As a recent beginner to painting I have found it difficult to find a suitable subject to paint and have suffered from the "White Paper" syndrome on many occasions. After studying "14 Formulas for Painting Fabulous Landscapes" I am enjoying my new found ability to construct a painting by composition, rather than trying to find a scene that suits. I have been making "photographs", not paintings, but that has now stopped, thanks to Barbara Nuss and her wonderful book of design and composition.
As I am fairly new to oils, having painted in watercolour for a while, I
was especially attracted to this book by the stunning paintings I saw when I first opened it.
I just hope that one day I can produce work like hers, as every painting in this book is absolutely beautiful.
Highly recommend it for beginners and experts alike.

I was somewhat surprised with this book as I don't usually care for the X number of steps for a perfect life type books. However, Barbara Nuss has some very good advice for the beginner and intermediate landscape painter, and even for the advanced painter. She actually does list 14 "formulas" or, as I'd classify, compositions, of landscape painting. Each formula is addressed with samples and step-by-step demonstrations. Some of these are addressed in other books (see my review on Edgar Alwin Payne). However, I think the greatest value in Ms. Nuss' advice is how she gives the viewer confidence to change things. If you don't like the actual landscape in front of you, change it! Ha! How simple is that? But most artists are so consumed with the idea of depicting things exactly as they see them, that they forget that they are the creator and can change the landscape to make a stronger composition and a stronger painting. Most outdoor painters will find value in this book. I will add that Ms. Nuss' oil paintings are much stronger than her watercolor paintngs. If you are looking for W/C, then perhaps another book would suit you better.

"Formulas" is such an unfortunate word to put on anything creative. Disregard it. This book is a treasure!

NOT ONLY does it break composition down into 14 loose suggestions that will help you organize your paintings and bring your viewers into them, BUT it also tells you what to pack for plein air sketching, how to photograph the setting once you're there, and how to simplify, simplify, simplify and rearrange what it is you see so it will translate onto the canvas.

Landscape painting isn't about painting what you see. That's why God created cameras. A painting instructor once told me: "You don't paint a tree; you paint a symbol of a tree." Therein lies all the difference in the world, and Barbara goes into the same thing from a slightly different direction here. LIGHTBULB MOMENTS ABOUND!

In addition, there's Barbara's paintings on display. Though she paints more realistically than I do, I would still turn the pages and say, "Oh!" because it's gorgeous stuff.

And she shows you how you can do gorgeous stuff, too. Thank you, Barbara Nuss!!!!