The HarperCollins Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, 2nd edition, contains over 3,200 clear definitions of terns encountered in the study and practice of the visual arts and in their literature. It covers all forms of easel and mural paintings, drawing, sculpture, the graphic arts, photography, ceramics, and mosaic. There are entries on schools, styles, and periods, but the chief emphasis of the book is on the materials and methods of the artist. Materials are defined in terms of compositions, source, use, and characteristic properties; processes and techniques are defined in terms of their practical application and results. Tools and equipment are concisely described and illustrated with copious line drawings.
There are plenty of dictionaries of artists around, in book form or on the web. Far fewer are the books to explain how fine and applied artists go about their business and define the techniques and materials artists use. This is essential knowledge for young people preparing to study art or art history, and I'd certainly recommend this book to them. But for everyone who loves paintings and other art objects, the extra technical knowledge this dictionary gives will add to the enjoyment and enlightenment gained from visiting a gallery or museum. It is an excellent introduction to a complex subject, by Ralph Mayer of Yale University School of Art, and first appeared in 1991.
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