The Joy of Art: How to Look At, Appreciate, and Talk about Art

Written by a practicing artist, this book decodes and maps the basic elements of visual art, leading the reader to a greater understanding and appreciation. Not an art history lesson per se, this illustrated guide is rather a tool kit to make the study of art and a visit to the museum truly rewarding. An entertaining and informative read, The Joy of Art offers the reader:

• A working art vocabulary to help you identify and explain what you’re looking at
• Answers to many of the questions you may have about visual art in general
• A summary of the basic criteria to consider when looking at art
• Highlights of the primary art genres and an introduction to the artists who pursued them
• Many visual examples of aesthetic considerations and practices
• Interesting facts about your favorite artists and clues to why they made the choices they did
• A few games to test your new skills

The Joy of Art contains 150 color photographs and many interesting insights from an artist-author who takes readers behind the curtain and into the studio to uncover what actually goes into making a work of art. If you love art, this book will take your appreciation to a new level. Not only will your enjoyment of art increase, you’ll be able to clearly communicate your understanding to others.