100 Things Every Artist Should Know: Tips, Tricks & Essential Concepts

by Walter Foster Creative Team

An educational and inspirational journey in drawing, painting, and other artistic mediums—from basic pastel techniques to color theory and perspective.What's the best way to stretch watercolor paper? What basic materials do I need to start oil painting? How can I use color to create mood in my paintings? You'll find answers to these questions and much more in 100 Things Every Artist Should Know.This broad book aims to equip and inspire beginners with fundamental art knowledge, as well as provide a refresher course for more experienced artists. Readers can discover or re-discover essential concepts, tips, and techniques distilled into a collection of one hundred instructional entries by a range of Walter Foster authors.From lessons on value and color theory to helpful shortcuts, this book seeks to cover it all!

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, How To

531 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many great ideas and springboards for exercises in this book, and covers a lot of good starter topics. Definitely has got me wanting to explore many of the ideas, theories, practices and techniques covered in the book.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is good for a beginner.

[Shelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lately, I seem to be stumbling on art instruction books that seem to have no idea who their audience is, and 100 Things Every Artist Should Know is no exception. For its slim 128 pages, it tries to cover way too much ground: pencil drawing, watercolor, watercolor pencils, pastel, oil painting, acrylic painting, airbrush painting, Chinese brush painting, calligraphy, portraiture, brushes, paints, gels, pastes, pigments, substrates, studio set up, color theory, perspective, foreshortening, composition – plus a few other things I'm sure I've forgotten. All in 128 pages! Not only that, but it goes into ridiculous (and somewhat arbitrary) detail on some topics, such as how to geometrically calculate the Golden Ratio (lest you find yourself stuck in the Middle Ages with no access to a calculator), and how, step by step, to do a Chinese brush painting of a bamboo branch.

Given all that's stuffed in there, there's not a lot of room for many other of the 100 supposed Things we Should Know (and I question whether in such a generalized art book, it actually needed so many pages on such specific skills such as manually calculating the Golden Ratio or how to paint a sumi-e bamboo tree). Some of the numbered items are very basic – like reviewing simple color theory – and are clearly meant more for beginners than anyone brave enough to call themselves an "artist" for the purposes of picking this title up. So what you wind up with is a book that tries to be all things to everyone, but in only 128 pages, can't really be much of anything to anyone.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! I read this on my Kindle Fire from the library. This book is worth every penny and it is on my To-Buy list! So many how-to's in this book. I learned a lot in school in my art classes but I never learned all the little details of the different mediums that this book describes and teaches. I can't wait to read this again! I highly recommend this book!

[Jass · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jack of all trades, master of none — but better than master of one... right?

Not in this case, that's for sure. Too bloated to be actual tips and tricks but doesn't have enough to be primers on different mediums (the way it's, apparently, trying to be). No idea what the target audience for this book is, since there's too much complex info to recommend it for beginners (and not enough actually useful stuff), but there's not enough stuff for it to be interesting to people who're relatively experienced with art.

Also, actual errors. Not heaps of them, but they're there.

Picked it up hoping for some inspiration to try new subjects or techniques or mediums, but... Nope.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book!

Full of different techniques and supplies this is a great starter guide. It makes everything look much easier than it is, but at least acts as a starting place to learn what textures and materials you're looking for as an artist.

It's a heavy guide with a lot of good reference points.

[Alethea Crandell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers all the basic techniques, principles, and rules of art. It is a must read reference for beginning artists.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

As other reviewers have stated, there's a comprehensive list of materials, but not enough space to explore each effectively.

[kimyunalesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives you the basics on how to use art supplies,what materials you need and some techniques.

[Sharon Seow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good guide for a beginner.

[Mischelle Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for artists

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

This maaayyyy... be a good place to start if you have no clue of what you want to know.

[Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers lots of techniques in just a couple of pages, nothing deep, but enough to get you into learning more! I really enjoyed the last chapters about color theory and composition.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent starter book for any artist. Starts out with how to set up your studio and then progresses through each medium, giving an overview of the tools, a sampling of different methods and some tips. I bought this for my son but even I enjoyed it! It includes pastels and calligraphy! Love it!

[James Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice handy book full of fun tips and good review of techniques. A lot of basic introductory stuff that after years and years you more or less forgot about as you develop some bad habits. Well written, informative and useful.

[Lisa Geddes · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book of a broad range of basic tips