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How Artists See is a 12-volume series of books that teach children about the world by looking at art, and about art by looking at the world through the eyes of great artists. The books encourage children to look critically, answer-and ask- thought-provoking questions, and form an appreciation and understanding of an artist's vision. Each book is devoted to a single subject so that children can see how different artists have approached and treated the same theme, and begin to understand the importance of individual style.
How Artists See is "inquiry-based," which simply means that the text is full of challenging questions that encourage readers to formulate ideas and responses for themselves. Because people's reactions to art are based on their own personal aesthetic, most of the questions are open-ended and have more than one answer. If you're reading aloud to your children or students, give them ample time to look at each work and form their own opinions; it certainly is not necessary to read the whole book in one sitting. Like a good book or movie, art can be enjoyed over and over again, each time with the possibility of revealing something that wasn't seen before.
As you read any volume from How Artists See, you will notice that dates and other historical information are not included in the main text. I purposely omitted this information in order to focus on the art and those aspects of the world it illustrates. For children who want to learn more about the artists featured in the main text, a reference section of short biographies, suggestions for further reading, and a list of museums where you can see additional works by each artist are provided at the back of each volume.
One of the nicest book reviews I have received noted that "the text reads like the dialogue a child and adult might have as they stroll through a museum gallery." I hope that you and your children or students begin your own "dialogue" as you read all the books in the How Artists See series, and, by looking at many styles of art, discover how artists share with us their unique ways of seeing and depicting our world.
Learn about each book of the How Artists See series:
Own the Series
Read the Story Behind
How Artists SeeOnline Retailers:
www.abbeville.com
www.amazon.com
www.booksense.comNew from Abbeville Press!
How Artists See Series Teachers' Guide
