BOOKSMART

1. Booksmart Art Books: Inspiration in Form of Artistic Expression! All set to buy art books for your next read? But, what exactly does an art book resemble? Well, it’s pretty difficult to say if a book is an artist's book by just looking at the cover! While someone unfamiliar with art books can simply consider it art in book edition, in reality, the answer is not so simple. An artist’s book is not a book that ‘only’ comprises text. Even if authored by an artist, a book ‘only’ containing text is a piece of printed expressions, belonging to the shelves of a library, book stall, or online book store. When it comes to art books, these are mediums of artistic expressions in the form of inspiration. The main essence of an art book is the artist’s intent and artists have used a plethora of technical and experimental ways to inspire audiences. Art books can be hand-crafted or printed through a fine press. Besides, they can be made from any sort of material incorporating computer-generated images or just photocopies. Be it unique, limited edition, or multiple copies, artist books are a representation of ideas, artwork, scholarly insights, and much more. Are you already browsing the website of a book store for online shopping of art books? Hold on - take a glance at the history of art books before that! History of Art Books Since the advent of the book printing mechanism in the 1400s, several artists depicted illustrations of others in books. However, it was only in the 20th century that artists made such books an object of art. Artists from all parts of the world kept experimenting with book formats and printing techniques. In the 1950s, European artists were engrossed in outlining a better book format and mastering unique printing & binding techniques. These experiments included slits or holes on the pages and unique shapes for binding or boxing.

2. On the other hand, American artists produced art books with illustrations of photographs and titles on the cover page along with short narratives. However, while some artists created these narratives to deal with stressful and emotional issues in society, others considered them cheap and mobile options to reach out to a wider audience. Now that you know the history of artist books, let’s move on to the next section of this article that explains why people tend to buy art books more than other forms of books these days. Why Readers Are So Interested in Modern-Day Art Books? Today, artists’ books are available in almost all niches such as poetry, photography, printmaking, visual arts, graphic design, experimental narrative, and much more. Art books have successfully spotted a place in the book collections of libraries, bibliophiles, and museums. Modern-day artist’s books have not only grabbed the interest of art historians but also the critics who write about art. On top of all, some of the world’s most renowned art schools have started studio programs, particularly dedicated to the art of books, paving the way for new- generation art book writers. Now, coming to the question - why do readers find art books to be more interesting than other genres. The main reasons for the popularity of art books include affordable prices, open editions, and wide availability across all democracies. Interestingly, art books are the best medium for showcasing an artist’s work to a broad audience present in multiple locations, at any given time. Understanding an artwork through a book allows the reader to connect with the medium that is usually meant to have individual and personal implications in the social arena. Reading art books can be a real joy for passionate as well as aspiring readers! Do Printed Art Books Still Have a Future? In this era of smartphones and laptops, this is a common question faced by artist authors and book designers. Well, although watching an art movie, listening to an audiobook, or watching a video on YouTube seems easier

3. than reading a fat book, there’s something nostalgic about reading an art book while in bed, bath, or beach. And most importantly, buying art books has become more convenient than ever before. You no longer need to walk up to the library or nearest bookstall to pick the latest art book available. Simply type “book store for online shopping” on the web search page, and you will come up with a long list. That said, Booksmart is one of the largest online book stores in Asia! From arts and agriculture to business and law, you will find all types of books at this store.