Look At This! An Introduction to Art Appreciation

An open college textbook that teaches you to read a work of art through its design, its historical context and its meaning. It covers the elements and principles, materials and methods, and the big themes art has explored across cultures.

Various Authors

A complete art appreciation course from Coastline College. It explains what art is, how to analyze its visual elements, the main media and techniques, and how art has changed across world history, illustrated with works from major museum collections.

Kevin Scianni

A college art appreciation textbook that covers what art is, how to talk about it, the visual elements and principles, the main media from drawing to architecture, and art history from prehistory to today.

Lumen Learning

A secondary school art and design textbook with hands-on chapters on appreciating art, drawing, painting, crafts and design. A practical starting point for younger students and teachers.

NCDC