Alla Prima II

The definitive reference for oil painters who want to paint from life. Richard Schmid distills decades of professional experience into a comprehensive guide that many working artists consider the single best book on oil painting ever written.

Why Consider This

Schmid was one of the most respected representational painters of his generation, and this book reads like a master class delivered in person. He covers color, edges, drawing, composition, and the alla prima technique of completing a painting in one session while the paint is still wet. His explanations are precise and deeply considered, reflecting a lifetime of solving problems at the easel.

This is not a beginner’s book. Schmid assumes you can already hold a brush and mix basic colors. What he offers instead is the kind of insight that separates competent painters from exceptional ones: how to judge the accuracy of a color mixture by its relationship to surrounding colors, how to handle edges so they create depth and atmosphere, and how to simplify complex scenes into paintable compositions. If you have worked through a beginner book and want to understand what the next level looks like, this is where you go.

What to Expect

At 328 pages, this is a substantial, serious reference. The writing is thoughtful and occasionally philosophical. Schmid does not rush through topics, and some chapters require multiple readings to fully absorb. The book is self-published and beautifully produced, with high-quality reproductions of Schmid’s paintings throughout. Plan to read it slowly, return to individual chapters as your skills develop, and treat it as a long-term companion rather than a weekend project.