Textbook introduces students to the Academic Painting assignment system. The laws of color and color mixing, their harmonization and construction of basic color schemes based on signs of kinship or contrast are considered in detail, methods of working with various painting materials (watercolor, gouache, tempera, oil) are described, techniques and methods for a consistent transition from educational painting studies of productions to creative interpretation of the visual motive when painting decorative still life. The principles and technological methods of painting from nature and by presentation are analyzed.