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Picture This: How Pictures Work

Picture This: How Pictures Work
Author: Molly Bang
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Category: Book

List Price: $12.99
Buy New: $10.39
You Save: $2.60 (20%)



Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 7 reviews
Sales Rank: 21098

Media: Paperback
Pages: 96
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 10.2 x 8 x 0.4

ISBN: 1587170302
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.642019
EAN: 9781587170300
ASIN: 1587170302

Publication Date: July 1, 2000
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Everyone knows that a picture tells a thousand words. But what about the elements that make up a picture? Using the tale of Little Red Riding Hood as an example, Molly Bang uses boldly graphic artwork to explain how images--and their individual components--work to tell a story that engages the emotions: Why are diagonals dramatic? Why are curves calming? Why does red feel hot and blue feel cold??First published in 1991, Picture This fans will welcome the new edition's striking redesign and introduce its insights to many other artists and art appreciators alike.?


Customer Reviews:   Read 2 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars A Must Have   July 18, 2007
Grant Beaudette (Great Falls, MT United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I can't say I'm overly well versed in composition, namely because most books on the subject are so dense. But in Picture This, the author has found easily understandable way to show the basic fundamentals of art.

Rather than teach composition with diagrams drawn over old master paintings like some books, Molly Bang uses simple bits of paper to demonstrate how shape, color and placement can affect the mood of a picture. And once you understand these principles, it's easy to see how they can be applied to more complex artwork.

Bang's pace is very deliberate. Every change to her construction paper compositions is well documented and explained. It's that simplicity and directness that allow her to communicate such a large amount of knowledge in only 96 pages.

And don't let the short page count and the fact that this book is recommended for grade schoolers fool you. This is a book every artist should have her shelf.



5 out of 5 stars Fantastic book!   August 4, 2005
M. Thompson (WI)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This book is amazing...the illustrations are simple, clear and compelling and the narrative approach to understanding the art elements and principles makes this rather dry topic into a fascinating tale. I have purchased several copies of this book for friends and plan to use it in my middle school art classroom.


5 out of 5 stars for grownups, too   December 12, 2004
Danny Hillis (Los Angeles)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

Don't be misled by the simple pictures and storybook style into thinking this a just a book for children. I have given this book to several adult friends, including some who are professional artists. We all learned something from Molly Bang's clear and compelling explanations of the principles of visual composition.


5 out of 5 stars Picture This: How Pictures Work   August 1, 2003
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

I love this book and using it for teaching basic design ideas...a fellow teacher uses it in Psychology! The simple story of Little Red Riding Hood serves as the basis for discussion how line, color, shape, etc. work in art. Such a great idea...wish there were others of this type. I will be using it to teach the elements of art in Art History this fall.

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