Art in Focus

About the Author

Gene Mittler

Gene Mittler is the author of Art in Focus, Glencoe’s senior high school art history textbook, which uses a chronological approach to art. He is also one of the authors of Glencoe’s middle school/junior high art series, Introducing Art, Exploring Art, and Understanding Art, and Creating and Understanding Drawings for high school. He has taught at both the elementary and secondary levels and at Indiana University. He received an M.F.A. in sculpture from Bowling Green State University and a Ph.D. in art education from Ohio State University. He has authored grants and published numerous articles in professional journals and has lectured in the United States and abroad. Dr. Mittler is currently Professor Emeritus at Texas Tech University.

About the Cover

The image on the cover, Sorrow of the King, is one of the last works by French artist Henri Matisse (1869–1954). Working with cut paper, the artist created a composition of colors, shapes, and forms in the expressive style he developed late in his career. This piece can be seen as the culmination of the artist’s life and work. Matisse’s inspiration for the title comes from the biblical reference to King Solomon’s Song of Songs. One of many interpretations holds that Matisse portrayed himself as the black figure in the center. He surrounded the figure with music, dancing, and the rich colors and patterns he favored in his artwork.

Studio Lesson Consultants

We wish to express our gratitude to the following art coordinators, teachers, and specialists who participated in the field test of the studio lessons.

Donna Banning, El Modena High School, Orange, CA; Jeanette Burkhart, Red Bank High School, Chattanooga, TN; Barbara Cox, Glencliffe Comprehensive High School, Nashville, TN; Anne Dowhie, Central High School, Evansville, IN; Melissa Farrel, Klein Forest High School, Houston, TX; Ed Howland, Shasta High School, Redding, CA: Annette Loy, Jefferson County High School, Dandridge, TN; Quita McClintoc, Hewlitt-Trussville High School, Trussville, AL; Susan McEwen, Klein Forest High School, Houston, TX; Karen Nichols, Reseda High School, Reseda, CA; Roberta Sajda, Klein Forest High School, Houston, TX; Faye Scannell, Bellevue Public Schools, Bellevue, WA; David Sebring, Dobson High School, Mesa, AZ

What’s on the Art in FocusWeb Site?

• The Art Online Web site connects you to the arts community and powerful tools that enhance the content in Art in Focus. At art.glencoe.com you will find a gateway to resources for every unit and chapter in your book.
• Take a tour when you begin your art class to discover all the ways you can use the site. Start with Find Your Book Here to locate links, study tools, and activities.
• Use the Web Links, Art History Time Line, and Web Museum tours to bring to life art collections from museums around the world.

How Can I Use These Resources?

• When you need to find out more about an artist, technique, or art style, investigate the links at art.glencoe.com.
• View images of thousands of artworks in online galleries and collections to enhance your research, reports, and presentations. When using resources on the Internet, remember to cite sources and recognize copyright regulations.
• Explore Artist Profiles to find more on the artists you will be reading about. Find out about exciting career possibilities in the arts in the Career Corner.

Explore Student Art Gallery and Studio Activities

Glencoe’s Student Art Gallery showcases exemplary artwork by students who have completed studio activities from Glencoe’s textbooks. Here you can view examples of works in several media:

• Painting
• Mixed Media
• Drawing
• Digital Art

Look for additional Studio Projects online. As you complete these projects you will develop problem-solving skills by working in a variety of media and art styles.

Try Study Tools and Art Quests

• As you review lesson content, use the online study tools, concentration games, and eFlashcards.
• Challenge yourself with Art Quests—online tools that provide pathfinders to guide you through the vast world of art online.

How Do I Use Art in Focus?

Artists and educators have identified certain areas of focus to help you study art. There are six standards by which you can explore the world of art. Art in Focus is written to guide you in exploring and creating art to understand its influences and benefits to you and the world around you. This book will help you to:

1. Understand and apply media, techniques, and processes of art.
2. Use knowledge of structures and functions in art.
3. Choose and evaluate a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas used by artists.
4. Understand the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
5. Reflect upon and assess the characteristics and merits of your work and the work of others.
6.  Make connections between visual arts and other disciplines.

Art in Focus takes you across time and space to discover the origins of art, explore artworks and the artists who create those works, and to examine ways that art influences society and cultures. The first part of your book will provide an introduction to the methods you can use to sharpen your skills as art critic and art historian. Then, throughout the rest of the text you will be able to put these skills to work.

Do you want to learn more about the topic? You can read through the book above.