Alla Prima II

Alla Prima II is Richard Schmid's comprehensive guide to oil painting techniques, building on his original Alla Prima book published in 1998. This expanded edition contains Schmid's lifelong observations as a painter and teacher. The book covers fundamental concepts including color theory, brushwork, composition, and working from both life and photographs. Through demonstrations and examples from his own work, Schmid breaks down complex painting methods into clear, actionable steps. Technical instruction is balanced with discussions of artistic philosophy and approaching a painting practice with intention. The text is accompanied by over 300 images, including Schmid's paintings, reference photos, and process shots. This work stands as both a practical manual and a meditation on what it means to develop as an artist through sustained practice and observation. The core message centers on achieving technical excellence while maintaining creative freedom and authenticity in one's work.

Readers consistently cite the detailed technical information and clear explanations of color theory, value relationships, and brushwork. Many note the book helped them understand how to mix colors and create accurate flesh tones. Likes: - Step-by-step demonstrations with clear photos - Information on materials and studio setup - Balance of technical instruction and artistic philosophy - Quality of printing and image reproduction Dislikes: - High price point ($95-375 depending on edition) - Some find the writing style verbose - Advanced concepts can overwhelm beginners - Limited availability has driven up costs Amazon: 4.8/5 (384 reviews) Goodreads: 4.7/5 (543 reviews) "This book taught me more in two chapters than four years of art school" - Amazon reviewer "The price is steep but the knowledge inside is worth every penny" - Goodreads review "Too much philosophy, not enough concrete instruction" - Art forum comment Several readers note the book works best as a reference guide to revisit rather than a cover-to-cover read.

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🎨 Richard Schmid spent nearly 15 years revising and expanding the original "Alla Prima" before releasing "Alla Prima II" in 2013 🖼️ The term "alla prima" is Italian for "at first attempt," referring to a painting technique where wet paint is applied to previous layers of wet paint 📚 The book features over 300 new images and demonstrations compared to the first edition, including Schmid's own paintings and detailed step-by-step processes 🎓 Schmid taught his techniques to notable artists like Nancy Guzik, who later became his wife and contributed to the book's creation 🏆 The original "Alla Prima" became known as the "painter's painter's book" and was so sought after that used copies were selling for hundreds of dollars before the release of "Alla Prima II"