VOYA - Laura Panter

Written with art lovers in mind, this condensed work of artistry is best described as a museum in a book. A vast array of information encompassing interesting and sometimes obscure facts is discussed, using four types of alternating page layouts. Art style pages describe a multitude of eras from the Renaissance and Baroque periods to lesser-known movements like Fauvism and Dreamtime. Pages on recreating specific art methods such as oil painting or sculpting marble are broken down into simplistic instructions. Each method then contains a time line of specific works in that medium. Artist profile pages offer chronologies of notable events as well as a discussion of the artist's significant techniques. Profiles range from artists like Vincent Van Gogh to sculptors such as Gustav Vigeland. The final style to be exhibited in this international art tour can be found in the art gallery sections depicting masterpieces on topics like war, children, and landscape art. The outstanding array of paintings and sculptures presented in this work are described in a concise and comprehensive manner. The work displayed on each page could rival a tour to an actual art museum. Well-known artists are made interesting with depictions of their creative nature. Street art is so breathtaking a reader would want to take a trip to Europe. There is something for everyone in this book of art history. Although the book may not be useful for in-depth research or have the appropriate title, it is a definite purchase for those who desire a solid introduction for middle school art students. Reviewer: Laura Panter