How to Art: Bringing a Fancy Subject Down to Earth

Art is a central part of the human experience, but snobbery and jargon-filled critical language have wrongly convinced most people it’s not for them, according to this approachable guide to viewing, collecting, and creating art. Beginning with the basics, Soho House art director Bryan (Bright Stars) breaks down how to find art (in national and local galleries and museums) and how to talk about it (consider materials, technique, style, and how the work makes one feel). Later sections expound on the benefits—even for novices—of making art (it helps with being in the present and stimulating creative thinking); offer tips for buying artworks on a budget; and advise those pursuing art as a profession on “finding your style,” tracking sales, selling online, and drawing up an artist’s statement. Bryan’s blend of practical advice, intimate knowledge of the art scene, and down-to-earth personal disclosures (“I remain what I consider to be a terrible artist in the context of my day job, but it doesn’t stop my entire body from relaxing... when I wield my daughter’s felt-tip pens with reckless abandon”) will go a long way in welcoming even readers who’ve never picked up a paintbrush. The result is a worthwhile introduction to an often intimidating world. Illus. (Sept.)