How to Art: Bringing a Fancy Subject Down to Earth

by Kate Bryan, David Shrigley (illustrator)

A funny, inviting, and full-color book about art for people who don’t know about “art”—featuring new artworks by David Shrigley

What is art, where do I find it, and once I’m in front of it, what am I supposed to think about it?

Kate Bryan is a self-confessed art addict who has worked with art for over twenty years. But before she studied art history at university, she’d been into a gallery just twice in her life and had no idea she was entering an elitist world.

Now, she’s on a mission to help everybody come to art. Like playing or listening to music, or cooking and eating great food, reading or watching films, making art or looking at other people’s deserves to be an enriching part of all our lives.

So here, in How to Art, is a nifty way to take art on your own terms. From where it is to what it is, to tips on how to actually enjoy really famous artworks like the Mona Lisa, to how to own art and make art at home, through to vital advice for making a career as an artist and even how to make your dog more cultural, How to Art gives art to everyone, and makes it fun.

Laced throughout with original artworks by the very down-to-earth artist David Shrigley.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

328 pages, Hardcover

Published September 23, 2025

Reviews

[Louisa12.11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

offers an interesting insight into the art world and you can feel the authors love for art (even if she isn't an artist herself)

[Linds · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good entry point for people that find art museums or art history pretentious, or starting to become an artist too daunting.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Cristina Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personalmente he aprendido a manejar en mi mente el arte contemporáneo ya que suelo buscar la belleza clásica en cualquier obra.
Sin acudir a clases de pintura, durante años, busqué la forma de aprender, por mis propios medios, a dibujar, pintar, las herramientas, las técnicas, etc. No comprendía lo importante del arte, expresar algo. Con este libro he comprendido la importancia de ser uno mismo al margen de los demás. El realismo me aburre y yo siempre he creído que si no sabes dibujar perfectamente no eres artista, con esta idea dejé de pintar. Por eso he encontrado inspiración para continuar mis andanzas en el arte.
También te enseña como funciona el mundo del arte desde dentro, dónde acudir como aficionado y como espectador.
Escritura fácil y amena, con cierta dosis cómica.
Gracias.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The use of "art" as a verb gives me childishness amusement ("blimey, has someone arted in here?" never fails to get the desired eye roll from my daughter) and honestly, it was mostly on the strength of the title that I bought the book. But it's a brilliant tour through the (deliberately?) elitist world of art, aimed at someone like me, who would like to view more and own more art but is put off by the pretentiousness and snobbishness around it (even if, to be fair, at least some of this is more my perception than actual fact). I'm not a fan of the illustrations (by David Shrigley) but as Bryan emphasises, that's fine - they're just not my kind of thing. It is nice to have colourful pictures though and overall the book is highly recommended.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is essentially everything you need to know about art, but doesn't read/teach like you're f*cking stupid. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The author herself comes from a working class background and didn't have an 'in' into the industry, which really helps to deconstruct the prestige the industry has.

[Tracy]

I wasn't the target audience for this book -- it would be a great introduction to the art world to someone who is interested in art but feels totally out of the loop. It covers both how to collect art and how to make art.

[Morgan Holdsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

i might be slightly biased as i love david shrigley but kate bryan is so whitty, writing with such accessibility & ease that this book was absolutely brilliant :)