How Art Works

What is art? How does art tell stories? Where do artists get their ideas from? Open this fascinating book to discover explosive ideas, wild colours, unexpected views and amazing works of art by world-famous artists. Includes Usborne Quicklinks to specially selected websites where you can take a virtual tour of a gallery, look at famous paintings up close and much more. Published in association with The National Gallery, London. Chapters in this book include: - What is art? - Can anything be art? - How do you look at pictures? - How are paintings made? - Fit for a king - What is an artist? - What makes pictures look 3D? - Shadows and highlights - How's it all arranged? - Varying viewpoints - How do you make a sculpture? - How does colour work? - Wild colours - How can art trick your eyes? - Where can you see art? - What is a still life? - Does art have to be serious? - How do portraits work? - Who's in the picture? - Who's missing? - How does art tell stories? - A hidden story - Should art be beautiful? - Why so big? Why so small? - What's an art movement? - Can a cartoon be a work of art? - What's an installation? - Explosive ideas - Why do artists make self portraits? - Painting your own story - What is abstract art? - How are prints made? - An unexpected view - Can a photograph be art? - Why do artists try and shock you? - Art and politics - An anti-war message - What's it worth? - What do art museums do? - When was it made?