Example of line art. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Oscar Wilde wrote that "art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known." Art plays a big part in our lives, even if we are not aware of it. Art is present in great buildings, in music, in books, in comics, in drawings, in paintings, in photographs, in doodles, in food...in a word, everywhere. It can be solemn or irreverent, orderly or chaotic. It can be anything. What does art mean to you?
This month the library showcases art in all its forms: digital photography, comics, calligraphy and much more! Come on over and take one of these books home!
The Art and Wonder of Origami -- Learn origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. Beautiful origami patterns, clear instructions and a CD will help you become proficient in this beautiful art in no time.
The Art of Polymer Clay: Millefiori Techniques -- Millefiori are intricate patterns from the world of Venetian glass-making. Learn how to recreate these designs with polymer clay.
Art of Sketching -- Covering essential techniques for creating a variety of sketches, this book will help you hone your skills and learn how to work with shadows, textures, contrast and more.
Beginner's Guide to Animation -- If you have a computer, a digital camera and some basic software, you are ready to learn the basics of animation!
Calligraphy Bible -- Calligraphy has been in use since ancient times, enhancing and beautifying other art. Besides exploring the history of calligraphy, this book offers instruction and practice for gilding, illuminating, flourishing and more. Learn how to apply this art to uses such as wedding invitations, letterhead, posters, etc.
The Complete Guide to Coloured Pencil Techniques -- Whether you are a budding colored pencil artist or further along the way, this book will have something for you. Concise but thorough, it includes technique, helpful Q&A sections and many interesting projects.
The Creative Drawing Course -- A step-by-step book that covers the skills and techniques needed to learn how to draw. Includes many practice exercises.
Digital Photography: An Introduction -- Easy to read and devoid of jargon, this book will give you a good introduction to mastering the essentials of digital photography.
Drawing with Your Artist's Brain -- This book argues that anyone can draw as long as they fully engage with the creative side of the brain. If you have always been curious about learning to draw, this book will give you a different approach to try.
Drawing Basics and Video Game Art -- Want to design video game graphics? This book will teach you how, from fundamentals to advanced drawing concepts, anatomy, elements of design and more.
Drawing Words and Writing Pictures -- Do you like comics? Would you like to create comics? Learn the art of visual storytelling in 15 lessons and master "the alchemical language of comics."
Graphic Design School -- Would you like to learn graphic design? This book is structured as a course, and offers tips, techniques and projects, covering all the major fields in graphic design (magazines, books, packaging, advertising and corporate design.)
How to Make Animated Films -- Become a student in Tony White's master animation class, and learn animation secrets from one of the greats. Includes hands-on tutorials.
Life Drawing Class -- This book introduces techniques, media and strategies for drawing from life, and includes many photos as well as text instructions.
Making Comics -- A comic book about the art of creating comics. Covers all topics, from broad concepts to important technical details.
Painting with Pixels -- You don't need a paintbrush to produce amazing paintings. This book will tell you what you need to use your computer to enter the world of digital art.
The Pastel Book -- A comprehensive guide to pastels and pastel technique, this book covers materials and tools, color, using mixed media such as pastels and watercolors, and working with oil pastels.
Polymer Clay Color Inspirations -- This book teaches the polymer clay artist how to create beautiful color palettes for stunning designs.
The Pop-up Book -- Create amazing 3-D paper art. This book will tell you what you need and how to get started. Numerous photos accompany each project.
Stained Glass Basics -- Learn how to create stained glass objects, from lampshades to hanging decorations, to the traditional windows.
The Tao of Sketching -- Learn traditional Chinese art techniques to use materials such as brushes and inks, pens, pencils, watercolors, and more, to create beautiful sketches.
Watercolour Landscapes -- This book includes the outlines of five paintings that can pulled out from the book and transferred to watercolor paper. Technique is shown via photos and text instructions. If you have wanted to learn to paint with watercolors but drawing was an obstacle, you should try this book's approach.
You Can Draw! From Pencil to Pastels in 15 Easy Lessons -- This book will teach you how to draw, covering many techniques and offering photos and text instructions. It starts with very basic techniques and gets more complex as it goes along.
