The Joy of Art: A Creative Guide for Beginning Painters

Rating:
Summary: An Invaluable Treasure
Review: I have never before seen a book on art like this one. It is a fascinating tour of art history - from prehistory to the modern day, as well as a highly accessible "how to" guide for people of all skill levels who have any desire to create art. The authors are so clever in the way they simplify what otherwise seems to the layperson to be such a complex process. Everyone in my family (ranging in age from 7 years to 77 years) has been enraptured with this book - it is already a family treasure!

Rating:
Summary: An Invaluable Treasure
Review: I have never before seen a book on art like this one. It is a fascinating tour of art history - from prehistory to the modern day, as well as a highly accessible "how to" guide for people of all skill levels who have any desire to create art. The authors are so clever in the way they simplify what otherwise seems to the layperson to be such a complex process. Everyone in my family (ranging in age from 7 years to 77 years) has been enraptured with this book - it is already a family treasure!

Rating:
Summary: The Joy of Art: A Creative Guide for Beginning Painters
Review: The book's jacket design is so inviting; however, inside its messages are confusing. This is primarily because of the way in which the material is presented. All text is handwritten, making it difficult to scan and read quickly (for this reader). There are many arrows and much cross-hatching. Reproductions of masterworks are dull and do not convey any of the power of the originals (and these comprise a large segment of the book). The format reminds me of an adventure book in which the reader must track the characters or plot through various segments using maps and arrows. The content is interesting once it is deciphered, but that was the problem: I felt as if I were deciphering a treasure map. Yes, a "treasure" map, because the book does offer good information. I did not have the patience to read it through, and prefer something more to the point with more clarity in the layout. For some reason, I think those who love Tolkein (_Hobbit_ and _Lord of the Rings_) and Adams (_Watership Down_) who want to learn more about painting would probably love this approach. I wonder if that's the case...

Rating:
Summary: Great Fun, Teaching and Encouragement
Review: This book is a lot of fun to look at and browse. The layout is clever and unusual and offers inviting illustrations of art technique and history. The knowledgeable and enthusiastic authors encourage beginners to dive in and start creating. I really like the open door approach. Unfortunately, the exercises they provide are often needlessly complicated, poorly organized and hard to follow. Other weaknesses are no page numbers (the table of contents has numbers though?) and obscure, rambling passages that might have been better left out. Still, this book contains many gems of technique and history - ready for discovery by the beginning and experienced artist alike.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book for Artists
Review: This book was excellent. Done in a handwriiten style with many colored drawings, it tells about all media, techniques, and history of art. No matter what your medium is, you should enjoy it!