August 2023 MBR The Art Shelf

The Art Shelf

The Art of Fantasy
S. Elizabeth
Francis Lincoln
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D, Beverly, MA 01915
www.quartoknows.com
9780711279957, $30.00, HC, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Art-Fantasy-visual-sourcebook-Margins/dp/0711279950

Synopsis: Throughout history, artists have explored imaginary worlds and fantastical creatures for centuries, expressing the unreal and impossible, the mystical and mythical, via the medium of paint.

But what draws them to the imaginary, the uncharted and the unknown? Is it merely an escape from reality? Or are they seeking a greater understanding of the human experience, or perhaps the very meaning of life itself? With myriad styles and methods of expression, what links artists through the ages? And how have these visual flights of fancy and imagination changed over the course of time?

"The Art of Fantasy: A Visual Sourcebook of All That is Unreal" by S. Elisabeth is a visual sourcebook of all that is fantastical, ranging from fine art to illustration, and from surrealists and symbolists. to the creatives working in undefined territories. While the artists in our history books (such as Blake, Goya, Dali, Magritte, Ernst) first brought fantasy art to the galleries, it was the twentieth century artists who brought it to the masses.

It is in "The Art of Fantasy" from the British publishing company of Francis Lincoln, that, for the first time, they are united and equally weighted, presenting a mesmerising and thoughtful curation of the best fantasy artwork out there.

Critique: Profusely illustrated with museum quality, full color artwork, "The Art of Fantasy: A Visual Sourcebook of All That is Unreal" is an impressively informative, and truly inspiring collection that is specifically and unreserved recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Art History collections and supplemental Pop Culture Art curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for dedicated fans of myth, magic, fantasy and art history, that "The Art of Fantasy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: S. Elizabeth (aka Mlle Ghoul) is a Florida-based writer specialising in art, the macabre and the supernatural. She is a staff writer at Haute Macabre and has written for Coilhouse, Dirge and the blog Death & the Maiden. S. Elizabeth was also the co-creator of The Occult Activity Book (vol 1 and 2) and runs two successful blogs: Ghoul Next Door (ghoulnextdoor.tumblr.com) and These Unquiet Things (www.unquietthings.com).

The History of Western Art
Janetta Rebold Benton
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500296653, $16.95, PB, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/History-Western-Art-Essentials/dp/0500296650

Synopsis: Acknowledging how architecture, painting, sculpture, and the decorative arts reflect the culture and society of their time, "The History of Western Art" by Professor Janetta Rebold Benton is latest addition to the Art Essentials series and invites the reader to experience and appreciate the entirety of Western art from prehistory to today.

Focusing on the history in art history, each of "The History of Western Art" is comprised of twelve chapters, opening with a question to ponder, and followed by a summary of the major historical developments of the period, touching on social structure, political organization, migration, race, beliefs, scientific advances, and customs.

An exploration of these themes in the visual arts reveals how art and architecture from the Great Pyramids and Hagia Sophia, as well as pieces by artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Andy Goldsworthy, Guerrilla Girls, and Faith Ringgold simultaneously shape, reflect, and document the culture of the time and place they were created. A secondary focus explores the constantly evolving aesthetic preferences that swing between naturalism and abstraction, with each era and style either rebelling against the previous or seeking to improve it.

Richly illustrated with 117 color illustrations, "The History of Western Art" is an introductory survey by expert art historian and museum lecturer who offers a succinct and engaging introduction to some of the most important works of architecture, sculpture, and painting in the Western tradition, reinterpreted for a twenty-first-century audience.

Critique: A brilliant course of instruction for academic and non-specialist general readers to the legacy and diversity of Western Art, "The History of Western Art" by art history professor Janetta Rebold Benton is impressively informative, exceptionally well written, very nicely organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation. This edition of "The History of Western Art" from Thames & Hudson is particularly and especially recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Art History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Janetta Rebold Benton (http://janettareboldbenton.com) is the Distinguished Professor of Art History at Pace University, New York, and the author of several books and articles on art including How to Understand Art in the Art Essentials series. She is the recipient of two Fulbright Scholar Awards as visiting professor to China and Russia, respectively, and lectures at the Smithsonian Institution, 92nd Street Y, and previously at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Drawing Digital
Lisa Bardot
Walter Foster Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D, Beverly, MA 01915
www.quartoknows.com
9780760385326, $24.99, PB, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Digital-complete-guide-learning/dp/0760385327

Synopsis: With the publication of "Drawing Digital: The complete guide for learning to draw & paint on your iPad", artist and teacher Lisa Bardot, (the expert behind @Bardot Brush), introduces the art of digital drawing. Using your tablet and Procreate, or another favorite drawing app, you can leave behind your pencil and paper and make art anywhere and at any time.

Lisa gets you started with a range of easy-to-follow projects, including: A still life; A snake plant; Cacti in the desert; Flowers; A dog; A school of fish; Self-portraits; Characters; City scenes -- and so much more!

Accompanying each project are complete step-by-step instructions and Lisa Bardot's signature, vibrant artwork. "Drawing Digitally" also includes: Tips for finding creative inspiration; Information on tools; App basics; How to draw and paint lines and shapes; Instructions for layering, duplicating, exporting, and more; and A review that promises to help you draw anything.

Critique: As an accomplished artist, Lisa Bardot works in Procreate; however, her instructions comprising "Drawing Digital: The complete guide for learning to draw & paint on your iPad" apply to any digital drawing app, so you can use whatever you have on hand. The projects, tips, and techniques offer the ideal starting point if you're a beginner to digital drawing, but if you're an expert, you are still certain to learn plenty from Lisa's expert advice, Exceptionally well written with an accompanying wealth of full color images and illustrations, "Drawing Digital" is an ideal DIY instructional guide and manual. While a highly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Design, Illustration, and Graphics collections, and supplemental Digital Art curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "Drawing Digital" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Lisa Bardot (https://bardotbrush.com/about-lisa-bardot) is an illustration artist, a teacher, and an all-around creative person based in California. With the iPad and Procreate as her tools of choice, she creates educational tutorials, industry-leading digital brushes, and art-making resources to help beginners and experienced artists alike find joy in creating. Her educational videos about drawing and illustration have been viewed millions of times, and she receives high praise for her thorough, concise, and fun teaching style. Additionally, she runs the Making Art Everyday artistic prompt challenge, followed by thousands of participants worldwide. Check out more of Lisa's work on Instagram at @lisabardot, @bardotbrush, or on the Bardot Brush YouTube channel.

The Perspective Drawing Guide
Spencer Nugent
Rocky Nook
1010 B Street, Ste 350, San Rafael, CA 94901
https://rockynook.com
9781681989037, $24.95, PB, 168pp

https://www.amazon.com/Perspective-Drawing-Guide-Spencer-Nugent/dp/1681989034

Synopsis: Perspective drawing is the foundation for creating art that pops off the page. With the publication of "The Perspective Drawing Guide: Simple Techniques for Mastering Every Angle" by designer and teacher Spencer Nugent presents the ultimate DIY guide to helping aspiring artists seeking to understand and develop techniques to draw confidently using the power of perspective.

While mastering perspective can take years, "The Perspective Drawing Guide" will provide understanding of why things look the way they do and how to draw them accurately and confidently.

In "The Perspective Drawing Guide", Nugent takes a fundamental approach and provides detailed tips, tricks, and techniques that will enable aspiring artists to draw more confidently by breaking down objects into easier to draw shapes, showing the mechanics of perspective, and demonstrating how to make drawings presentation ready.

"The Perspective Drawing Guide" is guide is perfect for beginning artists looking to develop their perspective drawing abilities or even seasoned artists wanting to sharpen their skills.

Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.5 x 11 inches, 1.3 pounds) paperback edition of "The Perspective Drawing Guide: Simple Techniques for Mastering Every Angle" is exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, making it an ideal DIY instructional reference and guide. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), "The Perspective Drawing Guide" is a high value addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university Pencil/Pen/Ink Drawing collections, as well as a supplemental textbook for art class, art school curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Spencer Nugent (https://advdes.org/spencer-nugent) is the founder of Sketch-A-Day.com and has been providing free, high-quality online design sketching tutorial content and on-site sketch workshops since 2008. He has created an extensive online network and following within the Industrial Design community and continues to connect with students and design professionals via his online properties. With his daily YouTube streams, he continues to share his passion for creating and drawing on "Sketch-A-Day LIVE" as well as the sketch-a-day Instagram and TikTok. Spencer was awarded the Industrial Design Society of America's individual achievement award for his consistent work and passion related to industrial design education related to producing online educational content.

Painting Cats
Terry Runyan
Leaping Hare Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D, Beverly, MA 01915
www.quartoknows.com
9780711285347, $20.00, PB, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Painting-Cats-Curious-free-spirited-watercolors/dp/0711285349

Synopsis: Perfect for cat loving watercolor artists of all skill levels from the absolute beginner to the more experienced, with the publication of "Painting Cats: Curious, Mindful & Free-spirited Watercolors". Artist Terry Runyan teaches you how to go from blob of paint to a beautiful portrait of your fluffy friends.

Drawing on art therapy techniques that emphasize fun and freedom in creativity over technical perfection, Runyan guides you step by step through the process of adding details to loosely painted shapes to create your own unique and distinct cats!

"Painting Cats" is joyful and instructional DIY guide brimming with inspiring watercolor artwork and encouragement. It includes: Playing and experiment with watercolour, exploring the ways in which the medium invites us to be present in the moment; Finding projects, tips, and techniques to help you develop your painting, creating a myriad of beautiful portraits along the way; Exploring the art of storytelling with cats; Enjoying the scientifically proven mental-health benefits of making art

Critique: "Painting Cats: Curious, Mindful & Free-spirited Watercolors" is exceptionally 'user friendly' for watercolor artists of all skill levels to embrace techniques and lessons in creative mindfulness. Profusely illustrated throughout and while a very highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and art school Watercolor Painting collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "Painting Cats" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Terry Runyan (www.terryrunyan.com) is a visual artist and creative encourager. After a long career as an in-house illustrator for Hallmark, Terry now runs her own business, creating art and videos, and leading classes at Skillshare to help others explore their creativity. She loves painting cats, cats on heads, big hair, and encouraging imperfectly perfect watercolour. She lives in Leawood, Kansas with her two creative cats, Tucker and Riley. You can learn more about Terry and her work on: Instagram: @terryrunyan, YouTube: Terry Runyan, Facebook: @terryrunyancreative, and the Daily Creating Group on Facebook: @dailycreating

Draw Kawaii Style
Ilaria Ranauro
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760382448, $19.99, PB, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/Draw-Kawaii-Style-Step-Step/dp/0760382441

Synopsis: With the publication of "Draw Kawaii Style: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide for Drawing Super-Cute Creatures, Whimsical People, and Fun Little Things - 62 Lessons: Basics, Characters, Special Effects", artist and online art teacher Ilaria Ranauro (aka Ilariapops) shares her approach to creating kawaii art, starting with the fundamentals, then illustrating how to create a wide variety of characters by following her easy step-by-step tutorials.

Kawaii Essentials. The first seven lessons teach solid drawing techniques that demonstrate how to draw kawaii characters from the ground up and will help you build the skills you need to create the characters of your dreams.

Kawaii Characters, Step by Step. Through step-by-step tutorials, from rough sketch to finish, discover the drawing process for 55 characters (animals, people, food, and objects) including an alpaca and a panda, a superhero and a snowman, a ramen noodle bowl and a watermelon slice, and a teapot and a rainbow, each presented in a different pose.

Critique: Exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, whether you are just beginning to draw, or trying your hand at drawing Japanese style kawaii for the first time, or looking for ideas and guidance for bringing your own characters to life, "Draw Kawaii Style: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide for Drawing Super-Cute Creatures, Whimsical People, and Fun Little Things - 62 Lessons: Basics, Characters, Special Effects" by Ilaria Ranauro is the essential DIY instructional guide, 'how to' manual, and visual reference. While recommended as a very special addition to personal, professional, community, and art school collections, it should be noted tht "Draw Kawaii Style' is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Kawaii illustrator Ilaria Ranauro (https://ilariaranauro.com) sells stickers, washi tape, prints, and other products adorned with her fun images on her popular Etsy shop. She also teaches a class on how to create kawaii characters on Domestika and has illustrated children's books for Penguin Random House Mexico. A native of Italy, Ilaria is based in Berlin. To see more of her work follow her at @ilariapops on Instagram, Etsy, and YouTube.

The Beginner's Guide to Decorating Pottery
Emily Reinhardt
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760381397, $24.99, PB, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Decorating-Pottery-Introduction/dp/0760381399

Synopsis: With an emphasis on learning new skills, having fun, and embracing imperfection, "The Beginner's Guide to Decorating Pottery: An Introduction to Glazes, Patterns, Inlay, Luster, and Dimensional Designs" supports your creative process as you explore:

1. Basic information on working with clays as well as materials used for decorating.
2. Tutorials on color theory, combining form and function, and the importance of keeping a sketchbook.
3. Beginner-friendly projects that show how to apply surface-design techniques to simple pieces such as coasters, a cheeseboard, a wall hanging, plates, tumblers, vases, planters, and more.

Throughout "The Beginner's Guide to Decorating Pottery", skill-building is front and center, with tips and tricks to help you crack the code and make pieces you're proud of. Gallery work from some of today's top ceramics artists is sure to inspire potters of all levels. What will you make first?

For beginners and those returning to ceramics, the Essential Ceramics Skills series from Quarry Books offer the fundamentals along with fresh, contemporary, and simple projects that build skills progressively.

Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout with color photographs, "The Beginner's Guide to Decorating Pottery: An Introduction to Glazes, Patterns, Inlay, Luster, and Dimensional Designs" is an ideal DIY combination of instructional guide and 'how to' manual, providing thoroughly 'user friendly step-by-step instructions that will turn the most novice of potters into seasoned experts. Fun and informative, "The Beginner's Gujide to Decorating Pottery" is specifically recommended for community and art school Pottery Making collections. This ideal 'how-to' guide and manual is also easily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Emily Reinhardt (https://www.theobjectenthusiast.com/pages/about) is a ceramic artist and designer whose work focuses on beautiful, functional ceramic objects for the home. In her studio in the Crossroads Arts district of Kansas City, Missouri, Emily designs and builds by hand a variety of one-of-a-kind objects, including plates, vases, wall hangings, tumblers, mugs, goblets, and trays. Her modern, unfussy aesthetic features perfectly imperfect shapes and stunning surface design techniques, such as striking glazes, touches of gold luster, bold patterns, texture, and raised effects. Emily founded The Object Enthusiast in 2011 and continues to grow a loyal community of customers and students, teaching classes online through Skillshare as well as in-person at her studio. She is also the co-founder of her shop, Duet, and of The Ekru Project, an art gallery and curatorial project, both of which share space with her Crossroads studio. Emily lives in Kansas City, Missouri. You can see more of her work using @theobjectenthusiast on Instagram, Facebook, and Skillshare.

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