Reviews

Gr 9 Up-Whether the subject matter is as broad as perspective or narrow, covering, for example, a specific artistic medium, this series provides the same thorough coverage. The authors have individual approaches toward art, but they all successfully list the tools and materials needed for projects, define essential terms, and clearly explain concepts such as color theory and composition. Opening up their sketchbooks and illustrating techniques with their own work, they provide what is essentially an art class in book form. This results in some sophisticated presentations that might be intimidating to beginning artists. Those who acknowledge a worker-bee mentality toward their artistic aspirations will find several practice drills for drawing and learn that there is just as much planning, measuring, and experimenting in art as there are aesthetics. Many of the books have a step-by-step format, but the point is not to replicate the end product. These titles are for students looking to follow each step to aid in their development as an artist. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.