What general art books for an 18 yr old starting Uni?

Question

My daughter is starting University on a general art course in UK.

Thoe course will cover Fine Art, Graphics, 3D art & design, Product design, Textiles, Interior design, Sculpture, Photography.

I would appreciate some advice on general art books she could look at - as a foundation to starting mid September. Particular something that describes the various art movements and periods - as I don't think she understands this area ( and I have no clue either with an engineering background)

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

Answer 1

Strongly suggest books that stress the fundamentals of art and design (especially the 10 principles) and overall composition. It's general enough to be used as a reference for all subject matter (so the books aren't wasted -- and books aren't getting any cheaper!). Art school will stress this more so than the history part, as it's a sure sign of an amateur when an artist hasn't memorized those 10 principles to heart.

Books on color theory; lighting; human anatomy (especially bones and muscles - medical illustration has the best, look there); brush and pencil techniques; calligraphy; typesetting/lithography/prepress paste up; animation rigging (animation anything will take a bookshelf itself -- and don't forget *linear algebra* [to better understand vectoring] and basic programming books to go along with it, as Maya/3DSMax that art schools use have scripting); traditional and digital photography (and by extension Photoshop); and most importantly, illustration (this covers the ad/product design side well).

Answer 2

Don't let her get an Art degree or she will be moving back home with you after college.  She will also be unemployed.  Tell her to take classes that will get her a job.

Also check out amazon.com for art history books.  I know I was required to take 1 art class in college but looking back on it I suppose the experience was ok but art classes are hard and require lots of memorization.

Also you may want to talk her out of taking the art class too unless she has real talent like painting all the time at home.  Even then you may want to tell her to get a normal degree to support herself and do art on the side.  

Art classes are the bane for women everywhere since the show "Felicity" came to television.  

I don't know how many women wasted their college education and resources on an art degree only to find themselves unemployed after college.

1 art course is fine but my sister majored in art and is now unemployed.  Engineering pays for the bills and thats good enough.

Answer 3

E.H. Gombrich "The History of Art", Phaidon Publishing

This book should give her a gentle introduction into art history. The writing style makes for a truly compelling reading and the way it is structured helps putting periods and art movements in order. It starts form antiquity and goes on until the mid-twentieth century. I believe Gombrich wrote it having children in mind, but it is widely acknowledged and was actually the first book we were told to read in uni - I still have it on my shelf today (almost ten years later!).

Mind you, it is in no way an updated comprehensive academic study, but I recommend it 100% for beginners who need a structured introduction to the field and a good foundation to work from. From then on, she will be able to choose more contemporary readings according to what she is interested in and what they tell them at her course.

Answer 4

she should have been sent a reading list already, ask her xx if not, look at the course on the internet, a good tutor would have listed pre-reading ideas.

for now, i'd suggest going with her to your nearest waterstones/blackwells/wh smith, and picking out a few titles that she finds intersting

xx