How to Be a Super Awesome Artist: 20 Art Projects Inspired by the Masters

Gr 4-7–This basic overview of different artistic mediums and styles covers the works of a wide variety of 19 artists, ranging from Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh to Yayoi Kusama and Chis Ofili. Each artist is presented in a spread featuring an example of their work, a one-paragraph summary of their process, and a hint box describing how kids can create their own artwork using the artist’s techniques. The book also includes short sections covering the basics of different types of pencils and how to use them, color theory, tips on creating a unique signature, and a brief history of different artistic movements. The brevity of the descriptions makes this more of an idea book than a step-by-step tutorial, and there’s very little biographical information about the featured artists. Still, the diversity of artists and art styles make it a fun title to browse, and kids who enjoy an artistic challenge may be inspired to try some new techniques.