Preface

Why Was Art Fundamentals Written?

The foundations or fundamentals course presents a unique challenge to the instructor. It is a course profoundly based in doing -- in the experience of exploring art elements and media on a level of practical curiosity. At the same time, foundations has a history and language that successful students will learn and master -- as a way of avoiding common pitfalls, if nothing else.

The ninth edition of Art Fundamentals is a watershed for the book; at no time in its history have there been so many improvements incorporated into it. Despite our appreciation of these changes our greater concern, as always, is for our examination of the character of art, which is largely dependent on its elements and principles. This inquiry has again been fortified by a great number of historical art examples, as well as contemporary art. We believe the display and examination of these works will benefit all who are interested in art, be they students, instructors, or artists.

That Art Fundamentals enters its fifth decade as the best-selling foundations text is an indication that we in some small way achieved our goal.

What Was Improved?

Art Fundamentals has always been the most colorful book for foundations courses, and rest assured that this remains unchanged. In fact, the ninth edition is in full color throughout, for the first time in its history.

In addition to the color, Art Fundamentals, Ninth Edition, incorporates more contemporary and women artists, and the computer-aided designs have been rendered using the most current software.

The ninth edition breaks new ground with an auxiliary Core Concepts in Art CD-ROM. Art concerns are explained and demonstrated with brief video segments. Although many items are interactive, others allow us to show sequential steps in the development of an idea or image. In the past these have been rendered in the text as a single image; however, with advanced technology we are able to present them in real time. In addition, Core Concepts will help the student prepare with a second approach to the presentation of terminologies, important biographies, and compositional explanations. Chapter summaries, lists of key terms, multiple-choice practice quizzes, and review sections, which reference the text, are also part of the CD-ROM.

Finally, rounding out the instructional program, are: the Art Fundamentals' Web site www.mhhe.com/ocvirk, A Guide to Electronic Research in Art, A Museum Goer's Guide, and a slide set for qualifying adopters. For more information, please contact your local McGraw-Hill sales representative or visit McGraw-Hill's Web page www.mhhe.com.

It is an important tradition that plaudits be distributed among those who have been of help. Our publisher McGraw-Hill and its Higher Education staff has given excellent support and the necessary "prodding." The reviewers -- from longtime devotees to instructors who had never before used the text -- can never be adequately thanked; their comments and observations allowed us to see the text with new eyes and to better understand the way the book is used in classrooms and studios across North America. We would especially like to express our deep appreciation to the many artists, museums, galleries, and art owners for providing us with permissions and materials, which have enabled us to photographically reproduce their highly valued art. Finally, we express our thanks to the many readers who have persisted in their support over the years; may their ranks increase!

2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education
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