The Artists Illustrated Encyclopedia: Techniques, Materials and Terms Paperback – January 1, 2001 by Phil Metzger
 
Presents more than one thousand art terms and descriptions, and includes sidebars and illustrated examples.
 
From Library Journal
Metzger's six previous books include the excellent North Light Artist's Guide to Materials & Techniques (LJ 11/15/96). Here he tackles the more daunting task of an encyclopedia of art terms used by the practicing artist, including those associated with art movements, techniques, materials, history, and conservation. To keep it lively, Metzger packs in hundreds of photographs, paintings, mini-demos, diagrams, and drawings. The result is more of an illustrated dictionary than anything truly encyclopedic. Most entries are a few lines or paragraphs, and many subjects, such as computer art, aren't adequately treated. While this may be an accessible and useful dictionary for students or amateur artists, it is not an essential purchase if Ralph Mayer's The HarperCollins Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques (1995) is already in the library.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Metzger explains in his introduction that this book is intended to define terms, techniques, and materials but not explain how to use them. His goal is achieved with a dictionary arrangement of definitions supplemented with many illustrations and cross-references. The definitions are limited to how the word applies to art. Emphasis is on contemporary usage, although older usages are sometimes indicated. Where there has been some confusion (as in Watercolor), it is noted. Most terms are familiar, but when pronunciation is not obvious, a simple phonetic guide is provided.
Definitions are easy to understand. Although most entries consist of only a few sentences, some, such as Design, are longer and more detailed. Cross-references refer the user to related entries. Some brand-name products (Colour Shapers, Liquin) are defined. Many entries (such as Air eraser and Printing press) have a picture of the object being defined or small reproductions of artworks that demonstrate the results of using a technique or material. As one might expect in a resource intended for artists, the reproduction quality is superb. Entries are supplemented by occasional boxed information, some brief (e.g., in the entry Hardboard, the description of how Masonite came to be developed) and some lengthy, such as the seven-page table of art movements. A bibliography lists books and magazines but no Web sites.
This book will be useful for beginning art students who need to understand the specialized vocabulary of artists. Recommended for public libraries.
RBB
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