13 Art Techniques Children Should Know
From mosaic to gouache to oil on canvas, this latest title in the 13 series introduces budding art lovers to a variety of art techniques—13 of them, to be precise. The section on relief printmaking, for instance, is accompanied by a box listing the tools and materials necessary for creating in this style, as well as well-known printmakers, and examples of woodcuts. Each technique is explained in several paragraphs of user-friendly text, full-color reproductions, and a time line, which runs across the top of each page. Although the time line helpfully places each art style in the context of major world events, it can be hard to follow, cluttered with colored blocks that aren’t always clearly explained. Also, some words in the text marked by an asterisk appear in the concluding glossary, while others do not, often making it unclear what the asterisk indicates. Still, quibbles aside, the reproductions are glorious, and this provides a fine launching point for kids wishing to know more about art technique—or for teachers explaining concepts. Grades 4-8. --Ann Kelley