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This guide is for anyone interested in the visual arts. Click on each title to learn more. Some titles will require login information to access-- click here to learn how.
eBooks
Art History & Appreciation
Art of the 20th Century
Author: Dorothea Eimert
Description: The 20th century was a revolutionary period in art history. In the span of a few short years, Modernism exploded into being, disrupting centuries of classical figurative tradition to create something entirely new. This astoundingly thorough survey of art's modern era showcases all of the key artistic movements of the 20th century, from Fauvism to Pop Art, featuring illustrative examples of some of the most renowned works of the era along with illuminating companion essays by expert critics and art historians. A vivid window into the collective psyche of the modern world's great artists, Art of the 20th Century is a must-have for any fan of contemporary art.
Renaissance Art
Author: Victoria Charles
Description: The Renaissance began at the end of the 14th century in Italy and had extended across the whole of Europe by the second half of the 16th century. The rediscovery of the splendour of ancient Greece and Rome marked the beginning of the rebirth of the arts following the break-down of the dogmatic certitude of the Middle Ages. A number of artists began to innovate in the domains of painting, sculpture, and architecture. Depicting the ideal and the actual, the sacred and the profane, the period provided a frame of reference which influenced European art over the next four centuries. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Giorgione, Mantegna, Raphael, Dürer and Bruegel are among the artists who made considerable contributions to the art of the Renaissance.
Hutchison Dictionary of the Arts
Eye for Art: Focusing on Great Artists and Their Work
Author: National Gallery of Art
Description: Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of full-color images, this family-oriented art resource introduces children to more than 50 great artists and their work, with corresponding activities and explorations that inspire artistic development, focused looking, and creative writing. This treasure trove of artwork from the National Gallery of Art includes, among others, works by Raphael, Rembrandt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Matisse, Chuck Close, Jacob Lawrence, Pablo Picasso, and Alexander Calder, representing a wide range of artistic styles and techniques. Written by museum educators with decades of hands-on experience in both art-making activities and making art relatable to children, the activities include sculpting a clay figure inspired by Edgar Degas; drawing an object from touch alone, inspired by Joan Miro’s experience as an art student; painting a double-sided portrait with one side reflecting physical traits and the other side personality traits, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s Ginevra de' Benci; and creating a story based on a Mary Cassatt painting. Educators, homeschoolers, and families alike will find their creativity sparked by this art extravaganza. Introduce children ages 7 and up to more than 50 great artists and their work with this lively family-oriented art resource. This treasure trove from the National Gallery of Art features works of art by, among others, Raphael, Rembrandt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Henri Matisse, Chuck Close, Jacob Lawrence, Pablo Picasso, and Alexander Calder, representing a wide array of artistic styles and techniques. Each chapter is focused on a theme ranging from studying nature and observing everyday life to breaking traditions and telling stories and includes works from a broad spectrum of artists, art mediums, nationalities, and time periods. Forty fun activities throughout will inspire the artist and art appreciator in every child. Written by museum educators with decades of hands-on experience helping children connect with art and the lives of artists, the projects include molding a clay figure inspired by Edgar Degas’s sculptures; drawing an object from touch alone, inspired by Joan Miró’s experience as an art student; painting a double-sided portrait reflecting physical traits and personality traits, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s Ginevra de’ Benci; and creating a story based on a Mary Cassatt painting. Educators, homeschoolers, and families alike will find their creativity sparked by this beautiful gathering of art and information from the nation’s stellar collection.
Modern Art : A Very Short Introduction
The Visual Mind II
Author: Michele Emmer, Sean Cubitt, and Roger F. Malina
Description: Essays on mathematics and art as visual expression.
Why We Make Art and Why it is Taught
Author: Richard Hickman
Description: Governments around the world spend millions on art and cultural institutions, evidence of a basic human need for what the author refers to as 'creating aesthetic significance.' Yet what function or purpose does art satisfy in today’s society? In this thorough and accessible text, Hickman rejects the current vogue for social and cultural accounts of the nature of art-making in favor of a largely psychological approach aimed at addressing contemporary developmental issues in art education. Bringing to bear current ideas about evolutionary psychology, this second edition will be an important resource for all interested in arts education.
Creating Art
Painting : Techniques, Styles, Instruments, and Practice
Author: Denis McGuinness and Kathy Campbell
Description: The fine art of painting is as varied as the life from which it springs. Each artist portrays different aspects of the world. A great artist is able to take some aspect of life and give it depth and meaning. To do this, an artist will make use of the many devices common to painting. These include composition, color, form, and texture. This engaging and dazzling reference covers the elements and principles of design in painting and the various mediums, forms, imagery, subject matter, and symbolism employed, adopted, or created by the painter. Key artworks are reproduced to clarify concepts.
Creating Manga Comics
Author: Leo Campos
Description: Manga characters can appear complicated to draw, but readers learn how to create these characters through helpful instructions that guide them through every step of the process. Readers are presented with a variety of characters to draw, including a martial artist and a monster trainer. They also learn important techniques used to draw manga characters, such as depicting emotions and drawing special effects. With helpful sketches of each step in the drawing process and colorful illustrations of each finished work of art, readers will be creating their own manga characters in no time at all!
Creating Fantasy Comics
Author: Seb Camagajevac
Description: Fantasy is a very popular genre of comics, filled with wizards and warriors from other worlds. Readers learn to draw their own fantasy characters and scenes, including a detailed wizards' battle. Detailed instructions help readers through each drawing project, and sketches provide visual examples of how each drawing should progress. Colorful illustrations of fantasy comics present readers with examples to follow. As they read, they're introduced to a number of important drawing techniques, including drawing human figures, drawing weapons, and using perspective to give depth to backgrounds.
Sculpture : Techniques, Styles, Instruments, and Practice
Author: Cleo Kuhtz and Kathy Campbell
Description: Looking at a work of art, like listening to music, becomes a rewarding experience only if the senses are alert to the qualities of the work and to the artist’s purpose that brought them into being. The language of sculpture must be learned. In this in-depth study, readers examine the materials, tools, methods, styles, and practices that are involved in sculpting and many of the techniques that have been used by accomplished artists who have contributed to sculpture as a fine art, from the marble gods of Phidias to the mobiles by Alexander Calder.
Graphic Design: Putting Art and Words Together
Author: Donna Reynolds
Description: Although graphic design is all around us, we rarely take time to notice and appreciate it. Advertisements, logos, websites, and more all rely on graphic design to create eye-catching content. This volume explores the skills artists need to produce aesthetically pleasing designs and the development of this field into the major industry it is today. Information is included for readers who are interested in pursuing graphic design as a career, and striking photographs display some of the most innovative examples of this prominent medium.
The Complete Beginner's Guide to Drawing Animals
Author: Walter Foster Creative Team
Description: With helpful tips and easy to follow step-by-step lessons, The Complete Beginner's Guide to Drawing Animals is the perfect resource for artists looking to hone their drawing style and technique. The Complete Beginner's Guide to Drawing Animals starts with a thorough introduction to the essential tools and materials artists need to get started, including different types of pencils, sketchbooks, papers, erasers, and more. This helpful resource features dozens of comprehensive drawing lessons designed to teach aspiring artists how to draw a variety of animals, from lifelike pet portraits to zoo and safari animals. Artists will discover the fundamentals of drawing and techniques for rendering realistic animal textures, such as fur, feathers, whiskers, manes, and hair; creating volume; shading; developing a composition; and mastering perspective, all with the goal of drawing dozens of lifelike animals in graphite and colored pencil.
Photography : Techniques, Styles, Instruments, and Practice
Author: Trenton Hamilton and Kathy Campbell
Description: Photography is generally considered to have had its birth in 1839, when Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre first revealed his photographic process to the public. Increasingly, cameras have become more automated and electronic over the years. In spite of the increasing sophistication of the equipment, however, the photographer's eye continues to be all-important. Photography remains a unique human act. This compendium focuses on the technology of photography, the camera and its parts, types of lenses, shutters and speeds, films and filters, making photographs, exposing film, lighting, darkroom techniques and processing, printing photographs, and some of the practical applications of the medium.
The Joy of Lettering
Author: Gabri Kirkendall and Jaclyn Escalera
Description: With more than 50 tips, techniques, and lessons for creating beautiful illuminated letters and sophisticated lettering projects, The Joy of Lettering takes hand lettering to a whole new level. Gabri Joy Kirkendall (Creative Lettering & Beyond) and Jaclyn Escalera guide readers through a dynamic exploration of the craft, focusing on typography and illuminated letters and numbers using pencil, ink, and marker in a variety of styles and themes. From there, artists will learn how to create letters using a variety of alternative materials and media, such as watercolor, gouache, and wood. Easily customized DIY projects invite artists to finesse their skills as they learn to letter on different types of surfaces while creating lettered murals, stationery, and signage. Packed with creative techniques and easy-to-follow lessons, this all-inclusive resource is a must??have for anyone who wants to learn or grow their expertise in the art of hand lettering.
A Pocket Business Guide for Artists and Designers : 100 Things You Need to Know
Author: Alison Branagan
Description: This handy pocket guide answers the most pressing questions artists and designers will have when setting up an art practice or creative business. Many visual artists who graduate from art school need to learn how to be self-employed or form a company. This book presents 100 useful business related things (explained in 250 words or less) that any creative should know. The book is divided into five sections that will help artists and designers achieve success and make money from their work: business, promotion, legal, money and last thoughts. This essential resource is packed with invaluable information for all creative practitioners.
The Pocket Universal Principles of Design : 150 Essential Tools for Architects, Artists, Designers, Developers, Engineers, Inventors, and Makers
Author: William Lidwell
Description: Whether a website, marketing campaign, museum exhibit, a video game or a complex control system, the design we see is the culmination of many concepts and practices brought together from a variety of disciplines. Now, there's a handy travel companion for any designer, so that you always have the essentials at your fingertips. Portable, condensed, and armed with 150 principles, The Pocket Universal Principles of Design is like a Swiss Army knife of design knowledge. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, it pairs critical need-to-know design knowledge with visual examples of the principles applied in practice. An indispensable field reference for designers of all types, this pocket edition of the best-selling Universal Principles of Design will sharpen your design thinking and expand your sense of the possible.
Art Is Every Day : Activities for the Home, Park, Museum, and City
Author: Eileen S. Prince
Description: Art isn’t just what you find in a museum, a sculpture park, or a one-period-a-week elementary school curriculumart is every day. Author and educator Eileen Prince offers projects for parents, grandparents, teachers, and others who want to bring meaningful, rich, and fun art experiences into children’s lives. This handy resource contains more than 75 ideas to do at home, in the park, in the city, or at the museum. Go on a photographic scavenger hunt around town looking for forms and shapes. Write an autobiography based on a museum portrait, but only using clues found in the painting. Or make a sandcasting on a trip to the beach. Each project is both easy to do and requires only free or inexpensive materials. What’s more, the projects and activities in Art Is Every Day will help children of any age (and adults) improve their basic understanding and production of art, or reinforce concepts they may have already learned. The book stresses art vocabulary, which in turn promotes observation and discovery. It’s the perfect resource for parents whose children’s school has cut its art program, grandparents looking for some fun activities to share with their grandchildren, or art teachers who would like fresh ideas for meaningful field trips or homework assignments to support their curriculum. Eileen Prince has been an art specialist in the Indianapolis-area schools since 1970, and is the author of the best-selling Art Matters and Art Is Fundamental. She lives in Indianapolis
The Everything Art Handbook : A comprehensive guide to more than 100 art techniques and tools of the trade
Author: Walter Foster Creative Team
Description: The Everything Art Handbook is an all-inclusive, go-to resource for artists of any skill level. A refreshing, accessible compendium of materials and techniques, The Everything Art Handbook is the perfect all-inclusive resource for beginning artists wanting to experiment and play with a variety of art mediums and techniques. The Everything Art Handbook is divided into sections focusing on different art mediums, such as drawing, pastel, watercolor, acrylic, oil, calligraphy, mixed media, color, composition, and more. Each section includes a basic overview of the technique, instructions for selecting and working with the right tools and materials, step-by-step sample artwork, and helpful sidebars with advice from professional artists. Using clear, informative explanations and tips for selecting the right tools and achieving the best results, The Everything Art Handbook is an approachable reference guide for contemporary artists of any skill level.
Digital Magazines
Artforum International
Publisher: Artforum Inc.
Full text coverage: Summer 2002 (Vol. 40, no. 10) - present
Description: Artforum is an international monthly magazine specializing in contemporary art.
Artist's Magazine
Publisher: Denver: Peak Media Properties
Full text coverage: Jul 1998 (Vol. 15, no. 7) - Dec 2001 (Vol. 18, no. 12)
Description: The Artist's Magazine is a monthly magazine for artists formerly published by F+W Media in Cincinnati, Ohio. The magazine was founded in 1983 and claims a circulation of 60,000. The founding company was Fletcher Art Services. F&W Publications acquired the magazine in September 1986.
Southwest Art
Publisher: Broomfield: F & W Publications, Inc.
Full text coverage Aug 1998 (Vol. 28, no. 3) - Oct 2018 (Vol. 48, no. 5)
Description: Southwest Art is a magazine published by Peak Media Properties that specializes in fine art depicting artwork of the American Southwest.
Scholastic Art
Publisher: New York: Scholastic Inc.
Full text coverage Feb 1998 (Vol. 28, no. 4) - Apr/May 2015 (Vol. 45, no. 6)
Description: The classic and contemporary art resource for grades 7–12, Scholastic Art deepens understanding and nurtures creative expression. Our teen-friendly art stories, hands-on projects, videos, audio and more will inspire your students in any learning setting
Academic Journals
African Arts
Publisher: Los Angeles: African Studies Center
Peer reviewed.
Full text coverage Apr 1990 (Vol. 23, no. 2) - Winter 2012 (Vol. 45, no. 4)
Description: African Arts is a peer-reviewed academic journal devoted to the study and discussion of traditional, contemporary, and popular African arts.
Art Education
Publisher: Reston: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
Peer reviewed.
Full text coverage Mar 1997 (Vol. 50, no. 2) - Nov 2019 (Vol. 72, no. 6)
Description: Art Education covers a diverse range of topics aiming to advance visual arts education to fulfill human potential and promote global understanding.
Art Monthly
Publisher: London: Art Monthly
Full text coverage Nov 2009 (no. 331) - present
Description: Art Monthly is a magazine of contemporary art founded in 1976 by Jack Wendler and Peter Townsend. It is based in London and has an international scope, although its main focus is on British art. The magazine is published ten times a year and is Britain's longest-established contemporary art magazine
Arts
Publisher: Basel: MDPI AG
Peer reviewed.Open access.
Full text coverage 2012 (Vol. 1, no. 1) - present
Description: Provides a forum for scholarly exploration of visual arts, music and performance arts, applied arts, popular arts, arts and technology.
Journal for Learning through the Arts
Publisher: Oakland: University of California Digital Library - eScholarship
Full text coverage 2018 (Vol. 14, no. 1) - present
Description: A peer-reviewed, open access journal in arts, arts integration, education, humanities & medical humanities.
Database Resources
Websites
Art in Context: Art blog covering a variety of artists and works.
Artstor: "Artstor’s ever-growing public collections offer approximately 1.3 million freely accessible images, videos, documents, and audio files from library special collections, faculty research, and institutional history materials, as well as hundreds of thousands of open access images from partner museums. Anyone may view and download these collections; no subscription or login required."
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History: Discover the story of art and global culture through The Met collection. Funded by the Heilbrunn Foundation, New Tamarind Foundation, and Zodiac Fund.
Getty Publications Virtual Library: 300+ Getty books to read & download for free.
Google Arts & Culture: Google Hub for articles, images, and more related to arts.
Smarthistory: Public website and center for art history information.
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