Alla Prima II: Everything I Know About Painting — and More

The single best book on oil painting ever written, according to a remarkable number of professional painters. Alla Prima II is the expanded, definitive edition of Richard Schmid’s landmark instructional text, and it belongs on the shelf of anyone serious about representational painting.

Why Start Here

Schmid’s original Alla Prima went through thirteen printings and became a cult classic among painters. This second edition is over a third larger, with 328 pages and 262 color images including paintings, step-by-step sequences, and diagrams. The color chapter alone grew from 48 to 75 pages. It does not just update the original, it supersedes it entirely.

What sets this book apart from other painting instruction is Schmid’s clarity. He distills decades of professional experience into principles you can actually use at the easel. The sections on color mixing, edge control, and drawing are worth the price on their own. He writes the way he paints: with confidence, economy, and no wasted effort.

What to Expect

A dense, thorough reference that rewards repeated reading. This is not a weekend project book. Schmid covers color, values, edges, drawing, composition, and the alla prima method of painting from life in serious depth. The writing is direct and opinionated, the reproductions are excellent, and the step-by-step demonstrations show how theory translates to practice. You will return to this book for years.