Non-fiction - Art Appreciation - Christchurch City Libraries | Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi

From the Cave to the Computer Screen

by Hockney, David, 1937-

Book - 2016

Artist David Hockney and art critic Martin Gayford embark on a series of conversations about the making of art over time. Surveying a wide range of differ...Show more Artist David Hockney and art critic Martin Gayford embark on a series of conversations about the making of art over time. Surveying a wide range of different media, from cave art to Youtube video stills, Hockney & Gayford delve in to how and why pictures are made - and what makes them interesting to us. By juxtaposing images from high culture and pop entertainment they insightfully draw connections accross time and media, showing us how an appreciation of art can help us understand the world around us. With its interactive dialogue and generous use of illustrations, A History of Pictures provides an accessible and engaging guide for anyone wanting to explore the world of art. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Art Matters

by Gaiman, Neil, 1960-

Book - 2018

In this short but stirring book, acclaimed author Neil Gaiman gives us his rallying cry for artistic creativity and the imagination in the form of four he...Show more In this short but stirring book, acclaimed author Neil Gaiman gives us his rallying cry for artistic creativity and the imagination in the form of four heartfelt and poignant essays. The first called ‘Credo’ is a discourse on the idea of free expression and differences of ideas, the second ‘Making a chair’ ponders the whole idea of the creative process. "Why Our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading, and daydreaming’ is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s the final essay called ‘Make good art’ that proves to be the longest and most empowering of the four, pressing the importance of trusting your artistic path in the face of self-doubt and adversity. All of this is tied together with illustrations by frequent Neil Gaiman collaborator Chris Riddell, making this a gorgeous visual experience as well as an engrossing read. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

A Book of Seeing

by Horrocks, Roger, 1946-

Book - 2022

Kiwi writer, educator and cultural commentator Roger Horrocks reflects on a range of topics related to seeing, including The Nature and Experience of Colo...Show more Kiwi writer, educator and cultural commentator Roger Horrocks reflects on a range of topics related to seeing, including The Nature and Experience of Colour, The Experience of Space, Seeing and Believing, and Seeing During the Lockdown. In doing so he explores the various way we look at, understand and experience art. By mixing personal observations from his writing practice with comments and reflections by artists, philosophers, writers, poets, musicians and scientists, Horrocks explains how seeing is at the core of the way we need to approach art, and that the way we see is conditioned by many personal, social, cultural and scientific factors. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Art of Rivalry

Four Friendships, Betrayals, and Breakthroughs in Modern Art

by Smee, Sebastian

Book - 2016

Written by Pulitzer Prize winning art critic Sebastian Smee, this is an eye-opening examination into the creative tensions and artistic push and pull that...Show more Written by Pulitzer Prize winning art critic Sebastian Smee, this is an eye-opening examination into the creative tensions and artistic push and pull that existed between four pairs of era-defining artists/friends of their time. The artists in question are Edgar Manet and Degas, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock and Willem De Kooning, and Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon. The books many accounts of volatility, competitiveness and inspiration between these men gives the reader a vivid idea on how this all helped to shape the course of each artists personal creative journeys. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

How to Look at A Painting

by Paton, Justin, 1972-

Book - 2012

This breezy and accessible read by Kiwi art critic Justin Paton serves as a beginners guide for budding art lovers on how to think critically about painti...Show more This breezy and accessible read by Kiwi art critic Justin Paton serves as a beginners guide for budding art lovers on how to think critically about paintings when visiting an Art museum, gallery or painter’s studio. With a focus on New Zealand artists such as Colin McCahon, Paton shows us how to really look at art and take our time, not just glancing at it casually, but taking in the details such as texture, what first catches our attention, what overall ‘feeling’ it gives us. Show less

In-library use only at this time in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Understanding Italian Renaissance Painting

A Guide to the Artists, Ideas and Key Works

by Zuffi, Stefano, 1961-

Book - 2010

This lavishly illustrated and engaging book explores some of the key ideas and concepts behind some of the masterpieces by the most important Renaissance ...Show more This lavishly illustrated and engaging book explores some of the key ideas and concepts behind some of the masterpieces by the most important Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael and Piero della Francesca. Specific works are used as examples to explain these themes and artistic techniques in greater detail, like examining the painterly technique of Chiaroscuro through Giovanni Savoldo’s ‘St Matthew and the Angel’, or linear perspective with Masaccio’s ‘The Trinity’. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Co-art

Artists on Creative Collaboration

by De Wachter, Ellen Mara, 1977-

Book - 2017

Through the process of interviewing twenty five different groups of artists, art critic and curator Ellen Mara De Wachter looks into the subject of how ar...Show more Through the process of interviewing twenty five different groups of artists, art critic and curator Ellen Mara De Wachter looks into the subject of how artists are currently working collaboratively in the art world. The book highlights the traditional notion of the individualistic ‘self-expression’ and how it is being overtaken by more group collaborative work. All of the artists interviewed have varying approaches to their artist process and the nature of their relationships vary too, some of them life-long friends, some family and others just working together on a professional basis. It also shows how these changes are partly being forced upon artists due to outside conditions such as the rising cost of living and diminished funding. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Design as Art

by Munari, Bruno, 1907-1998

Book - 2008

Inspirational twentieth-century designer Bruno Munari takes us on an illustrated journey into the world of art & design - providing an enlightening an...Show more Inspirational twentieth-century designer Bruno Munari takes us on an illustrated journey into the world of art & design - providing an enlightening and entertaining exploration into the meaning of design and its relation to life, society and nature. Written in an accessible writing style lightly touched with humour, each short, informal essay focuses on a different aspect of visual, graphic or industrial design and the role it plays in the objects we use every day. A classic for the ages. Show less

All copies in use. Availability details

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Portraits

John Berger on Artists

by Berger, John, 1926-2017

Book - 2015

Highly respected and often controversial novelist and art critic John Berger delivers a series of essays that gives us his fresh and unique take on some o...Show more Highly respected and often controversial novelist and art critic John Berger delivers a series of essays that gives us his fresh and unique take on some of the most famous artists in history such as Henry Moore, Degas, and Mark Rothko. Often scathing with his views in regards to some of these artists, Berger none-the-less lends us his unique analytical eye, helping to bring out certain aspects of their paintings that we may not have noticed before. Berger proves himself to be the master of showing the reader how to see and also feel about a work of art. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Looking at Pictures

by Woodford, Susan, 1938-

Book - 2018

This gorgeously illustrated and stimulating read by noted art historian Susan Woodford, attempts to provide the reader with the tools to be able to look a...Show more This gorgeously illustrated and stimulating read by noted art historian Susan Woodford, attempts to provide the reader with the tools to be able to look at paintings in an inquiring and intelligent way, exploring many of the most important themes and designs from many different eras and artistic movements. The author looks at the different aspects a viewer should take into consideration when looking at a piece of art, such as cultural context, design, and hidden meaning. This pocket-sized book acts as a helpful guide for novice art history students and first-time art gallery visitors, as well as a reminder for the seasoned expert. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

The Artist Project

What Artists See When They Look at Art

Book - 2017

This book is the result of a collaboration between the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and 120 contemporary artists from the USA and beyond, where ...Show more This book is the result of a collaboration between the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and 120 contemporary artists from the USA and beyond, where each artist was asked to talk about how one particular work of art (or a group of works) from the museum that really inspired them. Each artists gives their thoughtful insight into what it is they see when they are looking at a work of art, through this encouraging the reader to reconsider their own views on art and examine it in new and interesting ways. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Looking at Art With Alex Katz

by Katz, Alex, 1927-

Book - 2018

Renowned American painter Alex Katz has had a long and fruitful career observing and thinking about art. With this lifetime of acquired experience and kno...Show more Renowned American painter Alex Katz has had a long and fruitful career observing and thinking about art. With this lifetime of acquired experience and knowledge behind him, he acts as a guide and critic to many of his favourite works by legendary artists and architects throughout the ages, from Leonardo to Robert Rauschenberg. He shares his thoughts on the works of 90 different artists, displaying at least one image of the artist’s work and sharing such personal anecdotes as the first time he saw the artists’ works and how they managed to have an influence on his own creative process. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Art as Therapy

by De Botton, Alain, 1969-

Book - 2013

In this provocative book, philosopher Alain De Botton argues the eccentric and controversial view that art can help us to make sense of life and its many ...Show more In this provocative book, philosopher Alain De Botton argues the eccentric and controversial view that art can help us to make sense of life and its many confusing aspects. He posits that art functions to help us deal with different psychological aspects of our lives such as self-understanding, hope, love, dealing with life changes, and aging. Certain works are looked at to highlight Botton’s points, such as Sydney Tully’s ‘The Twilight of life’ teaching us empathy towards the elderly lady in the painting, or Nicola Pisano’s ‘An Idyll: Daphnis and Chloe’ showing us that beautiful moment in the infancy of romantic love and appreciation for another person. Provocative or not, Botton opens a doorway to a different way of looking at and appreciating the world of art and its themes. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Simon Schama's Power of Art

by Schama, Simon

Book - 2006

Noted and divisive historian Simon Schama gives us his own unique take on some of the best works by some of the most notorious artists in history, such as...Show more Noted and divisive historian Simon Schama gives us his own unique take on some of the best works by some of the most notorious artists in history, such as Turner, Van Gogh, Caravaggio and Rembrandt. Not content with just showcasing each work of art, we are given the social and historical context in vivid context, providing the reader with a better understanding of how the artists might have produced such a powerful piece of art. Love or hate his style of writing and approach to art critique, Schama always presents his viewpoint with such passion and persuasion that it’s hard to resist. Show less

Available in some locations

Place hold

Add to My For Later Shelf On my shelf

Search

Non-fiction - Art Appreciation - Christchurch City Libraries

Blogs & News

I want to ...

Library sites

Hot topics

Contact us