Looking for painting books? We've gathered 27 free painting books in PDF, covering oil painting, watercolor, acrylic, portrait techniques, and art history.
These guides take you from first brushstroke to finished canvas. Classic texts on composition and color sit alongside step-by-step tutorials by working artists.
Browse by medium or pick a section below. Every book is free to read online or download as PDF.
Painting Books
These books explore the history and craft of painting. From the Dutch Golden Age to modern landscape theory, they cover how artists use color, composition, and technique.
A comprehensive educational resource exploring Dutch 17th-century painting, covering portraiture, landscapes, genre scenes, and still lifes with historical context and analysis from the National Gallery of Art.
A complete 26-lesson painting course covering brushwork, color theory, composition, perspective, and finishing techniques for both oil and acrylic painters.
A classic academic text covering the complete history of painting from ancient Egypt through the 19th century, with detailed analysis of major schools, movements, and artists.
Symposium proceedings from the Getty Conservation Institute covering painting techniques from medieval gesso to Renaissance oil methods, with scientific analysis of pigments and materials.
A PhD thesis from Ecole Normale Superieure exploring pictorial composition through computational modeling, perception studies, and artistic creation, bridging cognitive science and abstract art.
A PhD thesis from Goldsmiths College examining contemporary landscape painting through the lens of space-time theory, montage, and mapping, analyzing artists like Julie Mehretu and Sarah Morris.
A beginner-friendly introduction to canvas painting covering paint types, brushes, color theory, light sources, studio setup, and practical tips for getting started.
A visual overview of major art movements from the Italian Renaissance to Suprematism, with key artworks and brief explanations of each movement's principles and notable artists.
A practical beginner's guide covering why to paint, choosing your medium (oil, acrylic, watercolor), essential materials, color theory basics, and first steps from Draw Paint Academy.
An academic unit from the University of Murcia covering tempera painting history, techniques, types (egg, casein, gum arabic), and step-by-step exercises for egg tempera preparation.
A practical manual from R&F Handmade Paints covering encaustic painting basics: setup, equipment, tools, fusing techniques, and step-by-step guidance for working with beeswax-based paint.
A concise glossary of essential art terms from the Cleveland Institute of Art, covering aesthetics, composition, color theory, critique concepts, and visual design principles.
An introduction to oil painting materials and techniques from the Web Art Academy, covering paints, brushes, mediums, solvents, and the multi-layer painting process.
A beginner's guide covering oil painting fundamentals: materials, canvas stretching, brush techniques, preservation, and advanced methods to help new painters create their first works.
A classic instructional book covering oil painting tools, color charts, color mixing, skies, still life, composition, interiors, heads, and outdoor subjects with illustrated examples.
A comprehensive guide to watercolor brush techniques covering flat washes, graded washes, wet-on-wet, dry brush, lifting, and other essential skills for watercolor painters.
A concise glossary of watercolor-specific terms from the Zillman Art Museum, covering techniques, materials, and processes unique to watercolor painting.
A focused tutorial on creating textures and preserving white areas in watercolor painting, covering masking fluid, sponging, salt effects, and scraping techniques.
A hands-on watercolor painting course covering materials, color mixing, wet-on-wet techniques, landscapes, skies, and step-by-step demonstrations by artist David Coupe.
Fast-drying and forgiving, acrylic works well for beginners. These books cover tools, color mixing, and painting techniques for your first projects and beyond.
A beginner's introduction to acrylic painting covering paint properties, color palettes, tools and materials, and basic techniques from the Will Kemp Art School.
A school district resource covering acrylic painting basics: paint properties, brush types, palette knife techniques, color mixing, and cleanup procedures.
A collection of expert acrylic painting techniques covering landscape composition, color mixing, and interior painting methods, featuring step-by-step demonstrations from professional artists.
A professional guide featuring 38 portrait painting techniques in watercolor and oil, with step-by-step demonstrations from established artists including gesture, flesh tones, and composition.
A classic 1905 treatise on portrait painting covering historical masters from Giotto to Rembrandt, aims and methods of great portraitists, and practical studio techniques. Includes 41 color and half-tone illustrations.
A step-by-step tutorial for painting a pastel portrait, covering preparation, tools, hair, face, eyes, nose, and finishing techniques with practical tips for beginners.
A practical step-by-step tutorial on painting flesh tones in oils for miniature and portrait painting, including recommended brands, color palettes, and layering techniques.
