Art books are works of visual art, a definition or criterion that may include books created by artists. The works in this exhibition were created by people who find themselves to be artists or who are considered to be artists by the art world.
Artists, on the other hand, create philosophical and critical statements, autobiographies, and other types of writing that would not be considered with the visual art label, otherwise, in such a scenario, an artist will be considered as a writer.
The physical and visual forms of meaning are essential components. These characteristics help to define the environment and set it apart from more conventional methods such as sculpture and painting.
After this brief clarification we need to dig into the best 12 art books you should be reading in 2021.
Which Art Books should you be reading in 2021?
We will categorize each art book in the list to give you the best options to explore the best art books and read per your interest.
Best Art Books for Kids
The Katie Books – Katie’s books have become literary classics. Katie has been immersed in the canvases of great artists for the past 25 years, from Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cézanne to Monet, Da Vinci, and Degas, with thrilling and visually spectacular experience! The ideal way to expose KS1 students to Classical art masters.
Why is art full of naked people? The most popular questions that children have about the world of art (such as “What is it exactly” or “Is it finished?” “Why is art so expensive?” and, in the world of modern art, “My little sister should do that, why is it art?”) are answered in an entertaining, humorous manner, with many photographs of famous works. A unique – yet extremely useful – gateway to the visual arts.
Old Masters Rock – Do you want to learn about the classic art with your kid? Old Masters Rock is a family-friendly book that discusses the history and context of masterpieces from the Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionist, and Realist eras, as well as providing kids with fun information about the artists and creative work. The reproductions of artwork are also stunning.
Picture This! The ideal gift shop purchase and a fantastic investment for a family visit to the National Gallery in London, this is a companion guide and activity book for kids visiting the Gallery. Popular works by painters such as Rubens, Degas, Rembrandt, Velázquez, and others are presented to children via beautiful recreations as well as data, puzzles, events, and did-you-knows influenced by the aforementioned painters.
123s of Art – Numbers can be learned via artistic expression! This pleasingly curated counting book featuring some of the world’s most famous paintings will spark your child’s imagination and curiosity. Your children will find works by Gustav Klimt, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Maria Sibylla Merian, and others in this collection.
Art Books for all – featured on Inc., Forbes and CNN
Morgan Howell at 45 RPM – Morgan Howell paints iconic 7″ singles, taking into consideration every crease, tear, and flaw to create a one-of-a-kind, completely exclusive artwork that is almost similar to the host’s published version, but blown to smithereens, supersized, to 27.6 x 27.6 inches, and 3D, with the spindle in the middle, as though the record is prepared to play. Howell’s completely unique style has earned him a cult following among art lovers and musicians alike, with artwork sponsored by the likes of Jude Law, Neil Diamond, Stone Roses Ian Brown and Edgar Wright , and major record companies choosing the author’s work for display in its offices.
Tokyo Ghoul: re illustrations: zakki by Sui Ishida, the designer of the hit manga and anime. Tokyo Ghoul: re Illustrations: zakki, has created a full-color art book showcasing his fantastic and intimidating work. Sui Ishida’s fantastic work on Tokyo Ghoul: re Illustrations: zakki, the best-selling sequels to the hit anime and manga Tokyo Ghoul, is featured in this filled to the brim art book. Tokyo Ghouls: re Illustrations: zakki includes artwork, BTS details, and narration.
Art – Discovering Infinite Connections in Art History from The Metropolitan Museum of Art is another one on our list! An entirely new way of looking at global art history, as seen through the eyes of one of the world’s most prestigious art museums. This innovative book – arranged by conceptual keywords instead of the normal chronological or regional divisions – features over 800 artworks from The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection in New York.
You Are an Artist – it is a creative journey in which you’ll make up fictional characters, sort books, propose a purpose, create a scenery, discover your band, and transform into someone else (or at least try). Your task is to interpret these assignments through the prism of your own experience of life and create art that represents your views of the world. You don’t need to be able to draw well, spread a canvas, or blend a paint color to participate in this project.
Everything She Touched is a documentary about the extraordinary life of Ruth Asawa, an American sculptor. This is the story about a woman who, in the face of bigotry, used her creativity and hope to turn anything she touched into art. Writer Marilyn Chase brings Asawa’s character to life in this gripping autobiography.
Essential Art Therapy Exercises – Effective techniques to Manage Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD – Art therapy will help you process stressful thoughts and emotions. This vibrant workbook demonstrates how making art will help you cope with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. These cognitive exercises will help you transcend the mind sets that are pulling you back and bring you to inner peace, from drawing a representation of your favourite song to writing affirmations and taking pictures to match.
Goya – A Portrait of the Artist – Janis Tomlinson uses a wide variety of sources, including letters, court documents, and a sketchbook used by Goya early in his career, to paint a nuanced picture of a complex and multifaceted painter and printmaker whose art is associated with convincing depictions of the individuals, occurrences, and socialist revolution that shaped his life and period.
BONUS!!!
I feel that you want more of these art books. So, we are going to list additional list here that will keep you hooked.
Salvador Dali: The Impossible Collection – Salvador Dali’s work ranged from impressionism to cubism, paintings to stage design, and his quirky personality was a genre of art in and of itself. Paul Moorhouse, a curator and art historian, has compiled a new book that features 100 of his works.
Art: The Definitive Visual Guide – With a stunningly vibrant cover and a foreword by Andrew Graham-Dixon, this art book both looks beautiful and is filled with beautiful content. Showcasing over 700 works of art from the likes of Van Gogh and Picasso, this makes a great book for perusing with a cup of tea on a lazy Sunday.
100 Painters of Tomorrow – Kurt Beers featured in the book were selected by a group of some of the most prestigious figures in contemporary art today from an open call of over 4,300 applicants. One of the greatest art books of all time.
The Deftness of Da Vinci – Da Vinci was a master of almost everything, but none more so than draftsmanship. This book vividly recreates 663 of his sketches, ranging from spatial information to architectural drawings, most of which are presented in packed format so that every detail can be scrutinized.
Broad Strokes: 15 Women Who Made Art and Made History – A wonderful and intimate preamble to some of the most influential female artists in the world. Enjoy amusing stories about each artist, complete with recreations with their most well-known works and exclusive portraits by Lisa Congdon.
Rothko: The Colour Field Paintings – This exhibition of Rothko’s profound conceptual art features fifty large-scale paintings from his colorful field era (1949–1970). The iconic photographs are accompanied by essays by Rothko’s son, Christopher Rothko, and Janet Bishop, curator of painting and sculpture at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The ideal gift for a long-time Rothko fan or someone who is just getting started with his work.
Turner’s Sketchbooks – J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851) sketchbooks, illustrations, and watercolors are among the Tate’s finest artifacts. The most of these, around 37,500 accessioned works, were given to the community after Turner’s death in 1856 as part of the Turner Bequest. The collection entries include complete bibliographies, exhibition histories, critical commentaries, and technical and conservation details on the media, objects, and condition of the individual works, written by Tate curators, conservators, and scholars, as well as external experts and visiting fellows. This book contains a plethora of new or relevant information that might spike your interest.
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