October 15, 2021
Grades 2-5 One hundred art terms relating to materials, techniques, movements, and more are pithily described here in 100 words each. Hodge (Why Is Art Full of Naked People? 2016) presents just the right balance of terms that children will be familiar with but need specifics on (chalk, sketch, photography) and those that they may not have encountered yet (tempera, pointillism, kinetic). The definitions both describe the terms in an accessible way and introduce historical facts and other relevant points--tessellation, for example, explains that this art includes "shapes that fit together . . . across a surface without overlaps or gaps" and that patchworks quilts and M. C. Escher's work feature such patterns. Argentinian artist Farina was the perfect choice as illustrator; his computer-generated, pop art-style compositions are attractive in their own right and convey their ideas instantly, often amusingly (his take on impressionist paintings is particularly fun). The helpful closing time line runs from ancient times to today, offering a few words per era that could help report writers settle on a period to study. A must for junior art collections.
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