--- product_id: 286297 title: "Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting" price: "122.99 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/286297-carlsons-guide-to-landscape-painting store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting **Price:** 122.99 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting - **How much does it cost?** 122.99 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/286297-carlsons-guide-to-landscape-painting) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Written by a famous American painter and teacher, whose landscapes are found in many of the world's most noted museums, this book is known as one of the art student's most helpful guides. It provides a wealth of advice on the choice of subject; it tells what to look for and aim for, and explains the mysteries of color, atmospheric conditions, and other phenomena to be found in nature. Through his profound understanding of the physical nature of landscapes and his highly developed artistic sense, John Carlson is able to explain both the whys and the hows of the various aspects of landscape painting. Among the subjects covered are angles and consequent values (an insightful concept necessary for strong overall unity of design), aerial and linear perspective, the painting of trees, the emotional properties of line and mass in composition, light, unity of tone, choice of subject, and memory work. In the beginning chapters, the author tells how to make the best of canvas, palette, colors, brushes, and other materials and gives valuable advice about texture, glazing, varnishing, bleaching, retouching, and framing. Thirty-four reproductions of Mr. Carlson's own work and 58 of his explanatory diagrams are shown on pages adjoining the text. As Howard Simon says in the introduction: "Crammed into its pages are the thoughts and experiences of a lifetime of painting and teaching. Undoubtedly it is a good book for the beginner, but the old hand at art will appreciate its honesty and broadness of viewpoint. It confines itself to the mechanics of landscape painting but, philosophically, it roams far and wide. . . . This is a book to keep, to read at leisure, and to look into for the solution of problems as they arise, when the need for an experienced hand is felt." Review: Extremely Essential Excellent Book. - No easy read, this book is blowing my mind with method as well as philosophy on landscapes and art in general. It is changing the way I see the world around me. I took a workshop with a master landscape painter who told me it was the ONE absolutely essential book to any student or artist. He has several copies and rereads it even to this day after painting for over 40 years. It is in the school of abstract expressionist design to express what you are seeing. It encourages the artist to use nature as a well spring for inspiration and a starting point, and is not at all about dry literal copying of exactly what you see. There are valuable insights as to how to pick an "idea" you are supporting in your image, as well as the tools to render it, because art is an expression, first and foremost. It is technically and spiritually wonderful. Much of the advice could cross over to other styles of art. There are so many lines in the book I would like to quote, but here are two: "Art is a thing of the imagination. The underlying principles, the fundamentals, should be so hidden away by the beauty they are eventually to support, that it would require much digging to disclose them." and "There is no irresponsible or accidental child's play about the composing of a fine picture. Men like Leonardo, Michelangelo or Rubens were men of fine intellect as well as of sensitivity. Pure beauty is an orderly quality which seldom emanates from imbeciles or charlatans." While you will find very useful basic information on materials, etc, do not expect a "How to draw fence posts" type book. This book is a masterpiece. I plan to read it many many more times. If provides a vehicle for total self expression, which only years of tireless application can yield, yet spares the reader years of trial and error with timeless instruction on elements of atmosphere and technical laws known to the masters, thus delivering hope and inspiration. No serious artist should be without this book. I'm so grateful for it, and I sprang for the hard copy. Review: Sound Advice Sound Book - There are countless how-to books out there. And, yet, when scrutinized, most are lightweight editions that are simply filled with "projects" that are often irrelavent at best; an outstanding exception, however, is Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting by John F. Carlson. This helpful, basic art instruction book is built upon time-proven principles set forth by a time-proven artist. The book builds a solid foundation. Many contemporary books simply reiterate the principles set forth in this as well as other so called "antique" art books. Although Carlson's writing style can be a bit "quaint" at times - as is the case with many books written in the 19th and early 20th centuries - the book is a storehouse of wisdom and sure instruction in the particulars, such as clouds and trees, as well as his opinions of being an artist and of the art world in general. Be forewarned, however, that this book is NOT for everybody. It is intended for the student who is able to glean the information from primarily text as there are few diagrams and there are no color reproductions -- black and white only. This shouldn't be a great hindrance for the serious painter as this keeps the student focused on 1) the broader principles, not necessarily the instructor's particular technique and 2) on values and composition. If the reader insists on color reproductions and a more modern text -- while keeping to the basics - another good choice is Richard Schmidt's Alla Prima: Everything I Know About Painting ## Features - Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting by John F. Carlson ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #27,747 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #2 in Oil Painting #1,730 in Reference (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,479 Reviews | ## Images ![Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81WubpP2i9L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extremely Essential Excellent Book. *by A***N on April 2, 2011* No easy read, this book is blowing my mind with method as well as philosophy on landscapes and art in general. It is changing the way I see the world around me. I took a workshop with a master landscape painter who told me it was the ONE absolutely essential book to any student or artist. He has several copies and rereads it even to this day after painting for over 40 years. It is in the school of abstract expressionist design to express what you are seeing. It encourages the artist to use nature as a well spring for inspiration and a starting point, and is not at all about dry literal copying of exactly what you see. There are valuable insights as to how to pick an "idea" you are supporting in your image, as well as the tools to render it, because art is an expression, first and foremost. It is technically and spiritually wonderful. Much of the advice could cross over to other styles of art. There are so many lines in the book I would like to quote, but here are two: "Art is a thing of the imagination. The underlying principles, the fundamentals, should be so hidden away by the beauty they are eventually to support, that it would require much digging to disclose them." and "There is no irresponsible or accidental child's play about the composing of a fine picture. Men like Leonardo, Michelangelo or Rubens were men of fine intellect as well as of sensitivity. Pure beauty is an orderly quality which seldom emanates from imbeciles or charlatans." While you will find very useful basic information on materials, etc, do not expect a "How to draw fence posts" type book. This book is a masterpiece. I plan to read it many many more times. If provides a vehicle for total self expression, which only years of tireless application can yield, yet spares the reader years of trial and error with timeless instruction on elements of atmosphere and technical laws known to the masters, thus delivering hope and inspiration. No serious artist should be without this book. I'm so grateful for it, and I sprang for the hard copy. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sound Advice Sound Book *by S***N on February 14, 2011* There are countless how-to books out there. And, yet, when scrutinized, most are lightweight editions that are simply filled with "projects" that are often irrelavent at best; an outstanding exception, however, is Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting by John F. Carlson. This helpful, basic art instruction book is built upon time-proven principles set forth by a time-proven artist. The book builds a solid foundation. Many contemporary books simply reiterate the principles set forth in this as well as other so called "antique" art books. Although Carlson's writing style can be a bit "quaint" at times - as is the case with many books written in the 19th and early 20th centuries - the book is a storehouse of wisdom and sure instruction in the particulars, such as clouds and trees, as well as his opinions of being an artist and of the art world in general. Be forewarned, however, that this book is NOT for everybody. It is intended for the student who is able to glean the information from primarily text as there are few diagrams and there are no color reproductions -- black and white only. This shouldn't be a great hindrance for the serious painter as this keeps the student focused on 1) the broader principles, not necessarily the instructor's particular technique and 2) on values and composition. If the reader insists on color reproductions and a more modern text -- while keeping to the basics - another good choice is Richard Schmidt's Alla Prima: Everything I Know About Painting ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ VERY HELPFUL BOOK *by C***D on November 14, 2005* After reading some of the other reviews I must say that I can understand some of the frustration that some of them voice. I think this book is best for those who already have some practice with painting. I don't think this book was aimed at the very most beginner. If I'm remembering correctly he wrote this book for a class that he taught to art students for and out-of-doors painting class in upstate New York around 1915 or so. The book contains many many things that you will have to know in order to paint landscape well. There is a lot of good information to consider here. There is a great section on the importance of capturing the correct values of your landscape. A section on the effects of light, on color, on sky, perspective, composition, trees, clouds, basic materials needed and some very sound advice on varnishing and medium, plus more. Some mention and criticism has been made that Mr. Carlsons work is presented in black and white, but this matter is addressed in the book where Carlson states that, it does the student a great service to study B&W photos of good paintings. The point here is to become familiar with a masters use of value to establish a painting rather than the student getting carried away by the color. Anyway, there are about 20 works of Mr. Carlsons in the book and each are used to teach a particular point. My opinion is that his work is pretty damn good. If you are really interested in seeing them in color just do a Google image search using his name. I paint two to three times a week out-doors and this book has been a real help. I have learned a lot. Highly recommended. Best wishes and Good Luck!!! ## Frequently Bought Together - Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting - Composition of Outdoor Painting - The Landscape Painter's Workbook: Essential Studies in Shape, Composition, and Color (Volume 6) (For Artists, 6) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/286297-carlsons-guide-to-landscape-painting](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/286297-carlsons-guide-to-landscape-painting) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-06-02*