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RR 2010/232 The Artist's Handbook (3rd edition) Ray Smith Dorling Kindersley London 2009 384 pp. ISBN 978 1 4053 4877 5 £16.99
Keywords Arts, Guides and handbooks
Review DOI 10.1108/09504121011057905
First published in 1987, The Artist's Handbook by Ray Smith is now in its third edition. This in depth manual looks at the equipment, materials, procedures, and techniques used in creating art. Each process is explained in detail and techniques are shown to help the reader understand and try themselves.
The Handbook covers a wide subject area and is written in a style that is easily understood. Each chapter is colour-coded with subjects arranged in bite size pieces of text and full of colour photographs to illustrate a point or technique. Artists are referred to and their work shown throughout to illustrate a particular style, method or technique. There are eight chapters giving "(t)he definitive guide to the tools, materials, and techniques of the artist's craft". Each chapter starts with an introductory page showing a work of art that illustrates the subject matter. Throughout different methods of producing a particular art technique are explained and then the "recipe" of a preparation it is given.