Prebles' Artforms: An Introduction to the Visual Arts, 8th Edition
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,History & Criticism
Prebles' Artforms: An Introduction to the Visual Arts, 8th Edition Details
For courses in Art Appreciation, Art courses for non-majors, and one-semester Introduction to Art classes. From the First Edition in 1972, ARTFORMS has been as visually exciting as the individual works of art that are reproduced in it. ARTFORMS grew out of a desire to introduce art through an engaging visual experience. It is written and designed to help readers build an informed foundation for individual understanding and enjoyment of art. By introducing art theory, practice, and history in a single volume, this book aims to draw students into a new or expanded awareness of the visual arts. The goal is to engage readers in the process of realizing their own innate creativity. In the new, Eighth Edition, the title has been modified to Prebles' ARTFORMS, acknowledging the pioneering contribution of the original authors, Duane and Sarah Preble, to the study of art. Their vision and spirit have touched hundreds of thousands of students who have studied ARTFORMS. Read more
Reviews
I just puchased the latest edition of Artforms which includes the CD-ROM with interactive explanations on elements of art. Artforms is a great introduction to art and art history for those who have always wanted to understand how to look at art and interpret it for themselves. Over half the book is dedicated to elements and principles of art and craftsmanship. I use this book in training my art museum volunteers so that they have a clear understanding of why some works of art have strong visual impact while others do not. I like how the book uses a mix of artwork from various time periods, media and cultures to explain the elements and principles. Far too many art/art history books become a history of painting, and Artforms represents a variety of art forms other than 2D. The history portion of the book is a gloss of art history, but good enough for someone just delving into art. The book is easy to read, relatively jargon-free and has a nice glossary at the end. I wish the CD had more information on it that you could use in a classroom setting, projecting it on an overhead, but that is my instructor point of view. For someone studying at home it is quite nice. To sum up, the book is so good I now own two editions and will continue to recommend it to people who want to understand how to look at art.
