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Articles & Books From Art & Architecture
The complete, full-color graphic design guide for beginners The field of graphic design is constantly evolving, with new design tools, methods, technology, and modes of expression being introduced all the time. Graphic Design For Dummies will teach you how to get started, introducing you to basic design principles as well as the latest best practices, software, and trends.
Get started with the powerful visual language and storytelling medium that is manga Manga is a unique style of drawing. It's also a great way to make topics like history and politics appealing to a wide audience. Manga For Dummies teaches you the basics of drawing in the manga style. This step-by-step guide shows you how to apply the basic rules of manga figure drawing, whether you're a complete beginner or a professional artist.
Choose the right colors and color combinations for your projects Color theory is the art and science of using color. Color Theory For Dummies explains, in simple terms, how colors relate to one another and how they can be combined to work together in an aesthetically pleasing way. An understanding of color theory can help you create art, decorate your home, design a beautiful wedding, and impress your friends at parties.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 10-21-2022
Learning about color never ends! For hands-on learning, why not try some watercolor painting? Information about watercolor paints and techniques are available from The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, including colorful examples from the museum’s collection.For further reading about color, explore the Faber Birren Collection of Books on Color at Yale University.
Ready to discover the fascinating world of art history? Let’s (Van) Gogh! Fine art might seem intimidating at first. But with the right guide, anyone can learn to appreciate and understand the stimulating and beautiful work of history’s greatest painters, sculptors, and architects. In Art History For Dummies, we’ll take you on a journey through fine art from all eras, from Cave Art to the Colosseum, and from Michelangelo to Picasso and the modern masters.
Article / Updated 10-18-2022
Chalk paint is all the rage. It’s a great product for all you motivated, do-it-yourselfers out there who want a new project. Dry brushing is a technique you can use with chalk paint to achieve a trendy distressed look that catches the eye.This technique uses a small amount of paint on a brush to achieve a unique depth on any surface area.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-25-2022
The Japanese comics and cartoons known as manga bring a unique style to age-old art forms. Like the art forms that precede it, manga works within specific archetypes and genres. However, the manga conventions are a new twist, and if you’re exhibiting at one you need to know what to bring.Common manga archetypesThe type of Japanese comics or cartoons called manga has its archetypes — classic examples of the art — just like every other art form.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 09-06-2023
Discover everything you need to know to get started with drawing, including what supplies and styles to use to create different types of drawings. You'll also find ways to come up with ideas about what to draw.Get started drawing with basic suppliesIf you’re new to drawing, you’ll want to gather a few must-have supplies.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-01-2022
Appreciating art is as easy as making a trip to your local museum where you can compare notes and make your own judgment about whether a work is any good or not. Art pieces recognized as great works today were produced by the up-and-coming artists of yesteryear, so it pays to keep an eye on today’s future classics.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 11-12-2021
Watercolor painting lets you explore the world of color from a uniquely wet perspective, but, in the end, it’s mostly about the color. You have to become familiar with the color wheel and its primary and complementary colors. You need to be able to judge color values (light to dark, not cheap to expensive), and to need to choose water color paints and pigments according to their biases.