The Elements of Art outlines 10 elements to help us as viewers probe more deeply into art works -- scale, color, light, movement, medium, technique, content, location, time and artist. In each of these sections, examples are shown and discussed in a clear and informative way. Then the book dives into specific art works through the lens of different elements. I learned a lot and was able to view some iconic works in a different way meaning I noticed things I had not seen before. I really appreciated that a lot of women artists were used as examples throughout. At the end of the book is an Art Timeline as well as a glossary. A beautiful book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion and I voluntarily left this review.

An interesting and useful book about art interpretation for people who are newto the subject.
I enjoyed it very much and it made me appreciate art even more!!

I am grateful to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

‘Elements of Art’, subtitled ‘Ten Ways to Decode the Masterpieces’ is a fine book of text and images, providing a structured method to better looking at and understanding visual art. It is a great book. A useful book for anyone who enjoys art. I was pleasantly surprised at the content and quality.

The first part of the book examines various Elements that make up a piece of artwork. These Elements are applicable to not only painting, but also photography and 3D works such as sculpture, installations or kinetic art. The Elements, once explained and understood provide a basis for viewing art for either the novice or a more experienced viewer. They make engaging with art a more compelling and comprehensive experience.

Some of the Elements are to be expected such as scale, colour, light, movement and medium. The author discusses how the artist goes about using a particular Element and the effect, message or impact intended. It is a thought-provoking approach, concisely and eloquently explained with text and examples. Other Elements important to consider may be less obvious to the viewer. For example, the original location or placement of the artwork may be meaningful. Or perhaps the period in history when the artwork was created, which may reflect contemporary fashions, beliefs, politics, styles and so forth.

The Elements presented are from a wide variety of times in the past, various cultures, artistic movements and locations. New materials and technologies of course become available over time and the Elements themselves become more fluid, wide-ranging and open to interpretation.

The second part of the book examines some thirty works of art, with a discussion of the key Elements in each piece, accompanied by high quality photos and enlargements of particular details. Although this is a subjective and limited number of artworks, the author has selected an appropriate range of pieces. Some very well-know, others less so. As well as paintings, there are examples of sculpture, photography, digital-art and installations. All elegantly selected to demonstrate the Elements, with concise and eloquent text.

The book is well laid-out, easy to access, and enjoy. A good balance between text and images. The language used is simple, easy to comprehend and not overly specialised. A Timeline of art movements is included , from ancient times to modern day. Also included is a brief but useful Glossary and Index.

This is a great book for anyone, young or old, anyone developing an interest in art or already somewhat knowledgable. It would make a perfect book for an art class, allowing students to better appreciate, understand and ultimately enjoy a deeper, richer experience with art.I wish the author and publishers all the very best for this book.

There are many books about "how to read" a painting. This book is way more than that. Susie Hodge starts by discussing ten elements that many paintings share ~ things like colour, texture, technique, content ~ then by using this framework, she examines ‘famous’ paintings allowing us to see similarities and, more importantly, differences.

My favourite element was ‘light’ because although I’d heard of chiaroscuro, I hadn’t really understood it and I’d never heard of tenebrism and I shall enjoy looking at paintings to see if they are using this form of dramatic illumination.

Many of the paintings are familiar but the instruction brings new things to enjoy. It is also significant that Ms Hodge includes many women artists. This includes Lee Miller who I’ve often admired. It was good to understand her work a bit better.

This would be an excellent gift for an art lover of any age or just a book to leave on the coffee table to browse through. It’s the sort of book which is educational without being ‘teachy’.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

Susie Hodge’s Elements of Art: Ten Ways to Decode the Masterpieces is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of art, whether they are casual gallery-goers, students, or seasoned art enthusiasts.

Hodge meticulously breaks down complex artworks into ten essential elements: scale, color, light, movement, medium, technique, content, location, time, and the artist. The first part of the book introduces these elements with clear explanations and examples from various periods of art history. This section alone is a treasure trove of information, equipping readers with the terminology and analytical tools needed to engage with art on a more meaningful level.

The second part of the book is where Hodge's approach truly shines. She dissects 30 iconic artworks, ranging from Michelangelo’s frescoes to Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits, applying the elements she has discussed.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you NewGalley for this early copy of Elements of Art. I need to go out and buy it for myself in hardback as I enjoyed it so much. Stunning in its presentation of both the artworks shown and the detail of the various artworks and the artists who created them..
This gives a nice capsulized overview with lots of informative info pieces in a very relatable and easy to understand format.
So basically, after reading this book you can go into any museum and look at any artwork and have an entry point into seeing and understanding more. The title says it all Ten Ways to Decode the Masterpieces. Using this book you will start to think Why did the artist choose to use this color, or include this object, have the subjects facing this way or that, why did they not include something.
After getting through the beginning with explanations, the author then takes you to actual masterpieces and uses those elements of art previous outlined, and how the artist used them.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who would like to know a little more about art and those who might like a refresher class.

As a new artist, I found this to be a fabulous and informative book. I loved that structure and how the author approached each element, especially her use of examples. I wish I had downloaded it on a bigger screen because the netgalley format made the images hard to see and the text hard to read.
Will add link to my blog soon..

"Elements of Art: Ten Ways to Decode the Masterpieces" by Susie Hodge is a concise and enlightening guide that offers readers a deeper understanding of art through the exploration of its fundamental elements. Hodge's approachable writing style and insightful analysis make this book an invaluable resource for art enthusiasts of all levels.

Through ten distinct chapters, Hodge examines key art elements such as technique, style, material, location, and color, providing readers with the tools to decipher and appreciate masterpieces from various artistic movements and periods. Each chapter is filled with engaging anecdotes, practical exercises, and stunning visual examples, making complex concepts accessible and enjoyable to explore.

One of the book's strengths lies in the second part of the book, with Hodge's ability to connect theoretical concepts with 30 real-world examples, demonstrating how artists use elements like form and space to convey meaning and emotion. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned connoisseur, "Elements of Art" offers fresh insights and perspectives that will deepen your appreciation of art and enhance your enjoyment of museum visits and gallery outings.

I found this book enjoyable and informative. I appreciated the images of various artworks. Having that visual aid helped me understand the characteristics being described. I personally don’t have much formal art training (though I do enjoy several creative pursuits at an amateur level). Even without a background knowledge in art, I still thought the book was easy to understand and fun to read. I think traditionally-educated artists might also enjoy this because it talks about art characteristics that aren’t always considered.

A few artworks that stood out for me were The Monk by the Sea by Caspar David Friedrich, The Death of Cleopatra by Edmonia Lewis, The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, Composition with Figures by Lyubov Popova, From the Top of the Great Pyramid by Lee Miller, and Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View by Cornelia Parker.

Did not read for not downloading the ARC before the archive timeline. Which breaks my heart because I was incredibly excited to read this book. Nevertheless, here's a 5 star rating for compensation. I apologise for the inconvenience and best of luck.

This book is amazing!! This is exactly what I had to learn for my art history study, but explained more clearly and with great examples.
I would have loved to have to read this book for my study and it would have helped me a lot. I definitely recommend it to others who want to learn how to interpret artworks!

Having been happily married to the Permanent Roommate (a university trained artist who has made her career in art) for 39 years, I have always been rather puzzled as to what she's talking about. In all fairness, I bet she's a bit lost when my buddies and I talk about fly fishing). I've absorbed quite a bit over the years, but this book really helped to bring things into perspective.
I honestly had no idea that art had different elements! At least not until I read this book. It was like someone pulling back the curtain on what my wife talks about. Now I know just enough to MAYBE chime in with an opinion or observation once in awhile. Kind of like George Costanza at an art gallery exhibition, haha.
This would be a great book for any youngster interested in the arts, or any other person who just wishes to appear a bit more knowledgeable. It's an easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to digest book.
I just wish I would have found it 40 years ago!

What a beautiful book on the subject of understanding Art. I love Art but don't always know why. I hoped this book by Susie Hodge would help and it certainly fulfils the need. Divided into parts, the book details a lot of information in the first part. Written in a way that is informative but not condescending she explains and poses questions designed to get one thinking about the various elements of the process of painting a masterpiece. The second part is a true feast as it explores actual paintings which I personally have admired. This is a keeper and would make a marvellous coffee table book as well as an excellent addition to an art lovers library. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read Elements of Art. Simply beautiful

This is such a wonderful compilation of artistic principles. It's perfect for Art History 101 as an adult.

The first part of this book was a summary of different things to look for in art (color, materials, scale, etc). This was ok, but the reason i really enjoyed the book was the second, longer part, which consisted of a couple of pages analyzing each of several works of art. Some were familiar to me, but many were new. The analysis really opened my eyes to ways the artist was conveying their message. I love this kind of thing because I'm interested in art, but know very little about it. I also appreciated how many of the pieces were by women.

Good and balanced view on the history of art. First half is very Europe heavy but the second part takes you around the globe and talks about a lot of different mediums.

The color coding on the pages for the second half that relates to the first section is clever and useful for anyone who wants to learn more about art. Some of the “consider this” sections are a bit obvious but I can see why they’re included if they want to hit a wide breadth of audience and previous knowledge.

The writing isn’t pretentious and it is all presented in a very readable manner. Didn’t include some artworks I consider to be very famous and influential but then also introduced me to others so in the end I’m not upset about it. I think when you’re working with limited space it’s impressive that it wasn’t only things I had seen before.

Susie Hodge's Elements of Art is an ideal choice for someone who is an enthusiastic newcomer to the world of the visual art. It is readable and concise, packed with information, yet not imcomprehensible. It gives the reader insight in the vast history of visual arts, but manages to balance on the thin line between being informative and overwhelming, always staying safely on the informative side. The reader gets to learn about the technical aspects of a painting, such as scale, color, light, movement, medium, technique, content, location, time and the artist. Each of those is given a specific color code, which is used in the second part of the book where actual paintings and artistic works are analysed, to mark down which aspects are applicable to that particular work. This largely contributes to compactness and comprehensibility and makes it much easier to navigate in the book.

I especially loved the "Consider this" box that contained various tips how to enhance one's experience and interaction with various pieces of art. It also provides a lot of side information, such as the science behind discovery of certain hues.

I very much enjoyed the author's choice of artworks to analyse. She chose the very famous ones, the less famous ones and some that were completely unknown to me, carefully selecting artists from all over the world. However, since the book does not have the ambition to become a sweeping all-encompassing Bible of the visual art, the choice is limited, as it should and must be.

All this is paired with beautiful graphics, colours and photographs, making this book a lovely potential gift for an amateur art lover. As far as I am concerned, it is a fascinating, inconspicuous book that has a great educational value.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗜 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.

This is a non-fiction book about art, divided into two parts. The first part, ‘Elements’, comprises approximately 30% of the book, while the second part is titled ‘The Artworks’.

Part One delves into the technical side of Art, discussing the mediums, techniques, scale, and colours that were available or utilized.

In Part Two, we are introduced to various artists and one of their art pieces. The author goes in-depth about the elements used in each piece of art. She typically selects 3 or 4 of the elements to explain how they interact with each other and the overall effect they produce, dissecting the work of each creator.

This book was instrumental in helping me analyze and explore certain artists, and to better understand even those I initially didn’t favour.

The author has included a well-balanced mix of artists, both male and female. I was particularly pleased to see one of my favourites, Artemisia Gentileschi, featured in this book. While the book primarily focuses on paintings, it also covers other topics like photography and sculptures.

I read the eBook version, but if the printed version is as well-executed in terms of colour representation, it’s definitely worth purchasing in print.

4.3 artsy Stars for this book!

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓.

Some of us aren't born as artists and thus, we may only have a slight acquaintance with art. If that's the case, this book is an excellent introduction. The book covers most or all of the basic aspects of art for a beginner without being text-heavy or technical. It also includes examples of a number of famous works to examine and hopefully understand a bit better. This could work for older children and teens in school as a basic text too.

Overall, a lovely work. Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for giving me an advanced reader copy. I have written this review voluntarily.

This book gives the reader tools to examine and interpret art. It covers lots of elements in detail such as light, movement scale and medium. I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite paintings included in this book and learning new things about them.