Art In Story

A little boy visits an art museum for the first time in this fun, sweet picture book about first experiences and seeing things from new perspectives. Simon is having a great time at the museum with his parents. There are slippery, slidey floors! Pigeons flying around the reflecting pool! And cheesecake in the café! But they’re not really here for any of that. No, Simon has to look at art. And more art. So. Much. Art. There’s so much art that soon Simon needs to take a break and finds somewhere to sit. From his bench, he begins to notice how many different people are visiting the museum and the many different ways they react to the art they see. Some people are alone. Some are in groups. Some people smile. Some shake their heads. Some even shed a tear. And Simon is right in the center of it, watching until he’s inspired to give all the art another try. By the end of the day, he may even find a piece that can rival a slice of cheesecake!

The most accessible history of world art ever assembled. Written by an international team of artists, art historians, and curators, this absorbing and beautiful book gives readers unparalleled insights into the world’s most iconic artworks. Art: The Whole Story traces the development of art period by period, with the informative and highly illustrated text covering every genre, from painting and sculpture to conceptual art and performance art. Cultural timelines are included as well, in order to help readers with each movement’s historical context. Masterpieces that epitomize each period or movement are highlighted and analyzed in detail. Everything from use of color and visual metaphors to technical innovations are explained, giving readers the tools to interpret the meanings of world-famous masterpieces. Highlights include Mughal miniatures; Japanese prints from the nineteenth century; the color theories behind Seurat’s remarkable La Grande Jatte; and why Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon was so shocking in its day.

A charmingly illustrated book packed with the best-loved paintings in the National Gallery, London. Includes amazing stories behind the paintings, about the lives of the artists and how they worked, and internet links to find out more. Fantastic for budding art critics. This lovely haardcover picture book is also available in paperback, with stickers to recreate the artworks (ISBN 9780746099995)

The most famous and popular book on art ever published, this quintessential "introduction to art," now in its sixteenth edition, has been a worldwide bestseller for over four decades.

The Short Story of Art is a pocket guide to key movements, works, themes and techniques – a new and innovative introduction to the subject of art. Simply constructed, the book explores 50 key works, from the wall paintings of Lascaux to Damien Hirst installations, and then links these to sections on art movements, themes and techniques. The design of the book allows the student or art enthusiast to easily navigate their way around key periods, artists and styles. Accessible and concise, it simplifies and explains the most important and influential concepts in art, and shows how they are connected. The book explains how, why and when art changed, who introduced certain things, what they were, where they were produced, and whether they matter. It demystifies artistic jargon, giving readers a thorough understanding and broad enjoyment of art. 'Susie Hodge has culled through hundreds of art movements to highlight and present 36 that illustrate transitions of art, its ideas, representations, characteristics, and production from Prehistoric times up to the dynamic shifts of the 1960s and '70s. As complex as art history is, this book is a welcome, succinct introduction to some classic Western masters.' Cindy Helm, New York Journal of Books 'Excellent introduction to the subject. A good quality book, tightly bound, and well illustrated.' – Colin, Amazon reviewer 'The Short Story of Art is an attractive volume that serves as a convenient introduction to major movements, works, themes, and techniques of Western art. The works within are featured more for their seminal or illustrative nature than their fame per se, so the "story" part of the title is apt. The cross referencing and "Other works by…" sections makes it clear that this book is encouraging the reader to explore art on his own.' –Tommy Grooms, Goodreads reviewer

Can you captivate an audience with your story? Many of us would love to hold the attention of a crowd, a classroom, or just a group of our friends by telling them a great story. We have felt the pressure of a public presentation or the disappointment of telling a story that others ignore. We are ready to be heard, ready to captivate. In The Art of Storytelling, John Walsh takes us through the steps to presenting a compelling story—outlining the strategies that helped him move from stutterer to storyteller. This book will help any person with a story to share by walking you through all aspects of presentation . . . from what to do with your hands as you speak all the way to crafting a killer ending. Whether you’re telling bedtime stories to your children or Bible stories to a congregation, this book will take your storytelling to a new level.

This major monograph on the life and work of artist Paula Rego surveys a career that spans six decades, combining literary and artistic perspectives. "Paula Rego is an outstanding artist. She deserves an outstanding book. And now she has one." —Waldemar Januszczak, Art Critic, The Sunday Times A prolific painter and printmaker, Paula Rego is an artist of astonishing power with a unique and unforgettable aesthetic. Capturing the extraordinary aspects of Rego’s work, author Deryn Rees-Jones places autobiographical narratives alongside stories suggested by Rego’s pictures. She explores their rich and textured layering of references to the old masters, fiction, fairytales, poems, the folk traditions of Rego’s native Portugal, politics, feminism, and more. The result is a highly original work that addresses urgent and topical questions on gender, subject and object, and self and other. Taking its cues from the artist, this fascinating study invites us to reflect on the complexities of storytelling. Rooted in close interpretation of the artworks, we see how Rego’s art intersects with the work of other women artists, such as Cindy Sherman and Louise Bourgeois, as well as writers, from Charlotte Bronte¨ and Angela Carter to Franz Kafka and Martin McDonagh. A definitive volume on the artist’s oeuvre, Paula Rego continues to raise questions, elevating it beyond a retrospective to something both provocative and authoritative.

A lively introduction to the rich and diverse history of contemporary art over the past 60 years—from Modernism and minimalism to artists like Andy Warhol and Marina Abramović. Accessible and with lavish illustrations, this is the perfect gift for art history fans and anyone looking for a new, more inclusive perspective on ‘the old boys’ club.’ Encountering a work of contemporary art, a viewer might ask, "What does it mean?" "Is it really art?" and "Why does it cost so much?" These are not the questions that E. H. Gombrich set out to answer in his magisterial The Story of Art. Contemporary art seems totally unlike what came before it, departing from the road map supplied by Raphael, Dürer, Rembrandt, and other European masters. In The Story of Contemporary Art, Tony Godfrey picks up where Gombrich left off, offering a lively introduction to contemporary art that stretches from Andy Warhol’s Brillo boxes to Marina Abramović’s performance art to today’s biennale circuit and million-dollar auctions. Godfrey, a curator and writer on contemporary art, chronicles important developments in pop art, minimalism, conceptualism, installation art, performance art, and beyond.