The Author – Welcome

The
AUTHOR

Richard Schmid’s literary legacy

Richard Schmid was revered not only for his breathtaking artwork, but also for his profound understanding of traditional painting techniques—along with the unique methods he developed himself. When he wrote, he distilled the wisdom of centuries: the knowledge of artists and craftspersons who shaped painting into one of the most luminous, skillful, and soul-stirring forms of creative expression the world has ever known.

At the heart of Richard’s philosophy was the Grand Manner—an elevated, expressive approach to painting that he described as “a certain mingling of virtuosity and unrestrained joy in art.” And he truly believed in joy!

Even as he unpacked complex technical ideas in Alla Prima II—a masterclass in both mechanics and magic—he always made space for delight. Just when your mind was full of knowledge, he’d offer a moment of levity—then back to the serious fun of learning.

A BRIEF HISTORY

When Richard was in his early forties two of his books were published: RICHARD SCHMID PAINTS THE FIGURE: Advanced techniques in oil, and RICHARD SCHMID PAINTS LANDSCAPES: Creative techniques in oil, (Watson-Guptile, NY, 1973 and 1975.) Each of his books stressed the absolute importance of painting and drawing from life, and included oil painting methods that had been handed down by luminaries like Monet, Degas, Zorn, Sorolla, John Singer Sargent, and Bill Mosby, Richard’s mentor, and many others. The artistic skills possessed by these representational painters were grounded in seven centuries of accumulated knowledge.

In 1998, in response to the thousands of artists who contacted him about his artwork, Richard completed and published the first edition of his landmark book, ALLA PRIMA: Everything I Know About Painting, which went into twelve printings. Then in 2013, he wrote, designed, and published, ALLA PRIMA II: Everything I Know About Painting—And More, an expanded edition which has been digitally reprinted in America seventeen times to date.

In addition, Richard is the author of THE LANDSCAPES, and MY STILL LIFE ART. His new volume, RICHARD SCHMID: PORTRAIT AND FIGURE PAINTINGS, is scheduled for publication in Spring of 2025 by Stove Prairie Press, LLC, the publishing company he founded in 1998.

A LIVING LEGACY

Richard’s teachings continue to influence and inspire artists worldwide. Among the many artists who have studied with or absorbed his wisdom through his written works are many of today’s widely respected painters and teachers. Among these distinguished artists are Kathy Anderson, Scott Burdick, Casey Baugh, Clayton Beck III, Romel de la Torre, Michelle Dunaway, Rose Franzen, Tina Garrett, Daniel Gerhartz, Nancy Guzik, Daniel J. Keys, Jeremy Lipking, Susan Lyon, and Timothy R. Thies—alongside countless others across the globe.

Richard and colleague Stephen Stinehour working on THE LANDSCAPES

Richard Schmid’s exceptional expertise in “Alla Prima painting directly from life” drove a decade-long effort to document and share his profound knowledge, resulting in the 1998 best-seller, “Alla Prima: Everything I Know About Painting.” Responding to reader inquiries, he expanded the book into “Alla Prima II, Everything I Know About Painting—and More,” globally recognized as a cornerstone in art instruction. This comprehensive guide has had a lasting impact on classical art education, earning acclaim both in the United States and internationally.

Capturing a moment of literary camaraderie: Richard autographing his acclaimed book, “My Still Life Art,” for his esteemed colleague and friend, Ernest Thompson, the brilliant mind behind “On Golden Pond.”

2013

ALLA PRIMA II: Everything I Know About Painting – and More – Expanded Edition

-328 pages, 262 color plates

ALLA PRIMA II front book cover

Richard dedicated a decade to the creation of the original ALLA PRIMA book. Building upon this sound foundation, he significantly expanded and enriched it with both his writing and painting images to become ALLA PRIMA II, which became his magnum opus.

The first ALLA PRIMA was conceived in 1988 during Richard’s time in Chicago at the Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, where he led and painted alongside a group of artists, including Rose Frantzen, Scott Burdick, and Nancy Guzik. Working with these young art students, he realized that foundational gaps existed in the formal training they were receiving. During this time, Richard recognized a profound sense of responsibility to document the invaluable lessons he had learned from his teacher, William Mosby, as well as share the knowledge he had acquired through his own artistic journey.

For fifteen years, ALLA PRIMA was considered one of the most comprehensive art instruction books on the market. Nevertheless, Richard added 124 pages of text and 144 images to complete his original ALLA PRIMA. In 2013, he published ALLA PRIMA II: Everything I Know About Painting—and More—Expanded Edition. This much larger version resulted from questions and suggestions posed to Richard by artists who read the original ALLA PRIMA.

In the preface of ALLA PRIMA II, Richard writes,

“I have added abundantly to the text of each original chapter and created new sections within the chapters. Included as well are many helpful new images and step-by-step painting sequences.”

This expanded ALLA PRIMA II edition allowed Richard to fully realize his vision for a truly comprehensive artistic resource, making it an invaluable addition to the world of art instruction.

ALLA PRIMA II front book cover

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2017

THE LANDSCAPES Enhanced Edition

-Large format, 280 pages, over 300 color plates

THE LANDSCAPES – Enhanced Edition front book cover

Richard documents seven decades of his artistic exploration in painting landscapes worldwide. This enhanced book retains everything his original landscape book has, while adding over 100 new captions and many new original drawings. Richard takes us not only to the many places he has painted but also shares with us the sixty-year path he traveled from youthful painter to seasoned artist.

THE LANDSCAPES – Enhanced Edition front book cover

Richard receiving John Singer Sargent Medal from Richard Ormond

The book begins with a compelling foreword by Richard Ormond, the nephew of John Singer Sargent, who praised Richard’s mastery in capturing life through his art. Ormond notes, “The principles of painting from life have been well mastered by Richard. He can translate what he sees into pictorial form with great panache. His fluent and incisive brushwork brings to life…

... his chosen subjects with veracity and immediacy. You feel you are there in the picture, so convincingly alive is the space, so tactile the surfaces.” This introductory acclaim sets the stage for an immersive experience, inviting readers into a visual realm where Richard’s skilled brushstrokes breathe life into the canvas, showing us a glimpse into how he sees our world through landscapes.

Underneath the physical exertion and concentration of outdoor painting, there is a fascination and tranquility brought about by nature. This experience comes, quietly, as close to happiness as anything I know of… Join me in these pages for a fascinating stroll through my adventures with Mother Nature, as I paint her beautiful landscapes.

–Richard Schmid, The Landscapes–Enhanced Edition, page ix

Richard receiving John Singer Sargent Medal from Richard Ormond

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2019

MY STILL LIFE ART

-Large format, 280 pages, 390 color plates

MY STILL LIFE ART

In this book, Richard shows us how the most ordinary things can be transformed into objects of astonishing beauty and sometimes surprising complexity. The images in the book are arranged, for the most part, in chronological order, illustrating the progression of Richard’s works from the earliest to the most current. He recalls problems he encountered and shares his solutions.

Objects in a still life need not be thrilling in and of themselves, but rather it is the way they are painted that makes them so compelling.

-Richard Schmid, My Still Life Art, page 263

Richard concludes the book with a profound reflection:

I see the whole world as a boundless still life, and there is no limit
to the choices I have or how I paint those choices…. I do not have
a special insight into magical things of this world. What I do have
is an ability to see the extraordinary in what most others see as
merely ordinary, and it has enriched my life more than I can say.

MY STILL LIFE ART front book cover

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2025

PORTRAIT AND FIGURE PAINTINGS

-Coming Spring 2025!
-Large format, 280 pages, 390 color plates

THE LANDSCAPES – Enhanced Edition front book cover

Richard began work on this book in 2018 and finished it during his lifetime. It was his final passion project that will be published in two volumes, in his quest to share his wealth of information on painting from life.

Within the pages of this comprehensive work, Richard explores a diverse range of subjects, including early paintings of friends, fellow chess players, neighbors, musicians, nudes, and people in landscapes and interiors. He also shares paintings from demonstrations he conducted for artists and students he mentored. Richard even included his Conté portrait of his beloved German Shepherd, Hans!

Some of the paintings featured in this book date back to the 1950s. Restoration of these images to reflect the quality of the original paintings takes time and expertise, but we hope you’ll agree that the wait is worth it.

PORTRAIT AND FIGURE PAINTINGS front book cover

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Book with other artists

2014
ALLA PRIMA II COMPANION
Richard Schmid’s Materials, Tools and Techniques

-By Katie Swatland
-264 pages, 384 images

Written and compiled by Katie Swatland, readers of ALLA PRIMA II COMPANION will discover the technical details behind Richard Schmid’s materials and techniques that go into the creation of his paintings – the basics involving his canvas, palette setup, brushes, solvents, photographing your work, and much more. Contained within its pages are the discoveries, experiences, and procedures that Richard has nurtured over a lifetime dedicated to the art of painting.

The more we know about how Art is created, the greater will be our appreciation and understanding of the process.

-Richard Schmid, ALLA PRIMA II COMPANION, page 46

For aspiring artists seeking to enhance their skills, understanding materials and tools is as crucial as mastering the art of drawing. Richard and Katie recognized this importance and collaborated to create a Companion book to his ALLA PRIMA II. This guide not only reveals the "how" but also delves into the "why," explaining the rationale behind Schmid's choices of canvases, brushes, solvents, mediums, and painting equipment. ALLA PRIMA II COMPANION serves as a comprehensive extension of Richard Schmid's teachings, offering a detailed account of the technical aspects of his methods and materials.

ALLA PRIMA II COMPANION front book cover

Out of print books

1973
RICHARD SCHMID PAINTS THE FIGURE – Advanced Techniques in Oil

-144 pages, 62 black & white illustrations, 42 full color plates
-currently out of print; the RSFAF plans to update and reprint in the future

1975
RICHARD SCHMID PAINTS LANDSCAPES – Creative Techniques in Oil

-144 pages, 70 black & white illustrations, 28 full color plates
-currently out of print; the RSFAF plans to update and reprint in the future

1998
ALLA PRIMA: Everything I Know About Painting (original version)

-204 pages, 118 color plates
-out of print; Richard’s expanded replacement, ALLA PRIMA: Everything I Know About Painting–and More, is available (see description above)

2003
RICHARD SCHMID – A RETROSPECTIVE 2003

-72 pages, 60 full color plates
-the catalogue for Richard’s museum show at the Butler Institute of American Art
-currently out of print; the RSFAF plans to update and reprint in the future

In the introduction to the catalogue, the Director of the Butler Institute, Louis A. Zona, states, “Richard Schmid has long been deemed an ‘artist’s artist.’ What greater recognition exists than to be revered by one’s peers?… This exhibition, which presents a capsulized view of his remarkable career, reveals without doubt that Schmid ranks among the elite painters of the narrative tradition.”

2009
THE LANDSCAPES

-large format, 265 pages, 297 color plates
-out of print; Richard’s enhanced replacement, THE LANDSCAPES Enhanced Edition, is available (see description above)