Cómo se hace el arte: Entender las grandes obras maestras a través de sus técnicas y materiales

by Debra N. Mancoff, Gemma Fors Soriano (translator)

How Art Is Made looks at renowned works of art from across the centuries and around the globe and asks the intriguingly simple question – how were these works actually made?
 
Divided into two sections – materials and methods – each chapter showcases a single work of art which demonstrates the mastery and innovative use of a single material or method, from oil paint, pastel and pencil, to woodcut, litho and impasto. Each work is presented as the centerpiece of a capsule history, while comparative works are also included to help amplify our understanding.

The book  enhances the experience of looking at great works of art and guides us to a deeper understanding of how they were created and why we regard them as so important.

Genres: Art, History

224 pages, Hardcover

Published February 1, 2025

Reviews

[Tabish Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to know how art is made, rather than what it means, this is a very handy reference book on materials from egg tempera to immersive art.

It can be a tad dry at times, as with all reference books, but it's got short chapters and strong images to accompany the text that makes it far more readable than most art reference books.

[Caylee Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved seeing artwork combined by materials / methods.

Included in the book are materials such as ink, pencil, encaustic, and watercolour. Methods include collage (yay), monochrome, brushwork, en plein air, and immersive spaces.

Such a delight to start the book with a chapter on gold!

I would have loved to SEE more of the behind-the-scenes of the artmaking, but each piece is explained beautifully.

(I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I've been kind of looking for a while, How Art Is Made is a really good primer for anyone who is just beginning to want to understand and learn more about art and what it takes to create good art, with examples that are well known and even highlight less acknowledged artworks such as art installations and reliefs.

The profiles on each style and method are easy to read and easy to understand with excellent examples of the art to highlight the method and style, from the work of Van Gogh to Vermeer and go through a range of eras and centuries for a broad scope of styles of art. It can be a little dense in moments, however I think that this is a pretty good read on the subject matter.

A really informative read on how art is created, I'd recommend it to anyone just beginning to look into art.

(I received an ARC from Netgalley for honest review).

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debra Mancoff is the author of more than 20 books on art and art history. This is the second book I’ve read and reviewed this year, and looking at the dates of other works, it seems as though she is publishing at least one book a year. That output would be impressive even if she was merely churning out pseudo-scholarly art history “lite” for the masses, but she isn’t. How Art is Made is a beautiful book, well researched and written. Although she writes from the standpoint of a scholar, her writing is accessible to anyone who wishes to enhance their art knowledge and experience. The book is written in two parts. Part one discusses artistic media, including pencils, charcoal, and several different types of paint, discussing the unique features, strengths and weaknesses and presenting examples of masters who have used this media. Part two features methods ranging from perspective to etching, including contemporary methods like graffiti and installations. I’m a bit confused, though, about why she did not include photography or digital techniques. In the arts appreciation course I taught for more than 20 years, one of my goals was to have students move beyond merely seeking the meaning of a piece to discovering the deliberate choices the artist made to communicate their desired effect. This book definitively aids art lovers in that quest. Thank you to Frances Lincoln and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Art is Made by Debra N Mancoff is an excellent reference that doesn't read like one. In other words, the examples and explanations are interesting and presented in a manner that makes the book an enjoyable read.

I think this is the fourth or fifth book from Mancoff that I have read and every one has been both fun to read and very informative. This one, focusing on the materials and methods of making art, would couple very well with The Secrets of Art which looks at ways of making meaning. One is mostly about the creation of the work and the other about the reception, though the two aren't as separate as one might think.

The section on materials offers a lot of insight into what is used, how things are made, from the works themselves to the paints and molds that help form them. The section on methods is more about the artistic manner in which the materials from the first part are used to create various effects. While Mancoff gives the readers a scholarly (albeit lower level) introduction she writes in a very accessible manner that allows any reader with an interest to follow along.

Highly recommended for the casual art lover who wants a better understanding as well as a scholar or art journalist that wants a handy reference. Either way, it is a readable book that also serves as a ready reference.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Tales Untangled · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion, Frances Lincoln. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

I liked the organization of HOW ART IS MADE. By looking at different methods and materials, we get to explore a variety of artists, times, and interpretations.

One of the things I particularly enjoyed about this book is seeing artists outside of Europe. This is a book I would have liked to have in my classroom as a teaching reference.

Happy art marking!

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book.

A survey of techniques, mediums and materials. A great reference book, with explanations of the methods and with examples, both old and new. I seen dozens of books like this and this book is very comprehensive in coverage of the medium and materials, including areas such as Graffiti and Immersive spaces.

If as an art student, this would be a good go-to book and reference.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a reference on materials and methods used in producing art. Each section from 'Gold" to 'Immersive Spaces' uses art works to explain the techniques. There are also detailed discussions of artist motivation and techniques. This is a very good read that gave me a renewed enthusiasm for tackling some canvas and paper again. My only issue is that some of the text is a faint grey and quite small which makes reading a slow and difficult process. Otherwise an enjoyable reference text that delivered more than I expected. An insightful and inspiring read.

[Dan Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great and informative book. You would be amazed how creative people are on creating arts! This knowledge also makes you appreciate the work behind the art work a lot more! Highly recommend!