The Art Pack [Hardcover]

Christophe Frayling (Author), Helen Frayling (Author), Ron Van Der Meer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 24, 1992

Filled with pop-ups, pullouts, and mobiles, The Art Pack is a completely new way to experience artists' use of color, line, composition, perspective, and optics, as well as a lavishly illustrated introduction to the history of Western art.

With The Art Pack you can:

Examine a three-dimensional model of an artist's studio painted by Vermeer
See for yourself how an artist solves problems of perspective by using a replica of Alberti's veil and a pop-up viewer
Break up light with a camera obscura and a filtered Claude glass
Study the combinations of colors that produce shades and tones, by manipulating a real color wheel
Hear (on audiocassette) why the world considers great paintings masterpieces, and see them reproduced in full color

And much more!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although written for readers who "have an active and committed interest in visual art, but not yet a very informed interest," this innovative book, which analyzes various concepts using examples from every period of Western art, has insights to offer even those who have studied art history formally. Using sophisticated pop-ups and other three-dimensional devices, the authors show the techniques that go into the creation of a work of art, from color theory to perspective to composition. Thus, art history students who may have been perplexed by descriptions of the theories of art such as the Golden Section dealing with proportion, or Alberti's Renaissance method of rendering perspective, will be enlightened by the various schemes used to explain them here. A few of the contrivances, however, add little (what is the point of the 3-D reproduction of Vermeer's studio that pops up in the first section?). Fitted into the back cover is a pack of postcard-size reproductions of 20 works of art, with a disappointingly shallow audiotape commentary on them. The book's drawbacks are outweighed by the strengths, however. This unique approach to art is so intriguing with its suggestion of inexhaustible treasures that it will be bought by many as gifts for art lovers--and for themselves. Mr. Frayling is a professor of cultural history at the Royal College of Art in London; Ms. Frayling is a painter and teacher; Van der Meer is a British paper engineer and designer.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

Filled with pop-ups, pullouts, and mobiles, The Art Pack is a completely new way to experience artists' use of color, line, composition, perspective, and optics, as well as a lavishly illustrated introduction to the history of Western art.

With The Art Pack you can:

Examine a three-dimensional model of an artist's studio painted by Vermeer
See for yourself how an artist solves problems of perspective by using a replica of Alberti's veil and a pop-up viewer
Break up light with a camera obscura and a filtered Claude glass
Study the combinations of colors that produce shades and tones, by manipulating a real color wheel
Hear (on audiocassette) why the world considers great paintings masterpieces, and see them reproduced in full color

And much more!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 18 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; Har/Cas Re edition (November 24, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679414193
• ISBN-13: 978-0679414193
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 10.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #847,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful introduction for the clueless., March 18, 1999

By 

John Thomson (Campbell, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art Pack (Hardcover)

I am one of the artlessly clueless. This book, and the others in the series, have all been wonderful fun, which is why they are also wonderful learning tools for beginners. Low stress, major payback, and marvelously intelligent all the way through. They won't make you an expert, but you'll have a good time and be better for it, too.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A PAINLESS WAY TO GET YOUR DOSE OF ART..., August 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art Pack (Hardcover)

I BOUGHT THIS BOOK BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN AN ART LOVER SINCE I WAS A KID. PART OF THE ENJOYMENT OF ART IS HAVING AN INTERPRETATION TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT YOU ARE SEEING. THIS BOOK WILL EXPLAIN WHY EXPERTS VIEW CERTAIN WORKS OF ART AND PROCLAIM THEM "GREAT". IT TEACHES PRINCIPLES OF ART FROM PAST AND PRESENT PERSPECTIVES IN A UNIQUE, 3-DIMENSIONAL WAY. IT ALSO INCLUDES INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS A MOBLILE YOU CAN BUILD AND EVEN CHARACTERS THAT YOU CAN PLACE IN THE PAINTING TO UNDERSTAND CONCEPTS SUCH AS VANISHING POINT AND HORIZON LINE. EVERYONE WHO HAS SEEN MY COPY HAS BECOME ENGROSSED IN IT. EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY LIKED ART!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where pop-up books and art history meet., February 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art Pack (Hardcover)

A beautifully designed pop-up book that's a MUST for any collector. Very educational and interactive.