The 8 Best Books for Painting Ideas and Inspiration of 2023

Best Overall

Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often To Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Artist

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One of the most challenging things about painting is actually sitting down and doing it. This is especially true if painting is considered a hobby or something you do when you have free time. For those looking to improve their painting skills, get inspired, and stay consistent with their art, this is a great pick.

It’s our choice for the best overall category because it is inclusive of all painting mediums, helps make a regular practice feel more attainable, and supports productivity and consistency. The painting book also helps establish more confidence as an artist through detailed insight on composition and value, plus it's a great pick for someone looking to create and sell their art, as it covers how to photograph and sell paintings online, too. 

This book is all about establishing a daily painting practice and has the structure to help you do so. However, some artists might feel that this book is too structured for their preferred process. Additionally, those who are more established artists might feel that it is a little too beginner-friendly.

Best for Beginners

Painting for the Absolute and Utter Beginner

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If you’re on the hunt for the best painting book for beginners, this one is it. The book was inspired by and based on courses and workshops taught by the author, giving the reader a scholastic approach to learning how to paint from the comfort of their own home. It covers everything a beginner painter needs to know—think: techniques, paint consistency, color creation, and dimension building—and guides the reader through the process of painting in a way that feels intuitive and accessible.

One of the things we love the most about this book is that it has fantastic examples that allow the reader to grasp the information, plus it shows how to fix problems, which is something you typically get from taking a class, not reading a book. 

The only downside to this book is that it mostly focuses on acrylic painting, so it’s not the best match for someone looking to learn how to oil paint or watercolor.

Best for Acrylics

Compendium of Acrylic Painting Techniques

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This book on acrylic painting is all about going back to the basics with a comprehensive look at everything from composition, to color mixing, to creating a palette, and more. If you’re on the hunt for an acrylic painting book that will mostly be used either to teach you how to paint or as a reference while painting, this is an excellent choice. It’s also a great choice for someone looking to switch from another painting medium—such as oils or watercolor—and learn the ins and outs of acrylics and how they compare to the mediums they are used to. 

The only thing this book doesn’t have a lot of is brushing and painting techniques, or a focus on putting paint to canvas. While there are some, most of the comprehensive guidelines focus on the foundation of acrylic painting, which is why it’s a great guide for preparation of color mixing, palette creation, and other important factors.

Best History

Art: The Definitive Visual Guide

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Taking a look at the history of art is an amazing way to not only ground yourself in the medium’s roots, but to gain some real inspiration from all of the greats that came before. If you’re looking to get inspired by art’s fascinating history, look no further. This visual guide to art history covers over 7,000 artists and their work, highlighting important movements across a variety of mediums. It’s visually stunning, easy to understand, and offers a more comprehensive approach to the vastness of art history.

Our only issue with this book is that it’s a whopping 7.5 pounds. And while it makes a stunning coffee table book, it almost feels too pretty to use near our paints.

Best for Watercolor

Everyday Watercolor: Learn to Paint Watercolor in 30 Days

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Thanks to social media, watercolor is having a major moment right now, and this book is all about taking your watercolor interest up a notch and developing a daily practice. This watercolor book is rooted in easy-to-follow exercises that help the reader (and artist!) build upon their skill set, allowing them to tackle more in-depth works of art as time goes on. It breaks down all of the techniques a beginner might need to know, plus it helps amateurs master their watercolor skills even further. And while we wouldn’t normally recommend a digital art book, the e-book version of this title is pretty comparable to the physical copy. 

If you’re looking for a book that will get you in the habit of regular watercolor painting, this is our top choice. That being said, it’s not so great for those who are ultra-new to painting, since it doesn’t cover color theory and other beneficial and foundational skills. On top of that, the product recommendations are on the pricey side, which can make you feel like you need to fork over a bunch of cash on a new hobby, which definitely isn’t the case since you can absolutely go for more affordable and beginner-friendly watercolor products instead.

Best for Color

1,500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor

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Mixing color is an important part of the painting process—but it can also be the root of inspiration, too. For a book that deep dives into the world of color mixing, look no further. This painting book covers everything you need to know about mixing paint colors for oil, acrylic, and watercolor. The reason this book landed on our top picks list is because of how well it makes color mixing feel easy to understand. This is in large part thanks to the book’s Color Guidance Index, which allows you to reference an object and then find the exact recipe for that object’s color. It also offers an immersive, learn-as-you-go approach to color theory, color value mixing, mixing skin tones, and rendering skies and clouds.

The book only has one fault and that is its complexity. Thanks to the subject matter, it’s hard not to get super complex. However, this book can be hard to digest in a traditional way. Because of that, we recommend keeping it on hand as a reference or for sparking inspiration through color palettes versus reading it cover to cover.  

Best for Oil Painting

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

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If oil painting is your medium of choice, this is a great book for both inspiration, ideas, and furthering your knowledge of the medium. Created for all skill levels—from beginners to trained artists—this title offers clear step-by-step lessons that help you further your oil painting skills through various techniques (including creating 3D illusions) and subject matters. As the title suggests, it’s an oil painting course in the shape of a book, which means it’s also very extensive and not really ideal for quick references while painting. This is definitely one of those books you read through and get inspired to further your painting skills through all that you learn.