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Answers the genuine questions that artists actually want to know and provides a fascinating insight to the creative practices of other artists from around the world.
- A comprehensive resource that helps artists understand, develop, and critique their work while contributing to a wider creative community
- Published in association with Art Prof.org
- Featuring a diverse range of media, from sketching to sculpture, the book answers the most frequently asked questions from artists around the world
- Taking a holistic view, there is a section on artist wellness, maintaining good studio practice and dealing with motivational challenges
A timeless, essential reference developed by artists, for artists - and the wider creative community.
Price: $24.99
Pages: 224
Publisher: David & Charles
Imprint: David & Charles
Publication Date:
February 23, 2027
ISBN: 9781446317198
Format: Paperback
BISACs:
ART / History / General, The arts: general topics, ART / Reference, EDUCATION / Arts in Education, ART / Study & Teaching, The Arts: techniques and principles, Self-help, personal development and practical advice
Professor Clara Lieu is an artist, educator, and writer. She spent 16 years in academia, teaching at the Rhode Island School of Design as an Adjunct Professor.
ArtProf.org is a global online platform for visual art education, offering video tutorials, critiques, resources, and a supportive community for artists of all ages. It provides diverse content, from practical drawing and painting techniques to discussions on artist mental health and professional development.
Introduction 6
CHAPTER 1
The Holistic View
Why should I learn with an interdisciplinary approach? 10
What will I need to learn as an artist? 12
How do I set up my artist studio? 13
What kind of work ethic do I need? 14
How can I be more productive? 15
How can I meet artists in person? 16
What are the benefits of online communities? 17
Should I look at the work of other artists? 18
How do I begin? 20
What if I don’t know where I fit as an artist? 21
Where does my art live? 22
How important is my mindset? 23
CHAPTER 2
Fundamentals
How do I learn the fundamentals of art? 24
What are the elements of art? 26
How do I learn color? 28
Why is line important? 30
When is shape important? 32
What is the role of texture in 2–D art? 34
How does texture impact a 3–D artwork? 36
How do you create the illusion of space? 38
What is the role of form in 2–D and 3–D art? 40
What is value in art? 42
CHAPTER 3
Core Concepts
What are the core concepts and what role do they play? 44
What goes into creating a composition in 2–D media? 46
What should I consider when composing a 3–D artwork? 48
How do I start to understand linear perspective? 50
How does atmospheric perspective create depth in a 2–D composition? 51
How can I use natural light? 52
What are the key features of artificial light? 53
Where is structure present in art? 54
Where will anatomy be helpful? 56
How is gesture defined in art? 58
What is abstract art? 60
CHAPTER 4
Key Skills
What foundational skills will I need? 62
What is a sketchbook for? 64
Why should I draw from life? 66
Why do I need to brainstorm? 68
Why should I use thumbnail sketches? 70
What do I look for when choosing reference photos? 72
Should I shoot my own reference photos? 73
CHAPTER 5
Art History
How can art history and contemporary art impact my art? 74
Why should I study art history? 76
How is contemporary art relevant to my practice? 78
How does an art movement start? 80
What will I gain from seeing art in person? 82
Why should I look more in depth when studying an artist? 84
What is art conservation and where does it play a role in my work? 85
How do auction houses work for artists? 86
How can I use museums and libraries to support my practice? 87
CHAPTER 6
Art Fields
How are fields outside of my practice relevant to me? 88
Where can I see overlaps of art fields? 90
What is design? 92
What is graphic design? 93
What is jewelry design? 94
What is fashion design? 95
What is industrial design? 96
How can I stay up-to-date with software and technology? 97
What is architecture? 98
What is game design? 99
How is fine art defined? 100
What is painting? 101
What is printmaking? 102
What is assemblage? 103
How are film, animation, and video defined? 104
What is included in book arts? 105
What is photography? 106
How is sculpture defined? 107
What is public art and installation? 108
What is collage? 109
How is drawing defined? 110
What do textiles include? 111
How do artists use glass? 112
What is included in ceramics? 113
How can I use mixed-media? 114
What is illustration? 115
What is included in comics and cartooning? 116
What types of illustrated books are there? 117
How can I use digital media? 118
What is the difference between concept art and visual development? 119
CHAPTER 7
Tools, Supplies, & Materials
How do I approach learning about art supplies? 120
How will I know which art supplies are good for me? 122
How do I know what art supplies to buy? 124
How do I make sure I get accurate information on art supplies? 126
How do I know which art supplies are worth it? 127
How do I know what to buy at an art supply store? 128
How do I set up a home studio? 130
How do I make sure I’m safe when using hazardous art supplies? 131
What supplies should I bring when working on site or traveling? 132
How do I know when it’s worth hiring a professional? 133
CHAPTER 8
Artist Life
How do I live life as an artist? 134
Should I try to organize my learning? 136
What are the benefits of learning spontaneously? 137
How do I stay motivated when I feel discouraged? 138
How do I manage my time? 139
What does it mean to experiment and play as an artist? 140
What does it mean to take a risk in my creative process? 142
What is a series, and when do I know I’m ready to make one? 143
How will I find my artistic voice? 144
What can I do to stay focused on my projects? 146
How will I know I’m making progress? 147
How can I keep myself from burning out? 148
How do I get out of an art block? 149
How do I get through fear and failures? 150
How can I stop comparing myself to other artists? 151
CHAPTER 9
Careers & Business
What career options are there for artists? 152
Do I need a degree to teach or be a professional artist? 154
How do I get an internship? 155
How do I start and run a business? 156
What are the nuts and bolts of a business? 158
How do I photograph my art? 159
How do I sell my art online? 160
How will I find customers? 161
What’s involved with promotion, social media, and websites? 162
What are options for creating merchandise? 164
How do I produce prints of my art? 165
How do I price my art? 166
How can I sell at craft fairs and open studios events? 167
How do I get commissions? 168
How can I protect myself as an artist? 169
What is an artist grant? 170
When is an artist included in a book? 171
CHAPTER 10
Critique
What is a critique? 172
How does a critique work? 174
How does a critique work in a professional context? 176
When should I get a critique? 178
Why would I need a critique for a work in progress? 180
What is discussed in a critique for a finished artwork? 181
What is discussed during a critique? 182
Is it possible to critique myself? 183
Why should I get a critique from a professional artist? 184
How do I give a critique without being mean? 185
CHAPTER 11
Community
Why do I need a community as an artist? 186
How do I connect with other artists? 188
How can I get my art seen? 190
How do I find a community where I feel safe and included? 191
How do I find a mentor? 192
How does an artist co-op work? 193
How can I collaborate with other artists? 194
How do I publish my work? 195
What is an art conference like? 196
How does an artist residency work? 197
CHAPTER 12
Exhibitions & Showing Your Art
How do I exhibit my art? 198
Where can I exhibit my art? 200
How can arts publications help me? 201
What is gallery hopping? 202
Where can I find artist lectures? 203
What is an international art fair? 204
What kind of portfolio will I need to show a gallery? 205
What materials do I need in order to exhibit? 206
How do I research galleries? 207
How do I approach a gallery? 208
How do I network in person? 210
How do I communicate online? 211
How do I prepare and install my work? 212
What interactions will I have with the press? 213
How does art enter a private collection? 214
How is artwork chosen for a museum exhibition or collection? 215
Glossary 216
Picture credits 218
About the Author 222
Index 222
CHAPTER 1
The Holistic View
Why should I learn with an interdisciplinary approach? 10
What will I need to learn as an artist? 12
How do I set up my artist studio? 13
What kind of work ethic do I need? 14
How can I be more productive? 15
How can I meet artists in person? 16
What are the benefits of online communities? 17
Should I look at the work of other artists? 18
How do I begin? 20
What if I don’t know where I fit as an artist? 21
Where does my art live? 22
How important is my mindset? 23
CHAPTER 2
Fundamentals
How do I learn the fundamentals of art? 24
What are the elements of art? 26
How do I learn color? 28
Why is line important? 30
When is shape important? 32
What is the role of texture in 2–D art? 34
How does texture impact a 3–D artwork? 36
How do you create the illusion of space? 38
What is the role of form in 2–D and 3–D art? 40
What is value in art? 42
CHAPTER 3
Core Concepts
What are the core concepts and what role do they play? 44
What goes into creating a composition in 2–D media? 46
What should I consider when composing a 3–D artwork? 48
How do I start to understand linear perspective? 50
How does atmospheric perspective create depth in a 2–D composition? 51
How can I use natural light? 52
What are the key features of artificial light? 53
Where is structure present in art? 54
Where will anatomy be helpful? 56
How is gesture defined in art? 58
What is abstract art? 60
CHAPTER 4
Key Skills
What foundational skills will I need? 62
What is a sketchbook for? 64
Why should I draw from life? 66
Why do I need to brainstorm? 68
Why should I use thumbnail sketches? 70
What do I look for when choosing reference photos? 72
Should I shoot my own reference photos? 73
CHAPTER 5
Art History
How can art history and contemporary art impact my art? 74
Why should I study art history? 76
How is contemporary art relevant to my practice? 78
How does an art movement start? 80
What will I gain from seeing art in person? 82
Why should I look more in depth when studying an artist? 84
What is art conservation and where does it play a role in my work? 85
How do auction houses work for artists? 86
How can I use museums and libraries to support my practice? 87
CHAPTER 6
Art Fields
How are fields outside of my practice relevant to me? 88
Where can I see overlaps of art fields? 90
What is design? 92
What is graphic design? 93
What is jewelry design? 94
What is fashion design? 95
What is industrial design? 96
How can I stay up-to-date with software and technology? 97
What is architecture? 98
What is game design? 99
How is fine art defined? 100
What is painting? 101
What is printmaking? 102
What is assemblage? 103
How are film, animation, and video defined? 104
What is included in book arts? 105
What is photography? 106
How is sculpture defined? 107
What is public art and installation? 108
What is collage? 109
How is drawing defined? 110
What do textiles include? 111
How do artists use glass? 112
What is included in ceramics? 113
How can I use mixed-media? 114
What is illustration? 115
What is included in comics and cartooning? 116
What types of illustrated books are there? 117
How can I use digital media? 118
What is the difference between concept art and visual development? 119
CHAPTER 7
Tools, Supplies, & Materials
How do I approach learning about art supplies? 120
How will I know which art supplies are good for me? 122
How do I know what art supplies to buy? 124
How do I make sure I get accurate information on art supplies? 126
How do I know which art supplies are worth it? 127
How do I know what to buy at an art supply store? 128
How do I set up a home studio? 130
How do I make sure I’m safe when using hazardous art supplies? 131
What supplies should I bring when working on site or traveling? 132
How do I know when it’s worth hiring a professional? 133
CHAPTER 8
Artist Life
How do I live life as an artist? 134
Should I try to organize my learning? 136
What are the benefits of learning spontaneously? 137
How do I stay motivated when I feel discouraged? 138
How do I manage my time? 139
What does it mean to experiment and play as an artist? 140
What does it mean to take a risk in my creative process? 142
What is a series, and when do I know I’m ready to make one? 143
How will I find my artistic voice? 144
What can I do to stay focused on my projects? 146
How will I know I’m making progress? 147
How can I keep myself from burning out? 148
How do I get out of an art block? 149
How do I get through fear and failures? 150
How can I stop comparing myself to other artists? 151
CHAPTER 9
Careers & Business
What career options are there for artists? 152
Do I need a degree to teach or be a professional artist? 154
How do I get an internship? 155
How do I start and run a business? 156
What are the nuts and bolts of a business? 158
How do I photograph my art? 159
How do I sell my art online? 160
How will I find customers? 161
What’s involved with promotion, social media, and websites? 162
What are options for creating merchandise? 164
How do I produce prints of my art? 165
How do I price my art? 166
How can I sell at craft fairs and open studios events? 167
How do I get commissions? 168
How can I protect myself as an artist? 169
What is an artist grant? 170
When is an artist included in a book? 171
CHAPTER 10
Critique
What is a critique? 172
How does a critique work? 174
How does a critique work in a professional context? 176
When should I get a critique? 178
Why would I need a critique for a work in progress? 180
What is discussed in a critique for a finished artwork? 181
What is discussed during a critique? 182
Is it possible to critique myself? 183
Why should I get a critique from a professional artist? 184
How do I give a critique without being mean? 185
CHAPTER 11
Community
Why do I need a community as an artist? 186
How do I connect with other artists? 188
How can I get my art seen? 190
How do I find a community where I feel safe and included? 191
How do I find a mentor? 192
How does an artist co-op work? 193
How can I collaborate with other artists? 194
How do I publish my work? 195
What is an art conference like? 196
How does an artist residency work? 197
CHAPTER 12
Exhibitions & Showing Your Art
How do I exhibit my art? 198
Where can I exhibit my art? 200
How can arts publications help me? 201
What is gallery hopping? 202
Where can I find artist lectures? 203
What is an international art fair? 204
What kind of portfolio will I need to show a gallery? 205
What materials do I need in order to exhibit? 206
How do I research galleries? 207
How do I approach a gallery? 208
How do I network in person? 210
How do I communicate online? 211
How do I prepare and install my work? 212
What interactions will I have with the press? 213
How does art enter a private collection? 214
How is artwork chosen for a museum exhibition or collection? 215
Glossary 216
Picture credits 218
About the Author 222
Index 222