The Art of Fresco Painting in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance

Known for its durability, a fresco painting is created in "sections" on freshly laid wet plaster, allowing the painter to comprehensively portray the subject and execute designs with ease. As both the paint and plaster dry, they become completely fused. Highly popular during the late-thirteenth to the mid-sixteenth centuries, fresco painting was almost a lost art by the time this book was first published in 1846. This volume, by a recognized authority in the field, was highly influential in reintroducing fresco painting to public attention. In addition to translating descriptions of painting methods used by such masters as Alberti, Cennini, Vasari, Borghini, Pozzo, and Pacheco, the author also interprets passages from rare manuscripts on the causes of fresco destruction and how to retouch, repair, and clean these works of art. Curators and art historians will find this classic reference work of immense importance and interest.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Mary Merrifield

Idols Behind Altars: Modern Mexican Art and Its Cultural Roots

Art critic, historian and journalist Anita Brenner (1905-1974) is acknowledged to be one of the most important and perceptive writers on the art, culture, and political history of Mexico. Idols Behind Altars is her influential historical and critical study of modern Mexican art and its roots. It was one of the first books to afford Mexican art the same serious considerations as European and Asian art and remains indispensable for anyone interested in the subject. The works of such major figures as Diego Rivera, Jóse Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Francisco Goitia and Jean Charlot are examined in the cultural context of pre-Columbian times through the 19th century. Brenner's astute analysis of Mexican history, her keen insights into revolutionary politics, and her passionate advocacy of Mexican art infuse this book with seminal importance. 117 illustrations--including some early photographs by Edward Weston--enhance the text.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Anita Brenner

Introduction to the History of Modern Art

Modern art begins in the middle of the 19th Century, in the 1850s, and lasts until approximately the 1960s. After that, once the vocabulary of modernism has been established and fully explored, the art made in the 1970s and 1980s is called post-modern art. Art made within the last 15-20 years is generally called contemporary art.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Sharon Jordan

The Elements of Drawing Lectures

Stephen Farthing R.A. presents eight practical drawing classes using John Ruskin's teaching collections to explain the basic principles of drawing. This series accompanies 'The Elements of Drawing', a searchable and browsable online version of the teaching collection and catalogues assembled by John Ruskin for his Oxford drawing schools.

Material Type: Lecture

Author: Stephen Farthing

Drawing Lessons

In this essential guide to the basic principles of drawing the human figure, Pogany--one of the leaders of the Golden Age of Illustration--shows readers the path to artistic mastery. With a warm and supportive tone, he seamlessly blends instruction and insight with 375 masterful illustrations. The aim: to build a foundation for those who wish to draw skillfully and easily.Beginning with the humble dot and moving forward to perspective, anatomy, shading, portraiture, balance, motion, and more, this step-by-step resource is a genuine inspiration. Details of the human head, eyes, ears, and feet add depth to the instruction, followed by simple demonstrations that clearly illustrate how fundamental techniques are put into practice. Easy to follow and concise, this guide has long been considered an important resource for artists of all abilities.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Willy Pogany

Basic Drawing

Unique in its presentation, Basic Drawing teaches by example. Through a profusion of self-explanatory drawings, simple rules of procedure are expertly illustrated for artists, enabling them to build a solid foundation in all aspects of art composition.Presenting informative facts rather than ideology, the author begins with perspective and progresses to the figure in movement; light and shade; and detailed anatomy such as the head, neck, facial features, back, hips, legs, feet, arms, and hands. Using hundreds of masterful illustrations from his own portfolio, Priscilla continues with drapery, composition, and trees and landscape, including outdoor sketching. A truly all-in-one manual that belongs on every artist's bookshelf, Basic Drawing outlines the fundamental skills of drawing with an effective and powerful simplicity.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Louis Priscilla

Perspective Drawing for Beginners

The amateur artist faces many challenges. To Len A. Doust, perspective is by far the most problematic. With his trademark humor, the author/artist turns his expert eye toward that "dreaded, horrid word." In a clearly written how-to guide on mastering the art of perspective, he carefully:* describes the roles of lines, boxes, and circles* provides shortcuts for visualizing shapes and forms* incorporates thirty-three plates of helpful illustrationsOne of the most concise introductions available for beginners, this practical volume will be an important addition to any artist's resource library.

Material Type: Textbook

The Technique of Pencil Drawing

Only a thoroughly accomplished artist such as Borough Johnson--a nineteenth-century landscape and genre painter--could manage to illuminate the technique of pencil drawing in these exquisitely simple terms. Artists at every level of experience will appreciate the wealth of information he offers on everything from choosing the right tools to drawing the nude figure. With a host of helpful "how-to" illustrations, as well as a "mini-gallery" of finished compositions, this invaluable guide offers clear direction for artists who want to learn to draw--or sharpen their skills. Johnson starts with the basics, explaining how to hold a pencil for the greatest control, how to select the right paper, and how to add shading and tone for the best results. "The range of effects is infinite," he affirms. Moving outdoors, he tackles landscapes, seascapes, and other scenery, demonstrating where to start your sketch and where to leave off. When drawing the nude figure, he suggests quick poses to capture body structure and balance before adding detail. Best of all, Johnson explores the importance of individuality in each artist and how each one's expression should be absolutely unique. When you see the magnificent artwork included--from stunning portraits of dancers and fishermen to splendid scenes in Venice and Pisa--you'll be inspired to master this expressive art form.

Material Type: Textbook

The Watson Drawing Book

Both serious students and amateurs will appreciate this guide to drawing, an ideal resource for those who want to develop their skills whether for professional reasons or simply for pleasure. Its comprehensive chapters cover all of the basic black-and-white drawing media: pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, brush and ink, quill and rush pens, felt-tip, wash, and mixed media. A showcase of technical methods allows students ample opportunity to experiment with finding their preferred approaches. Technical information includes instruction in such important basics as perspective, proportion, form analysis, light, and shade. Portrait drawing, figure sketching and outdoor sketching are also covered. In addition to the authors' sketches and studies, the text features numerous drawings in a variety of techniques by old masters as well as contemporary artists.

Material Type: Textbook

Authors: Aldren A. Watson, Ernest W. Watson

On the Art of Drawing

With this helpful and informative guide, a leading American illustrator offers insights into how serious beginners can become sketch masters. It combines a focus on the nature and importance of technique with practical suggestions for developing drawing skills with a variety of tools, including felt pen, pencil, crayon, brush and ink, charcoal, casein, tempera, and wash.Norman Rockwell praised this book as "a real contribution not only to illustration, but to art." Rockwell and author Robert Fawcett were founding faculty members of the Famous Artists School, a correspondence course that has coached legions of professionals and amateurs. Known as the "Illustrator's Illustrator," Fawcett stresses design and composition in his step-by-step demonstrations, which feature 100 illustrations. His realistic depictions of landscapes and human figures convey solid fundamentals of drawing that every artist, illustrator, student, and hobbyist needs to know.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Robert Fawcett

Photographic Visual Diary: Visual Elements of Art and Principles of Composition in Your Daily Life

This is an introductory project that addresses identifying the Elements of Art and Principles of Composition in immediate surroundings and provides these terms a real-time life application. The project is interactive and exploratory, requiring individual observation of a students' physical world. This project can be modified to include more images, changes in grid template and combined to include both Elements and Principles together; incluiding identifying other terms in art such as mediums. The project can be used in an online formatted course or a face to face environment. Including Art Appreciation, Art Orientation, Two-Dimensional Design and Three-Dimensional Design studio courses. 

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Homework/Assignment

Author: Xuchi Eggleton

Light and Shade: A Classic Approach to Three-Dimensional Drawing

"Form," writes the author, "is developed by means of light and shade; without these every object would appear flat." Originally published in the mid-nineteenth century, this classic approach to three-dimensional drawing was the first book to provide art students with instructions for correctly illustrating perspective outlines of various objects. An art historian noted for her authoritative reference works, Merrifield clearly demonstrates the principles of light and shade by revealing the effects of common daylight, sunshine, and candle or artificial light on geometrical solids. Her simple explanations are accompanied by illustrations of cubes, prisms, pyramids, cylinders, spheres, ovals, and cones.As useful and practical today as it was when first published well over a century ago, Light and Shade provides beginning and advanced art students with valuable insights into effective drawing and sketching.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Mary Merrifield

Materials & Meaning Handbook: 3D Design Foundations

What is 3D Design, and what makes it so different from 2D Design? Through this chapter, you will be introduced to the concepts, language, and principles of 3D Design, and explore translating a 2D drawing into a 3D object.

Material Type: Reading

Authors: Phil Lonergan, Sherry Lin

Smarthistory: Modernisms 1900 - 1980

Two world wars, sweeping technological change, and the undoing of traditional academic art. Can a urinal count as art? What about a canvas of pure color, or a chair placed in front of a gallery wall? These artists answered yes.

Material Type: Reading

Anatomy and Drawing

This instructive book presents excellent annotated line drawings of anatomical structure for the beginning artist. Explaining the subject in simple terms and with an extensive series of dynamic illustrations, the author identifies parts of the body and demonstrates a wide array of physical activities through his sketches. Following notes on proportion and drawing, chapters cover the human skeleton, head and neck, torso, arm, hand, leg, foot, and musculature. Numerous illustrations depict various views of these structures, movements of the human figure, as well as changes in the relative proportions of features at different ages. One of the best books in its field, Anatomy and Drawing helps demystify a complex subject by enabling students to visualize the muscles and bones under the skin, and covers just about everything a beginner needs to know about drawing the human anatomy.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Victor Perard

Drawing the Draped Figure

Many art students and professionals have mastered the art of depicting unclothed figures, but still have trouble accurately rendering clothing or other forms of draped cloth. Part of the problem — before this book came along — was that there was a lack of concise and simple instruction on the subject, and much that was written was too vague to be helpful. This comprehensive, well-illustrated book was created to solve the problem.In these pages George Bridgman — a longtime instructor at New York's Art Student League and one of the nation's foremost teachers of figure drawing — offers expert advice on depicting draped figures. "Clothing is none other than a drapery arranged around a body that is beneath it. To express the multitudinous forms it takes, one should learn to express in a direct way the different characters of folds, for each one plays its individual part as distinctly apart as actors play their different characters upon the stage."Students learn the characteristics of seven different kinds of folds and how to render them, including pipe, zigzag, spiral, half-lock, diaper pattern, drop, and inert folds. Mastery of these principles is the key to realistic portrayal of garments, as well as the proper rendering of cloth in still lifes. The straightforward, easy-to-follow text is illustrated by 200 of Bridgman's own sketches and diagrams, reproduced from pencil renderings in crisp halftones. Art students, teachers, and professionals alike are sure to welcome this inexpensive republication of a practical, hands-on manual by a master of figure drawing.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: George R. Bridgman

Life Drawing: A Complete Course

The human figure, with its myriad curves and contours, can be challenging for anyone to draw. In this invaluable reference, well-known art instructor and author E. L. Koller simplifies the process, making it easy for artists to learn new methods of rendering the figure--in action and repose--with accuracy and style. Using figure-drawing exercises, numerous photos, and illustrations, Koller reduces the task at hand into manageable steps for intermediate and advanced artists. Beginning with drawing basics, this step-by-step guide explores the structure of the human figure and the comparative proportions of child and adult figures, showing how to depict individual parts of the head and body, facial expressions, and gestures. It also shows the merits of sketching from memory; drawing from casts, photographs, and living models; and sketching both undraped and costumed figures. Once the still figure is mastered, the artist can explore the more challenging action poses, including walking, running, and catching. Filled with guidance and insight on the human form, Life Drawing is an essential addition to every artist's reference shelf.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: E.L. Koller

The Elements of Art

The goal of this unit is to introduce students to the basic elements of art (color, line, shape, form, and texture) and to show students how artists use these elements in different ways in their work. In the unit, students will answer questions as they look carefully at paintings and sculpture to identify the elements and analyze how they are used by different artists.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Unit of Study

Blender 3D: Noob to Pro

Blender 3D: Noob to Pro is a product of shared effort by numerous team members and anonymous editors. Its purpose is to teach people how to create three-dimensional computer graphics using Blender, a free software application. This book is intended to be used in conjunction with other on-line resources that complement it.

Material Type: Textbook

Introduction to Western Art History: Proto-Renaissance to Contemporary Art

In this course, we will study important movements and some influential artists in Western art history. It begins with the Proto-Renaissance in Italy in the 13th century and continues through to the late 20th century, providing a framework for considering how and why certain artistic movements emerged in certain places at certain times. Upon successful completion of this course, student will be able to: identify the major styles of works of art in the West from the Italian proto-Renaissance through contemporary art; explain how political, social, and religious ideas inform art styles and images; explain prevalent artistic and architectural techniques developed through the period covered; eiscuss formal aspects of works of art in terminology basic to the field; recognize important artworks and describe them in terms of their form, content, and general history of their creation. (Art HIstory 111)

Material Type: Assessment, Homework/Assignment, Lecture, Reading, Syllabus

Author: Individual Authors