Art & Architecture Books

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. With this book, you’ll learn how humans perceive color, how colors harmonize or clash with each other, and how you can apply these principles in your life and work to add a little, well, color to things. Discover the history and science behind how we see colors Understand how colors mix, match, and contrast so you can create better color combinations Learn how certain colors have the ability to affect how we feel and think Apply color theory to design, art, décor, photography, and beyondColor Theory For Dummies simplifies and illuminates the world of color theory, outlining and defining color in a digestible and applicable way.

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. Along the way, you’ll learn about how history has influenced art, and vice versa. This updated edition includes: Brand new material on a wider array of renowned female artists Explorations of the Harlem Renaissance, American Impressionism, and the Precisionists Discussions of art in the 20th and 21st centuries, including Dadaism, Constructivism, Surrealism, and today’s eclectic art scene Is there an exhibition in your town you want to see? Prep before going with Art History For Dummies and show your friends what an Art Smartie you are. An unbeatable reference for anyone looking to build a foundational understanding of art in a historical context, Art History For Dummies is your personal companion that makes fine art even finer!

The most colorful way to reduce stress—while having fun! Adult coloring is absolutely a growing trend and consumers are really taking to the idea. Not only is it calming and good for your health, it's just plain fun! For those of us who can't retreat to a spa on a regular basis, coloring offers a creative, affordable, and novel way for busy adults to relax and unwind from the hectic pace of modern life. Coloring For Adults For Dummies is here to serve as a guided coloring book for harried adults of any age who are looking for a fun and easy way to decompress and find joy while engaging in this timeless activity. Whether used for enjoyment, to relieve stress, or as an excuse to get together with friends for a coloring party, Coloring For Adults For Dummies is filled with intricate, detailed, and inspiring patterns & designs and provides hours of stress relief and mental relaxation! Designed for you to color in with markers, colored pencils, or even your kids' crayons, the pages inside this book are awaiting your imagination and creativity to bring them to life—all while you relax and enjoy staying in the present. Even older children who love to color can enjoy this unique and special coloring book. Offers 100 highly-detailed coloring templates Helps you channel your anxiety into a satisfying, creative accomplishment Promotes finding energy for your stressed soul Encourages you to express your inner creativity A novel way for busy adults to relax and unwind from the hectic pace of modern life, Coloring For Adults For Dummies is the perfect way to step back from the stress of everyday life and color your way to peace and relaxation. Even older children who love to color can enjoy this unique and special coloring book.

The fast and easy way to learn the art of fashion drawing This fun guide gives you dozens of step-by-step diagrams that walk you through the process of preparing creative illustrations that you can later develop into dynamic presentations for your design portfolio. Plus, you'll not only learn how to draw clothes and fabric, but also how to show details that make up the total look: faces and hairstyles, fashion accents, and a wide variety of textures. If you're an aspiring fashion designer, you know it's essential to be able to draw, prepare, and present a fashion drawing. Whether you have little or no prior drawing experience, Fashion Drawing For Dummies gives you easy-to-follow, non-intimidating instructions for mastering the drawing skills you need to design like a pro. Learn the rules and techniques of fashion drawing Draw the fashion figure in different poses and from multiple angles Discover how to complement your drawings with accessories, clothing, and style If you're a fledgling designer looking for non-intimidating guidance on learning the ins and outs of fashion drawing, this friendly guide has you covered!

Anyone can learn to draw with these easy instructions and fun practice ideas Drawing For Dummies makes it easy to learn the basics of drawing and even master advanced techniques. With a little instruction and practice, there’s no such thing as “I just can’t draw.” Drawing can help you relieve stress, express your emotions and creativity, communicate across cultures, improve memory, and develop and strengthen fine motor skills. This user-friendly Dummies resource will teach you how to see the world through the eyes of an artist, explore your inner visions, and open up your creativity through drawing exercises. Step-by-step illustrations and images, newly enlarged in this edition, will show you exactly how to achieve the results you want. It might be time to invest in some picture frames, because you’re about to make art you can be proud of. Learn the fundamentals of drawing, including the essential supplies you’ll need Practice drawing techniques, get your creativity flowing, and explore your own mind with fun drawing exercises Get step-by-step instructions on how to draw anything in a range of styles Improve your abilities with tips and ideas for making your drawings betterComplete beginners and more advanced artists alike will have fun developing their skills with Drawing For Dummies.

Figure Drawing For Dummies appeals to both new art students and veteran artists who find it difficult to proportionally draw the human form. The illustrations and examples in Figure Drawing For Dummies are designed to help readers capture this elusive figure.

Nobody ever said that oil painting was easy. But it gets much easier and a lot more fun when you follow a step-by-step approach that starts you off on the right foot, helps you build your skills one at a time, and gives you plenty of exercises to develop your craft. That’s what you’ll find in Oil Painting For Dummies. Completely free of arty jargon, this full-color guide has all the hands-on instruction you need to master the basics. You’ll see how to plan a painting, build an image in layers, mix colors, and create stunning compositions. You’ll also find everything you need to know about oil paints, solvents, and pigments; brushes, palettes, and painting surfaces; and how to keep costs down at the art supply store. Discover how to: Choose the right supplies Set up your studio and care for your equipment Handle your materials safely Develop your design and composition skills Make practice sketches and studies Use broken stroke, dry brush, glazing, scraffito and other brush strokes Try out different compositions Mix any color you want Simplify tricky still-life subjects Paint landscapes and common objects out doors Paint portraits and the human form Complete with handy color chart, basic materials list, and a very useful viewing square, Oil Painting For Dummies is the fun and easy way to discover your inner artist!

Love Manga? The newest features of Manga Studio help you bring your ideas to life! The tools available in the latest version of this powerful program make it easy to turn your computer into your drawing board, and Manga Studio For Dummies makes it easy to get started. Discover how to use Manga Studio to begin creating comics in manga or Western styles, add color to your creations, and share them with your adoring public. It’s a breeze once you know your way around the program. Manga may have begun in Japan, but Manga Studio For Dummies is written in plain English, and shows you how to: Build and use page templates Rough in your comic with penciling techniques Work 100% digital, or use a combination of digital and traditional tools if you prefer Work with layers, rulers, and panels Add speech bubbles and sound effects text Ink your work and add tones Prepare your creations for print or distribution on the Web Written by a working digital artist, Manga Studio For Dummies covers both Manga Studio Debut and EX versions. As an added bonus, it even gives you a peek into the world of manga and comics in general. With the help of Manga Studio For Dummies, you just might find yourself among the comic artists whose work populates the Web and gathers thousands of fans! Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

* Just the essential information for readers on the go who want to understand architecture. * Covers the highlights of architectural history, from the Great Pyramids to Frank Gehry's Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. * Explains how to look at a building and appreciate it. Explains when a building's a building and when it's art. * Part of Tens includes: Ten Great Architectural Masterpieces, Ten Biggest Architectural and Engineering Failures, Ten of the Most Interesting Architects Working Today-and more.