robinson, John. Paint the Sea in Oils Using Special Effects. International Artist, 2000. Comprehensive cover by a master of the art.

Rodwell, Jenny. Painting With Acrylics. North Light, 1990. Basic information.

Roukes, Nicholas. Acrylics Bold and New. Watson-Guptill, 1986. Love this book--lots of tricks and techniques.

Rubins, David. The Human Figure. Penguin, 1976. Artistic anatomy--a simple guide to structure.

Sanden, John Howard. Portraits from Life. North Light, 1999. Sanden's twenty-nine steps to capturing a portrait.

Sarback, Susan. Capturing Radiant Color in Oils. North Light, 2000. Glorious color in her paintings.

Schider, Fritz. An Atlas of Anatomy for Artists. Dover, 1981. Diagrams and photos of the skeleton and musculature.

Schmid, Richard. Alla Prima: Everything I Know About Painting. West Wind, 1998. A wonderful book, Schmid's techniques and philosophy rolled into one.

Schmid, Richard. Richard Schmid Paints Landscapes. Watson-Guptill, 1980. An older book, but anything by Schmid is good.

Seligman, Patricia. Painting the Effects of Weather. North Light, 1997. Sunshine, shadows, clouds, snow, ice, mist and more.

Seslar, Lin. Painting Seascapes in Sharp Focus. North Light, 1987. Seascapes in different media.

Seslar, Patrick. Wildlife Painting Step by Step. North Light, 1995. Wildlife painting in different media.

Shorr, Harriet. The Artist's Eye: A Perceptual Way of Painting. Watson-Guptill, 1990. The artist describes her personal approach to painting.

Silverman, Burt. Painting People. Watson-Guptill, 1977. Methods in oils, pastels and watercolors.

Simpson, Ian. The Complete Painting Course: A Comprehensive Learning Guide and Reference Manual. Running Press, 1993. (UK) Lots of information for reference.

Sloan, John. The Gist of Art. Dover, 1977. Principles and practice expounded in the classroom and studio.

Smith, Stan, ed. The Artist's Manual. Mayflower, 1980. Equipment, materials and techniques. Includes painting, drawing, graphic design and sculpture.

Sovek, Charles. Oil Painting: Develop Your Natural Ability. North Light, 1991. Excellent book, helpful in all media.

Strisik, Paul. The Art of Landscape Painting. Watson-Guptill, 1980. A classic: materials, techniques, demos by a contemporary master.

Stroud, Betsy Dillard. Painting From the Inside Out North Light, 2002. Creative techniques for painters--exciting new concepts.

Sultan, Altoon. The Luminous Brush: Painting With Egg Tempera. Watson-Guptill, 1999. This small book covers a lot of territory, from a concise history to materials and how-do demos.

Svob, Mike. Painting Red Hot Landscapes That Sell!. International Artist, 2002. A sure-fire way to stop boring and start selling everything you paint in oils.

Tauchid, Rheni. The New Acrylics: Complete Guide to the New Generation of Acrylic Paints. Watson-Guptill, 2005. This book has been popular with acrylic painters.

Topal, Cathy. Children & Painting. Davis, 1992. Creative projects for children.

Unwin, Chris. The Artistic Touch. Creative Artist, 1995. The work of 65 artists, mostly in watercolor.

Van Wyk, Helen. Helen Van Wyk's Favorite Color Recipes. Art Instruction Associates, 2000. A variety of subjects and color recipes in oil paints that suit them.

Van Wyk, Helen. Color Mixing the Van Wyk Way: A Manual for Oil Painters. Art Instruction Associates, 2000. Handling specific paint colors in still life and portraits--simple but effective.

Verrall, Nicholas and Robin Capon. Color and Light in Oils Batsford, 1005. Beautiful paintings, good information and not intimidating.

Williams, Hiram. Notes For a Young Painter. Prentice Hall, 1984. A classic handbook for beginning painters, not a technical book.

Wolf, Rachel. The Acrylic Painter's Book of Styles & Techniques. North Light, 1997. Broad view of acrylic painting--an idea book.

Wolf, Rachel. Art From the Parks. North Light, 2000. A beautiful collection of art from the national parks competitions.

Wolf, Rachel, ed. Basic Still Life Techniques. North Light, 1994. Techniques and demos by various artists.

Wolf, Rachel, ed. Keys to Painting Color & Value. North Light, 2001. Techniques and demos in all media from the authors of North Light Books.

Wolf, Rachel, ed. Keys to Painting Trees & Foliage. North Light, 2001. Techniques and demos in all media from the authors of North Light Books.

Zaferatos, Olga. Painting the Still Life. Watson-Guptill, 1985. Different artists compose and paint still lifes.

Zemsky, Jessica. Capturing the Magic of Children in Your Paintings. North Light, 1996.

Zhang, Hongnian. The Yin-Yang of Painting. Watson Guptill, 2001. A contemporary master reveals the secrets of painting found in ancient chinese philosophy.

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