Landscape Painting: Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice

I found out about the book from a blog - researched the author and was attracted by his many practical insights. The book is superb in its teaching style, aimed at immediate application. It’s become quite a companion. For example, any aspiring oil painter suffering from ‘greenitis’ will find remedies here. And approaches to under-painting using 2 different hues to balance initial tonal sketch was really helpful. There is a kind of ‘logic’ to everything I have read in the book but not in a way that stifles creativity but rather established important ‘principles of good practice’ I would call them. As the food writer Elizabeth David said - you have to learn how to cook a plain soufflé every time, many times, before trying variations. In painting as in cooking, it’s practice, practice, practice and making mistakes so you can learn from them. For painters, this book is a great companion.

Just finished reading this very comprehensive book and can thoroughly recommend it. A great reference book too, which I will go back to in the future, easy to follow and well illustrated. A modern and therefore up-to-date manual in the vein of 'Guide to Landscape Painting' by J.F. Carlson. Highly recommended.

A superb book, and one that I refer to time and time again - that's the true test of a book on painting, in my opinion. And one of the really nice things about this author is that he continues to post material on his blog (and in magazines) that refers to parts of the book but also extends the content of the book with additional explanation. Mitchell's writing is excellent - very readable, it's as if he's say next to you explaining things gently and clearly. Before I wrote this review, I read some of the other reviews, including the two 2-star reviews. Of course it's always possible to critique even the most accomplished effort, but I still struggle to understand those 2-star reviews. I must have about 100 books on painting, as well as about 50 videos/DVDs. Many of them I never look at again because they aren't very useful. Albala's book (plus his blog) is incredibly useful - it is absolutely packed with the kind of information that you would only get otherwise in a workshop situation. Of course, one book on painting on its own will probably never give you everything you want/need. When I read Albala's book, I remember parts of other books and video/DVDs and the knowledge is then strengthened. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This is a conscientiously executed piece of work, not unlike one of the author's paintings. He has scrupulously attempted to describe an underlying logic to creating landscape paintings, based largely on his own extensive experience. Any beginner could learn a lot from the book, particularly in practical terms: equipment needed, how to use it to best effect, how to plan a painting, advantages/disadvantages of outdoor/indoor working. Many examples of work by the author's peers help to illuminate the points he makes, and provide the reader with lots of stylistic approaches that will certainly help to inspire her/him.

An excellent book. Would recommend to new learners.

This is a very technical book written from an artist's perspective. It covers everything you need to know about landscape and painting in general. It has excellent explanations of why you should do things in a certain way and in such a way that is easy to follow. Technicalities are explained clearly and it is a pleasure to read. If you have never picked up a paintbrush you might find this hard going at first, but it is full of advice for the recently started and enthusiastic, like me. Thoroughly recommended and don't hesitate to add it to your art book library. The examples and pictures are first class. The bibliography at the back is also particularly useful.

Inspiration and beautifully demonstrated

I have not yet received my copy from the seller but have a library copy which I'm reading for the third time. This is an excellent book for oil painter's at any level. The author is one of those few writers who can write in an inspirational and motivational way so that every page has something new to offer and this can be of a practical or theoretical nature. In other words, what the author has to say is not purely instructional but gives plenty of food for thought and will stay with you long after you have read the book. Both the text and the illustrations are first class. Well worth buying and good value for money!