The Joy of Art: A Creative Guide for Beginning Painters

An inventive handbook for beginning papers combines helpful instruction and creative inspiration along with reproductions of masterworks by Rembrandt, Bosch, Degas, and other great painters, as it covers such themes as "From Light to Color," "Perpective, the Point of Escape," "How to Paint an Apple," and "The Body, Gesture, and Expression."

Adult/High School-As the authors state in the preface, painting is a passion and knowledge of technique and history should enflame that passion, not extinguish it. The book is intended to give new painters the freedom to "preserve (or resurrect) the childhood thrill of using color crayons and a box of watercolors." Each technique, material, style, or medium is given an artfully integrated explication through text, illustration, and example. This is definitely not a linear book and may be somewhat confusing for those who are not visual learners, but as a spur to creativity, it is a winner. Moving beyond the basics, the authors introduce pastels and watercolors, texture, perspective, and more. The pages are teeming with words and pictures, but actually do progress in a logical and helpful manner. A "family tree" of painting at the end vividly illustrates the progress of this art form from 15,000 B.C.E. to "Tomorrow." Wonderful for all ages and exciting for those who have had creativity "taught" out of them.-Susan H. Woodcock, Chantilly Regional Library, VA

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