7 Informative Acrylic Painting Books for Beginners

Acrylic Painting Books 

Acrylics are not an easy medium to master, so having a few acrylic painting books close by for reference is a good idea.

Even though my kids are grown, September and the beginning of the school year always makes me think of books. Of course Christmas, Halloween, Easter, summer and Sundays also make me think of books. I am a book nerd.

These days having a library full of books is a little passé. Most people read on electronic devices … computers, iPads, iPhones and e readers.

These devices are easy to read on since you can make the font larger or change the background color which is great if you have less than perfect eye sight.

Not everyone is into technology however, and a lot of people still like to have the hard copy of the book in their hand. 

For painting reference I prefer to have an actual book I can pull from the shelves and reference easily.

Not only is it convenient to have reference books on hand but they look really good on your bookshelf :).

Below is a list of a few acrylic painting books that would make a good addition to any artists library.

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1500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic and Watercolor by William F. Powell

Spiral bound –  Originally published in 2002.

1500 Color Mixing Recipes is a large collection of color mixes by William F. Powell, who studied at the Art Student’s Career School in New York, Harrow Technical College in Harrow, England, and the Louvre Free School of Art in Paris, France. Powell was a well-educated and very talented painter.

While not strictly referring to acrylics, this is a comprehensive guide to color mixing. It includes sections on general color mixing, color mixing for portraits and color mixing for landscapes.

1500 Color Mixing Recipes covers oil, acrylic, and watercolor and provides color conversions from oil to acrylic.

This book also includes instruction in color theory, value, tone, and other aspects of color mixing in painting.

A transparent sheet with incremental markings to measure your paints for mixing is included.

This is a great multipurpose reference guide for any painter.

Learn to Paint in Acrylics with 50 Small Paintings by Mark Daniel Nelson

Softcover –  Published in 2015

Learn to Paint in Acrylics starts with very helpful information about tools and materials and some information about color, such as hue, saturation, and value.

The following chapters concentrate on various acrylic techniques such as perspective, abstract compositions, color mixing, etc.

Each technique is demonstrated by creating a 5 x 5 mini painting, which can be done on canvas, canvas board, paper, or wood.

The subject matter of these paintings are simple things like flowers or a sunset.

Each project is two pages long and features a sidebar that lists the specific materials used, the paint colors needed, and notes referring to similar projects in the book. 

The paintings become progressively harder as you read the book, with each lesson building upon the techniques learned in the previous lesson.

You end up with a collection of 50 mini paintings that you can display wherever you wish.

Fine Art Tips with Lori McNee

Hard Cover and Kindle – Published in 2015

Fine Art Tips is an absolutely beautiful book, filled with artwork and tips from 24 of today’s top artists.

These amazing artists share practical tips on landscape and portrait painting, still life, plein air, wildlife painting, and even the business side of art.

There is something in this book for every artist, from beginner to experienced.

Lori is a very well-known artist with a large social media presence and a popular website where she offers tips and advice on all things related to fine art.

Visit her site at FineArtTips.com and have a look around.

Painting for the Absolute and Utter Beginner  by Claire Watson Garcia

Paperback and Spiral Bound – Published in 2009

Claire Watson Garcia is both a talented artist and an excellent teacher. Her 160-page book, Painting for the Absolute and Utter Beginner covers everything a beginner needs to know.

In her plain-spoken style, she discusses mixing paint, fixing mistakes, using brushes, and lessons for still-life, nudes, and portraits.

She provides charts, photos, and pictures to demonstrate her teaching techniques.

Each lesson is designed to help beginners gain confidence and build the skills necessary to progress to more advanced and challenging work.

Claire includes artwork by beginners accompanied by instruction on fixing mistakes and improving the work using the techniques she teaches in the book.

Although this acrylic painting book is designed for absolute beginners, it is certainly helpful for intermediate painters as well to refresh their techniques.

Acrylic Painting Mediums and Methods: A Contemporary Guide to Materials, Techniques and Applications  by Rheni Tauchid

Hard Cover – Published in 2018

Acrylic Painting Mediums and Methods is an excellent reference book for those interested in using acrylic mediums in their artwork. Rhéni Tauchid explains how to use these mediums step-by-step to achieve various effects.

Rhéni teaches techniques to enhance the colors and textures of your painting and open up new ideas for your artwork. She also explains a little bit about the chemistry behind the mediums and how they work with acrylic paints.

This book has hundreds of photos showing the different effects that can be achieved using acrylic mediums.

Acrylic Painting Mediums and Methods is an excellent book for beginners and more experienced painters.

Paint People in Acrylics  by Lee Hammond

Paperback and Kindle – Published in 2006

Paint People in Acrylics is a comprehensive book for artists wishing to learn portrait painting. It contains 10 complete portrait tutorials encompassing 50 different step-by-step techniques.

Lee Hammond dives into painting facial features, hair, and clothing, as well as techniques for sketching the initial portrait, using reference photos, mixing colors, setting up your palette, and much more.

The author includes a variety of subjects ranging in age and complexion. This is a good book for any aspiring portrait artist to have in their collection.

Abstract Explorations in Acrylic Painting: Fun, Creative and Innovative Techniques Paperback by Jo Toye

Paperback and Kindle – Published in 2016

Abstract Explorations in Acrylic Painting contains 8 painting projects that lead the reader through a journey of artistic expression using diverse materials, such as sponges and razor blades.

Jo Toye demonstrates many techniques and innovative methods for making amazing patterns and designs with paint. She uses a variety of “tools,” such as applicator bottles, glue guns, and stencils.

She also shows how to use inks, gesso, and gels to achieve amazing effects. This is a very good book for artists wanting to explore abstract art and move away from using only a paintbrush.

These are just a few of the thousands of art books available for any medium or style of art. Painting books are not only informative but also inspirational. 

When artists block strikes, browsing through a book about painting or artists and their work can give you some great ideas for your next piece.

Art books are also a great gift idea for yourself, your artist friends, and anyone interested in art. They can encourage anyone in your life to follow their dream of becoming an artist.

If you have any other suggestions or a favorite art book, tell us about them in the comments below. Be sure to check out my new Facebook group, too: Trembeling Art Creative Corner

Thanks for reading.