LANDSCAPE PAINTING:
ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES FOR PLEIN AIR AND STUDIO PRACTICE

Reviews and Praise from Readers

"The most brilliant art-instruction book I have every seen"

"If you're a landscape painter and you want a book that takes you as seriously as you take your subject, look no further."

"I've read dozens of "how-to" books over the years and yours is one of the very best ... In addition to the crystalline clarity — and supreme usefulness — of your demonstrations, you've provided your readers with an overview of landscape painting that is, in my experience, unexcelled."

"I have never before been so impressed with a book that I felt compelled to write to the author. But, this book is exceptional."

 

"A new classic of landscape art"
Katherine Tyrrell / makingamark.com / January 6, 2010

Read the full review at makingamark.com

This book will become a new classic of landscape art. It takes the core concepts and skills required of those creating any type of representational art and interprets and relates how these apply and work within the context of landscape art. It's an in-depth guide produced by somebody who is an experienced educator. It's written and designed by somebody who is an excellent communicator. It deserves a place on the bookshelf of everybody who takes landscape art seriously — whether they paint plein air or in the studio.

If I was to try and write a book about landscape painting then this would be the one I'd wish I'd written [More ...]

"A book that takes you as seriously as you take your subject"
ArtBookReview.net / February 1, 2010

This is by no means a book for the beginner, but rather a comprehensive review of landscape painting, for the most part in oils, for the serious student and, as such, it's to be welcomed.

Most of the book is taken up with a discussion of the process of landscape painting and methods of interpreting different subjects, elements, colours, shapes and lighting patterns. There's a great deal to read, but it's punctuated with plenty of illustrations that illuminate the text and never leave you struggling for comprehension. The final section of the book is devoted to a series of demonstration paintings of a good variety of subjects and these are discussed in detail rather than being in the form that could almost be described as painting by numbers.

If you're a landscape painter and you want a book that takes you as seriously as you take your subject, look no further.

"A beautiful guide for any artist"
Omaha World Herald / December 2009

Anyone inclined to create his own landscapes and nature images with paint can't go wrong with this how-to book, which covers everything from choosing materials to finding inspiration. But this is no dry textbook; it's a beautiful guide for any artist.

Praise from Readers

"The most brilliant art-instruction book I have every seen"
John Cline, May, 2010

Things are beginning to look up for me and I have decided that what I really want to paint was what I started out wanting to paint as a teenager: the landscape. My stumbling-block, however, was a multitude of unanswered technical questions, which I had either been unable to verbalize or my teachers were unable to answer. But in your book, I have found my questions both verbalized and answered. It is almost as if you had been able to get inside my head. Your book is the most brilliant art-instruction book I have every seen ... I'll be referring all of my students to your wonderful book, and I'll be using it in the classroom as well."

"An overview of landscape painting that is unexcelled"
Brett Busang / March 2010

I've read dozens of "how-to" books over the years and yours is one of the very best. A rather common failing of such books is the "core talent" the artist/demonstrator uses, which rarely passes muster. In addition to the crystalline clarity — and supreme usefulness — of your demonstrations, you've provided your readers with an overview of landscape painting that is, in my experience, unexcelled. Thanks very much for such a tribute to these voices — as well as grounding us in a supple, but sensible, mode of "seeing."

"I have never before been so impressed with a book"
Marilyn Glidewell / March 2010

"I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your new book. I could hardly believe it when I first saw it in Barnes & Noble. It stood out — way and above all the other art technique books. I have never before been so impressed with a book that I felt compelled to write to the author. But, this book is exceptional. Everything about it is well done. I feel like I've found invaluable information that will help me be a better artist."

"One of the best books on painting, not just landscape painting"
Rico LeBrun / November 2009

One of the best books on painting, not just landscape painting ... You can tell this is a book written by an educator with 20+ years of experience; he is able to distill fairly complex ideas into understandable concepts. For those of you who are intermediate to advanced painters, you will find yourself alternately confirming long held unspoken thoughts and finding practical solutions to the unique problems presented by painting the landscape subject. For beginners, this is a book you will read many times and continue to gain insight as you gain experience. This book is not only a "how-to" (step one, step two, etc.) but a why do. Physically the book is beautiful. In an act of humility, his examples in the book are mostly from 36 other artists, many of whom are new to me. (I look forward to finding out more about some of these artists.) We see Chatham and Shils, a couple of modern day masters as well as Payne and Pinkham. Fantastic selection. We also get a nice selection of Mitchell's paintings, which are wonderful. The reproductions are top notch. It has been quite a while since I have seen such a book full of so much.

Addendum: It has been mentioned that this is a book for beginners. That being the case, if one were to understand and implement successfulyl all that is in this book, you would be well beyond a beginner.

"Best Landscape Painting Instruction Ever!"
S. Scarpa / February 5, 2010

Not only is Mitchell is a great artist, he is a generous and wonderful teacher. This book addresses all of the concerns for the landscape painter at ALL levels. There is much information discussed in this book that I have never read or heard discussed anywhere else and he communicateds it clearly. He gives other gifted artists a boost by using their work to illustrate the concepts in this book. Most artists who write art instruction books only use their own work and perhaps some old masters for this purpose. I haven't read every book on this topic, but so far I would say that this is the BEST BOOK EVER!

"A Blessing"
Inky Thumb / Jan. 2010

This book is a blessing for the beginning, intermediate, and even advanced painter. It is thoughtful and considered. The writing style is one reason I enjoy turning to it for guidance — Albala wastes no words relating essential information, while imparting a calm, pointed knowledge. I am sure to re-read this book many times: not the case with the half dozen other contemporary "how-to" painting books that seemed rather thrown together and which I've wound up reading less than half of. Albala's use of his own and other artist's work is both inspiring and deeply instructive. Each photo is married to a caption that explains why he is using this work to illustrate the sectioned concept. These are high quality examples.

"Finally some hope for progress ..."
P. Sagely / March, 2010

This book was written by someone who obviously has been teaching oil painting for some time. The writing style, the organization and the informational content is exceptional. I am a novice oil painter who has struggled with various aspects of this medium — especially in a plein air setting using the direct alla prima method. Most of my oil painting education has come from reading many, many books — yet there remained signficant impediments to my learning curve. Well, finally some hope for progress as this book addressed my particular issues like no other. It was almost as if Albala watched me struggle in one of his classes and then wrote sections of the book just for me. Even some of his sidebar helpful tips — so seemingly simple at first glance — have helped me immensely. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to become a better oil painter in particular and a better artist in general.

"A new classic in landscape painting"
Wayne Knowles, Painter / December 2009

Mitchell Albala has written a new classic in books dealing with landscape painting. I'd place it along side Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting, Composition of Outdoor Painting by Edgar Payne, Alla Prima by Richard Schmid and The Art Spirit by Robert Henri. It's a wonderful accomplishment.

"A well conceived discussion and approach for the landscape artist"
Suzanne Burnell, Painter / December 2009

This book provides a comprehensive and thorough approach to landscape painting. For any painter wanting to improve his/her skills, this book provides a well conceived discussion and approach for the landscape artist. There are plenty of examples, demonstrations, photographs with practical and clear writing. I also loved the beauty of the book — its layout, inspirational quotes and phenomenal paintings. I'm going to enjoy this book for a long time!