8 Best-Selling Painting Books Millions Love

Sarah Simon, a Seattle-based artist known as @themintgardener, brings her passion for urban garden-inspired watercolors to this workbook aimed at beginners. The book guides you through 25 botanical projects on premium 200 gsm watercolor paper, each designed to be completed in about 30 minutes without requiring prior drawing skills. You’ll learn fundamental watercolor techniques alongside practical tips on materials and brushwork, all demonstrated through floral subjects like wild roses and sunflowers. This workbook is especially suited if you want to build your watercolor skills steadily with approachable yet satisfying projects.

Drawing from his deep expertise in art history and medieval studies, Ingo F. Walther crafted this extensive work to explore Vincent van Gogh’s complex life and vast body of paintings. The book offers an insightful monograph that not only recounts Van Gogh’s personal struggles with mental illness and lack of recognition but also presents a complete catalogue of his 871 paintings, giving you a unique opportunity to trace the evolution of his distinctive style. You'll find detailed context around his artistic phases and thematic explorations, such as his use of color and brushwork, illuminated through vivid reproductions and critical commentary. This volume is suited for those seeking a profound understanding of Van Gogh’s artistic legacy beyond just the surface of his famous works.

This tailored watercolor book explores detailed techniques and projects that match your unique artistic background and goals. It covers essential watercolor skills, from mastering washes and layering to advanced brushwork, guiding you through projects that fit your interests. The book examines how to manipulate textures, color blending, and composition specifically tailored to your experience level. By focusing on your personal creative journey, it reveals insights drawn from popular watercolor knowledge while adapting them to what you want to achieve. This personalized approach helps you deepen your understanding and build confidence, making your watercolor practice both enjoyable and rewarding.

After hosting popular watercolor workshops, Dana Fox crafted this guide to make watercolor art accessible and enjoyable for everyone. You’ll learn how to create 50 no-sketch projects, focusing on techniques like wet-on-dry and wet-on-wet painting, as well as rendering textures such as fur and feathers with simple outlines provided on premium art paper. Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone seeking a fresh style to unwind, this book breaks down the process so your paintings can feel polished without the intimidation of sketching first. It’s especially suited for those who want to explore creativity through nature-inspired subjects without getting bogged down in complex drawing skills.

Kevin Macpherson's approach to oil painting challenges the notion that capturing mood requires complex techniques. Instead, he invites you to focus on painting the colors you see, using bold, direct brushstrokes to quickly convey the atmosphere of a scene. Through his clear guidance, you learn how to create vibrant landscapes and still lifes in an impressionistic style that feels both accessible and expressive. This book suits painters eager to inject immediacy and color vibrancy into their work without getting bogged down in minute details.

What happens when decades of hands-on watercolor experience meets an approachable, principle-driven guide? Gordon MacKenzie, a respected artist and teacher with over 30 years in the field, distills his insights into this collection that merges two of his acclaimed guides. You’ll explore foundational concepts alongside creative challenges, focusing less on rigid rules and more on expanding your artistic process. Chapters like those on landscape techniques offer tangible ways to refine your brushwork and color mixing. This book suits anyone eager to deepen their watercolor skills beyond basics, especially those who appreciate a thoughtful, exploratory approach rather than formulaic instruction.

This tailored book explores rapid skill-building in oil painting through a unique daily practice designed specifically for you. It examines key techniques and essential materials, focusing on your existing experience and artistic interests to match your personal learning journey. The text reveals how to develop vibrant paintings quickly by emphasizing exercises and concepts that resonate with your goals. By addressing your specific challenges and preferences, the book offers a customized path to progress that blends proven painting methods with your individual creative vision. This personalized approach ensures you gain focused, relevant insights to energize your oil painting practice and build confidence day by day.

John F. Carlson's decades as a celebrated American landscape painter and teacher shine through in this guide, which remains a trusted companion for artists focused on natural scenes. You’ll learn how to approach landscape painting with a keen eye for subject selection, atmospheric effects, and the emotional impact of line and form. Carlson's explanations of complex concepts like aerial perspective, tone unity, and memory work provide practical insights that help you understand why certain techniques work, not just how to apply them. Whether you're refining your brushwork or composing a cohesive scene, this book offers grounded advice that benefits both beginners and seasoned painters alike.

Millions have turned to F. Sehnaz Bac's guide for transforming simple stones into vibrant art pieces, drawn by the clear instructions and inspiring photos that make creativity accessible. You’ll learn not just how to paint but how to select the perfect stones and supplies, discover themes from mandalas to holiday motifs, and create meaningful community projects like "Kindness Rocks." It’s ideal if you want a hands-on, family-friendly craft that brightens your surroundings and sparks your imagination without needing prior artistic experience. While it’s great for beginners and casual artists, those seeking advanced painting techniques might find it more of a creative jumpstart than a deep dive.

Mitchell Albala challenges the conventional wisdom that landscape painting is merely about capturing scenery by focusing intensely on the building blocks of the craft: shape, composition, and color. Drawing from his experience as a nationally exhibited artist and seasoned instructor, Albala guides you through exercises that sharpen your ability to organize space using Notan studies, select harmonious color groups, and understand the effects of different picture formats. Chapters like "The Complete Color Strategy" and "Composition" break down complex visual dynamics into manageable concepts, making this workbook especially useful if you want to deepen your technical skills rather than just imitate nature. It's a practical companion for artists aiming to refine their approach to landscape painting, though those seeking purely inspirational imagery might find it more methodical than evocative.