Viewpoints: Mathematical Perspective and Fractal Geometry in Art

Marc Frantz

ISBN 10: 0691125929 / ISBN 13: 9780691125923

Published by Princeton University Press, 2011

About this Item

Suitable for students of all mathematics and art levels, this title focuses on two mathematical areas: perspective related to drawing man-made forms and fractal geometry related to drawing natural forms. It encourages experimentation and collaboration, and captures the essence of artistic and mathematical creation and discovery. Num Pages: 248 pages, 12 color illus. 50 halftones. 150 line illus. BIC Classification: AGZ; PBM; PBW. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 261 x 203 x 21. Weight in Grams: 830. . 2011. Hardcover. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9780691125923

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Viewpoints: Mathematical Perspective and Fractal Geometry in Art
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0691125929
• ISBN 13: 9780691125923
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

An undergraduate textbook devoted exclusively to relationships between mathematics and art, Viewpoints is ideally suited for math-for-liberal-arts courses and mathematics courses for fine arts majors. The textbook contains a wide variety of classroom-tested activities and problems, a series of essays by contemporary artists written especially for the book, and a plethora of pedagogical and learning opportunities for instructors and students.



Viewpoints focuses on two mathematical areas: perspective related to drawing man-made forms and fractal geometry related to drawing natural forms. Investigating facets of the three-dimensional world in order to understand mathematical concepts behind the art, the textbook explores art topics including comic, anamorphic, and classical art, as well as photography, while presenting such mathematical ideas as proportion, ratio, self-similarity, exponents, and logarithms. Straightforward problems and rewarding solutions empower students to make accurate, sophisticated drawings. Personal essays and short biographies by contemporary artists are interspersed between chapters and are accompanied by images of their work. These fine artists--who include mathematicians and scientists--examine how mathematics influences their art. Accessible to students of all levels, Viewpoints encourages experimentation and collaboration, and captures the essence of artistic and mathematical creation and discovery.

• Classroom-tested activities and problem solving


• Accessible problems that move beyond regular art school curriculum


• Multiple solutions of varying difficulty and applicability


• Appropriate for students of all mathematics and art levels


• Original and exclusive essays by contemporary artists


• Forthcoming: Instructor's manual (available only to teachers)

About the Author

Marc Frantz holds a BFA in painting from the Herron School of Art and an MS in mathematics from Purdue University. He teaches mathematics at Indiana University, Bloomington where he is a research associate. Annalisa Crannell is professor of mathematics at Franklin & Marshall College. She is the coauthor of Writing Projects for Mathematics Courses.