Artists on Art: How They See, Think & Create

by Holly Black

Through a carefully curated selection of quotations, images and interviews, Artists on Art reveals what matters most to the masters. You'll discover how the giants of the different artistic genres developed their distinctive visual styles, the core ideas that underpin their practice and, most importantly, what art means to you.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2022

About the author

Holly Black is a London-based journalist and the author of 'Artists on Art: How They See, Think & Create'. She is also the Managing Editor of Elephant, a magazine that celebrates creativity and contemporary culture in the visual arts. Amazon.com

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Tabish Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This handy guide gives a quick overview of a range of artists, accompanied by a quote from the artist about the creative process. It's a strange selection of artists as its largely contemporary artists, and a few old masters like Rembrandt or Michelangelo. There doesn't seem to be any reason behind the selection other than maybe they all have good quotes?

The descriptions of each artists work is a helpful introduction and occasionally offers some insight, and often does descend into art jargon. The best ones are for artists that readers may not be familiar with such as Toyin Ojih Odutola.

The strongest elements of the book are the five interview segments where we get to learn about the artists in more depth. Overall, a decent and handy reference guide to 50 artists.

[Debbie Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful!

I've read numerous essays focused on writers on their writing. This book gave me a great perspective on what artists think about art. Creative souls are indeed eclectic in their views. The book also introduced me to 50 artists, many of whom I was unfamiliar with.

A quick read, filled with quotes, photos of artwork, a short description of each artist's style, and several Q & A's with a few of the artists.

[Margarita Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una lluvia de ideas geniales de una selección de artistas y creadores. Curiosamente la vasta mayoría son artistas contemporáneos, lo cual ha restado variedad y frescura. Sin embargo lo he disfrutado mucho.

[William Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insights from artists, this gave me ideas!

[Mark Rimelspach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book offers backgrounds from a diverse group of artists from around the world as to what motivates them and what they are trying to accomplish with their work.

[Janene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me think!