The Best Books for Artists

There's nothing like a good old fashioned book, that you can hold in your hands, filled with beautiful art, to instruct and inspire artist and art lover alike. Some of the books recommended here instruct, some are biographies and some are histories. We can learn to express ourselves, discover how other individuals have expressed themselves and touched the souls of many and learn how civilizations across the ages have expressed themselves all through these beautiful books.

Art Books and Supplies make GREAT HOLIDAY GIFTS

The holidays are almost here! The artists and creative folks on your list are sure to appreciate a beautiful art book or some new art supplies this holiday season. In fact, most artists consider it a token of affirmation when others recognize their interest and ability in art, so giving the gift of art books and supplies is a good way to encourage a friend of family member who likes to paint or draw. This is especially true of children and teens. This year be the one who affirms their talent and gifts, you never know where a little encouragement will lead them.

Lens Overview

In this lens you'll find many different books and products that will help you achieve your artistic goals weather you're just getting started or have been creating art for a long time already.

I'll be adding to this lens in the weeks and months to come so please check back often.

Here's what you'll find available so far:

Books on Drawing and Sketching
Drawing and Sketching Supplies
The inspiring sketchbooks of other artists
Books for beginning oil painters
Essentials and fun stuff for oil painters
Books for beginning watercolorists
Watercolor set and kits to help you get started
A quick poll question
Live auction at ArtByUs.com
Books about acrylic painting
Acrylic painting sets and kits
Recommended books on Pastels
Pastel pencils and pastel sets
Books on Colored Pencil techniques
Colored pencil sets
Books on oil pastels
Oil pastel sets
Books on portrait painting
Pet portraits

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
*******NEW!! Art books and supplies for KIDS********

Coming soon...

Books for intermediate and advanced painters

Art history, artists biographies, instructional DVD's, and more.

Check back often as new products will be added frequently.

The Fundamentals: Drawing and Sketching

Let's start at the very beginning, learn the basic tools of art with these highly recommended books.

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

by Betty Edwards

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 08/21/2008)

New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Workbook: Guided Practice in the Five Basic Skills of Drawing

by Betty Edwards

Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 08/21/2008)

The Natural Way to Draw: A Working Plan for Art Study

by Kimon Nicolaides

Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 08/21/2008)

Keys to Drawing

by Bert Dodson

Amazon Price: $15.63 (as of 08/21/2008)

Drawing to See

by Nathan Goldstein, Harriet Fishman

Amazon Price: $48.34 (as of 08/21/2008)

Drawing and Sketching Tools

A blank sketchbook is an invitation to take a creative journey. Good quality sketchbooks and pencils and markers are the essential tools of every artist.

Sketchbook Black cover 8 1/4 x 11"

by Various

Amazon Price: $8.76 (as of 08/21/2008)

Da Vinci Sketchbook (Sketchbook Series)

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 08/21/2008)

Moleskine Sketchbook Large

Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 08/21/2008)

Faber-Castell Complete Drawing and Sketching Kit

Amazon Price: $27.29 (as of 08/21/2008)

Sketchbook Kit: With Charcoal, Pencils, & Eraser

by Angela Gair

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Sketchbooks that are Sure to Inspire

There's nothing more intriguing than to get a look inside an artists sketchbook. Find your way into the artists creative process and watch as ideas and inspiration come to life on the pages of a sketchbook.

Everyday Matters

by Danny Gregory

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Leonardo's Notebooks

by Leonardo da Vinci

Amazon Price: $26.40 (as of 08/21/2008)

London Sketchbook: A City Observed

by Graham Byfield, Marcus Binney

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

View From a Sketchbook: Nature Through the Eyes of Marjolein Bastin

by Marjolein Bastin, Tovah Martin

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 08/21/2008)

A Pacific Northwest Nature Sketchbook

by Jude Siegel

Amazon Price: $18.21 (as of 08/21/2008)

More Inspiring Sketchbooks

Clueless In Tokyo: Explorer's Sketchbook Of Weird And Wonderful Things In Japan

by Betty Reynolds

Amazon Price: $15.25 (as of 08/21/2008)

Paris Sketchbook

by Graham Byfield, Mary Kelly

Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 08/21/2008)

Nest: An Artist's Sketchbook

by Maryjo Koch

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

New York Sketchbook

Amazon Price: $22.80 (as of 08/21/2008)

A Cezanne Sketchbook: Figures, Portraits, Landscapes and Still Lifes (Dover Books on Fine Art)

by Paul Cezanne

Amazon Price: $8.76 (as of 08/21/2008)

Need Some Help Getting Started with a Sketchbook?

These books actually take you through the process of creating a personal sketchbook. Fun and motivating!

Artists' Journals and Sketchbooks: Exploring and Creating Personal Pages

by Lynne Perrella

Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 08/21/2008)

Create Your Own Artists Journal

by Erin O'Toole

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

The Artists Sketchbook (Quarto Book)

by Lucy Watson

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 08/21/2008)

Watercolor Journeys: Create Your Own Travel Sketchbook

by Richard Schilling

Amazon Price: $23.19 (as of 08/21/2008)

How to Keep a Sketchbook Journal

by Claudia Nice

Amazon Price: $19.70 (as of 08/21/2008)

Oil Painting Books for Beginners

If you're just starting out with oil paints you'll need information about paint, brushes, mediums, supports, canvas, and techiniques. These books will get you started.

Oil Painting for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter

by Steve Allrich

Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 08/21/2008)

The Oil Painting Course You've Always Wanted: Guided Lessons for Beginners and Experienced Artists

by Kathleen Staiger

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 08/21/2008)

You Can Paint Oils: A Step by Step Guide for Absolute Beginners

by Linda Birch

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Oils for the Beginner

by Alwyn Crawshaw

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Oil Painting Workbook: A Complete Course in Ten Lessons (Art Workbook Series)

by Stan Smith

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Essentials and Fun Stuff for Oil Painters

Oil Painting Kit (Walter Foster Painting Kits)

by William F. Powell, Mia Tavonatti, Keith Ward

Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 08/21/2008)

Italian Floor Easel with Art Accessories

Amazon Price: $89.99 (as of 08/21/2008)

T-shirt with paint, brush, rabbit, artist, jumping, easel

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Mega Artist Easel with 3 Canvases

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Princeton Series 6300 Brush Flat Size 4

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Watercolor Books for Beginners

Watercolor is the most popular medium among beginners. It's easy clean up with soap and water and use of paper as a support seems to be very appealing. However, mastering this beautiful medium with its glowing transparency is no easy task. Here are some good books to get you started.

Watercolor for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter (Serious Beginner)

by Mary Whyte

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 08/21/2008)

Watercolor for the Absolute Beginner

by Mark Willenbrink

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Fresh and Easy Watercolors for Beginners

by Bonnie J. Frederico

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Watercolor: A Beginner's Guide

by Elizabeth Horowitz

Amazon Price: $14.05 (as of 08/21/2008)

Watercolour for Absolute Beginners

by Bill Whitsett, Nancy Cadorette

Amazon Price: $17.90 (as of 08/21/2008)

Watercolor Sets to Get You Started

When you're just beginning it's nice to get a set of materials rather than try and choose from the hundreds of colors, brushes and papers available.

Art File Watercolor Kit

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

The Watercolor Sketchbook Kit: Materials, Techniques, and Projects

by Curtis Tappenden

Amazon Price: $22.95 (as of 08/21/2008)

The Complete Watercolor Set

by David Norman

Amazon Price: $21.90 (as of 08/21/2008)

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Real Art by Real Artists ~ Auctions at ArtByUs

Jan Blencowe's original artwork

ArtByUs.com Art Auctions - Buy and Sell Fine Art, Original Oil Paintings, Watercolor Paintings, Acrylic Paintings, Art
There are no current listings for this seller. Please visit ArtByUs.com Art Auctions for other great artists!

Starting out with Acrylics

Acrylic paints are the medium of the choice for many contemporary artists. They are the most versatile of all the different types of paint. You can use them like watercolor or like oils, there's a broad range of colors and additives that can modify the consistency of the paint. Paintings can be varnished and don't need to be framed under glass, but can be if they're on paper. Clean up is easy with soap and water. Lots of advantages, few drawbacks. Here are some great instruction books to get you started.

The Beginner's Guide Acrylics: A Complete Step-By-Step Guide to Techniques and Materials

by Angela Gair

Amazon Price: $12.44 (as of 08/21/2008)

Acrylic Painting: Project Book for Beginners

by Joan Hansen, William F Powell

Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 08/21/2008)

The Acrylic Painters Book of Styles and Techniques

Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 08/21/2008)

Acrylic Landscape Painting Techniques

by Hugh Greer

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

The Acrylics Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artist

by Barclay Sheaks

Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 08/21/2008)

Ready to Paint with Acrylics?

Here are some acrylic painting kits to get you started!

Acrylic Painting Layer by Layer: Beached Kit (Acrylic Painting Layer-by-Layer)

by Tom Swimm

Amazon Price: $10.84 (as of 08/21/2008)

Acrylic Painting Layer by Layer: Sunflower Splendor Kit (Acrylic Painting Layer-by-Layer)

by Mia Tavonatti

Amazon Price: $13.73 (as of 08/21/2008)

Acrylic Painting: A Complete Painting Kit for Beginners

by Joan Hansen, William F. Powell

Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 08/21/2008)

Acrylic Painting Layer by Layer: Tropical Delight Kit (Acrylic Painting Layer-by-Layer)

by Mia Tavonatti

Amazon Price: $13.73 (as of 08/21/2008)

Acrylic Painting Layer by Layer: Coastal Sentinel Kit (Acrylic Painting Layer-by-Layer)

by Tom Swimm

Amazon Price: $13.22 (as of 08/21/2008)

Pastel Painting for Beginners

Imagine painting with hundreds of intensley pigmented pastels. Rich, smooth color gliding onto the paper. These books will tell you how.

Painting the Landscape in Pastel

by Albert Handell, Anita West

Amazon Price: $15.61 (as of 08/21/2008)

The Encyclopedia of Pastel Techniques: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to Traditional and Contemporary Techniques

by Judy Martin

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

The Pastel Book

by Bill Creevy

Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 08/21/2008)

On Location - Plein Air Painting In Pastel

by Richard McDaniel

Amazon Price: $18.47 (as of 08/21/2008)

Pastel for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter (Serious Beginner)

by Larry Blovits

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 08/21/2008)

Great Products for Pastellists

SOFT PASTEL PENCIL SET/24

Amazon Price: $31.93 (as of 08/21/2008)

SQUARE PASTELS 12 ASSORTED

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Thomas Kinkade Soft Pastel Set by Mega Brands

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 08/21/2008)

Pastels: Collins Painting Workshop

by Jackie Simmonds

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Pastel Painting Techniques

by Roddon Guy

Amazon Price: $18.71 (as of 08/21/2008)

Recommended Books on Colored Pencil

Colored pencil is a beautiful medium and a nice bridge between drawing and painting, for those new to creating art.

Colored Pencil Solution Book

by Janie Gildow, Barbara Newton

Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 08/21/2008)

Colored Pencil for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Artist (Serious Beginner)

by Bet Borgeson

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 08/21/2008)

Basic Colored Pencil Techniques (Basic Techniques)

by Bet Borgeson

Amazon Price: $12.23 (as of 08/21/2008)

The Complete Colored Pencil Book

by Bernard Poulin

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

The Complete Guide to Coloured Pencil Techniques

by Beverley Johnston

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Colored Pencil Sets

Below you'll find artist quality colored pencil sets that you're sure to love.

Faber-Castell 126-pc. Art Set with Wood Case

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

DIX50401 Ticonderoga Color Pencils, Core-Lock Tin, 7, 12 Colors

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Thomas Kinkade - Colored Pencil Set Version 1

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Learn How to Paint with Oil Pastels

Oil pastels are completely different from "soft pastels", they are, as the name suggests, made with oil, and are something like oil paint in stick form.

Oil Pastel for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter (Serious Beginner)

by John Elliot

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 08/21/2008)

Oil Pastel: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artist

by Kenneth Leslie

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Oil Pastels Workstation (Workstations)

by Jane Hughes

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Learn to Paint Oil Pastels (Collins Learn to Paint)

by Jacqueline Black

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Painting with Oil Pastels (How to Draw and Paint Series #152)

by H. P. McLaughlin, Walter Foster

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

Oil Pastel Sets for Beginners

WATER SOLUBLE OIL PASTELS 24 CT

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 08/21/2008)

Oil Pastel Sticks 36-pk.

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 08/21/2008)

Learn to Paint Portraits

Portrait painting is a wonderful pursuit whether you want to paint your family and friends or take on commissions for profit, these recommended books will get you started.