The Artists Illustrated Encyclopedia: Techniques, Materials and Terms

Packed with 1000+ art definitions, hundreds of photographs, paintings, mini-demos, diagrams and drawings. This is the most comprehensive artist's reference available.

Metzger's six previous books include the excellent North Light Artist's Guide to Materials & Techniques (LJ 11/15/96). Here he tackles the more daunting task of an encyclopedia of art terms used by the practicing artist, including those associated with art movements, techniques, materials, history, and conservation. To keep it lively, Metzger packs in hundreds of photographs, paintings, mini-demos, diagrams, and drawings. The result is more of an illustrated dictionary than anything truly encyclopedic. Most entries are a few lines or paragraphs, and many subjects, such as computer art, aren't adequately treated. While this may be an accessible and useful dictionary for students or amateur artists, it is not an essential purchase if Ralph Mayer's The HarperCollins Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques (1995) is already in the library. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.