Oh how I wish books like these had existed when I was the right age!
The Artist in You, by Julie Brunelle and Peter Wood, is perfect on more than one count. First they show you some famous, but still gorgeous, works of art, from pop art to old masters. They talk you through what you are seeing, which means that you learn about the paintings, and the painters, and facts about painting. (And then I want to rip the pages out to stick on my poor walls again.)
Julie and Peter then show you how to achieve art like this, a sort of ‘do this at home.’ I’d have loved that – although most likely it would have been frustrating – and I am sure there are many hopeful young artists who will want to have a go.
Then we have two books by James Mayhew, for slightly younger artists. In Learn to Draw with Katie, James also shows his readers how to copy the great masters, and in this case he helps a bit, by having provided simple drawings to ‘colour in.’
And in Discover Art with Katie, we have stickers! I love stickers, and I know I’m not alone in this. I have just about managed not having a go myself, ‘improving’ a few of the classic paintings we all know. Described as an activity book, there are puzzles and word-searches as well.
So, three fun books about art, and how to do it yourself.
The Occasional Bookwitch 