Look! Really Smart Art - Softcover

This wonderful book is the fifth in an outstanding series of art books which have proved extremely popular with teachers...This is an essential book for art teachers, as well as a lovely book for a child to own.

From its incredibly clever cover image and fabulous end papers which really do make you LOOK immediately at the book this seemed to be to be a title that would be very interesting and hopefully useful. I was happily proved correct... Wolfe is exploring the tricks that artists use, the way in which paintings can decieve the eye and she illustrates just some of the effects used. The afore mentioned Octavio Ocampo sits alongside Marc Chagall, David Hockney and Salvador Dali among others. Her approachable style and the succinctness of this book make it a wonderful, bright and intelligent introduction to art for readers of any age and a great resource for teaching children to enjoy and appreciate art.

The text is informative and conveys the author's great enthusiasm for her subject... It will appeal to a wide range of readers young and not so young.

A well-designed book that is good to look at, with each carefully chosen painting granted a double spread. These are drawn from a number of historical periods, continents and movements, including some living artists. The text is succinct and there is some encouragement to try out the techniques for yourself. There is more biographical information about the featured artists at the back of the book. It would do as well for the child who is simply curious about art or to work from in an art class.

Any budding artist would find this book a valuable source of ideas. It could be enjoyed on many levels, for discussion, enjoyment or experimentation. Contains a good reference section. A recommended series for both home and school.

‘Brilliant.’ ... ‘Immensely enjoyable for adults too.’

‘An excellent book . . . to support learning about art and artists.’

‘This intriguing fifth book in the Look! art series is every bit as good as its predecessors.’

'I am very impressed . . . A fascinating insight into the world of artists, and inspiration for all of us, especially with the activity suggestions.'

‘A fascinating book. ... This is a really clever way to draw children (and adults) into the intricacies of art.’

In the fifth book of her outstanding, award-winning series for children on art, Gillian Wolfe explores all the tricks of the trade that artists use to deceive or trick the eye. The book reproduces paintings and other images which vividly illustrate such effects as tromp l'oeil, simulating movement, eyes following the viewer, surrealism, creating texture, theatrical use of light, multiple viewpoints, colour effects such as pointilism, visual suggestion and many more tricks. Artists represented include Escher, Hockney, Chagall, Pollock, Durer, Seurat, Dali, Van Dyck, Lichtenstein and others, as well as an example of Australian Aboriginal art.

The author's highly informative text highlights the techniques used by the artists and effectively communicates her enthusiasm for the art. This makes an ideal introduction to a very wide range of art for readers young and old and draws on the author's great experience of educating children about art.