Landscape books?
 

I find myself painting a lot of portraits that are set in the great outdoors and I think my work could improve if I learned more about landscape painting.

Can anyone recommend some great books I should get?

Thanks!

John Carlson - .
Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting

Study the work of Peder Mork Monsted. His work regularly appears in 19th Century European Painting catalogs from Sothebys and Christies. There are also posters available. Nobody ever did it better. His color defies description.

I second Chris on Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting - one of the best painting books I own.

Also, Edgar Payne's Composition of Outdoor Painting is a great book - pricey, but worth every cent.

Hi Michele,

In addition to Carlson and Payne, you may want to check out the new Plein Air Magazine . I haven't had the chance to read this magazine but I'm looking forward to subscribing to it.

I often refer to Richard Schmid Paints Landscapes
which I hope will someday be reprinted (with more color plates) so that it won't cost so much to buy. (Inexplicably, I found it at a used book store for $15 a few years ago.)


You might also pick up a (much less expensive, Dover edition) of [
The Artistic Anatomy of Trees

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I just got my order from Amazon today and now have Kevin MacPherson's book and the Carlson one. That should give me a good start. I'll ask for the rest for Christmas!

I know I am late responding to this, but here are two of my favorites, besides what was already mentioned:

Art From the Parks - available from Northlight Books

Maxfield Parrish: The Landscapes
by Alma Gilbert, - his compositions are what draw me back to this book.