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Molly Bang

Picture This: How Pictures WorkRevised and Expanded 25th Anniversary Edition Paperback – Illustrated, August 16, 2016

by Molly Bang (Illustrator)

(1,343)

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Molly Bang's brilliant, insightful, and accessible treatise, revised and expanded for its 25th anniversary, that helps provide clarity to the timeless question "what is art?"

"A revised and expanded 25th-anniversary edition of Bang's go-to text about visual perception, or 'how pictures work,' delivers sublime design and picture-book–art commentary for readers and artists alike."—Kirkus Reviews

First published in 1991, Picture This has changed the way artists, illustrators, reviewers, critics, and readers look at and understand art.

In this revised and expanded edition, Bang's powerful ideas remain unparalleled in their simplicity and genius. Her thought-provoking text, brilliantly illustrated by step-by-step cut-paper illustrations of scenes from Little Red Riding Hood, includes thoughts about how the visual composition of images works to engage the emotions, and how the elements of an artwork can give it the power to tell a story.

Bang asks the right questions to get your wheels turning—Why are diagonals dramatic? Why are curves calming? Why does red feel hot and blue feel cold?—while the illustrations and thoughtful designs bring the words to life.

EXPLORE 12 PRINCIPLES OF VISUAL PERCEPTION: By experimenting with basic art elements (color, placement, size, shape, and space), Bang's unique and insightful work encourages you to answer one question: "How does the structure of a picture—or any visual art form—affect our emotional response?"

FOR ART STUDENTS & CREATIVES OF ALL AGES: Written in an accessible and engaging style, Picture This has opened a window of understanding for generations of artists. Her simple, powerful principles apply to painting, photography, graphic design, animation, and illustration of all kinds.

AN ART BOOK LIKE NO OTHER: Beyond a how-to guide or art reference book, Picture This has been called a "must-have book for anyone wanting to learn or teach about art elements and principles" (Kirkus Reviews). It makes an imaginative and inspiring gift for any artist or loved one who is interested in design.

Perfect for:

Artists, educators, and readers curious about the psychology of perception, emotion, and art
Gift giving for aspiring and experienced artists of all ages for birthday, holiday, art school acceptance, or graduation
Fans of Molly Bang and her award-winning work, including her Caldecott Honor children's books When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry; Ten, Nine, Eight; and The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher
Adding to a collection of art theory, design, or art history books

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Reading age

12 years and up
Print length

152 pages
Language

English
Grade level

7 and up
Dimensions

10.25 x 0.5 x 9.75 inches
Publisher

Chronicle Books
Publication date

August 16, 2016
ISBN-10

9781452151991
ISBN-13

978-1452151991

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Picture This is the Strunk and White of visual literacy. A must for anyone interested in reading and understanding images.” -Brian Selznick, author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret

“An accessible and enjoyable introduction to understanding visual narrative.”-School Library Connection

About the Author

Molly Bang has authored and illustrated more than three dozen books and has won three Caldecott Honors, a Kate Greenaway Honor, and a Charlotte Zolotow Award, among other accolades, in her long career as a writer and artist.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1452151997
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chronicle Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 16, 2016
Edition ‏ : ‎ Anniversary,Expanded
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 152 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781452151991
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1452151991
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.34 pounds
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 years and up
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.25 x 0.5 x 9.75 inches
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 and up
Best Sellers Rank: #38,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #24 in Illustration and Graphic Design
- #36 in Arts & Photography Criticism
- #38 in Fashion History
Customer Reviews:
(1,343)

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Molly Bang

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Molly Bang is an award winning children's book illustrator and author. Her

works include 3 Caldecott Honor Books: Ten, Nine, Eight, The Grey Lady and the

Strawberry Snatcher, and When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry, which

also won a Jane Addams Honor Award and the Arbuthnot Award. The Paper Crane

won the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award in 1987; Goose won the School of Library

Journal Best Book of 1996 and another work, Common Ground: The Water, Earth,

and Air We Share, won the prestigious Giverny Book Award in 1998 for the best

children's science picture book. Her latest book, My Light, is an ALA Notable

book.

Her only work for adults is Picture This, which shows how an understanding of

the most basic principles enable a person to build powerful pictures. It is

used by art and graphic departments in colleges around the country.

Bang received her bachelor degree from Wellesley in French, and Masters in

Far Eastern Studies at the University of Arizona and at Harvard. She has also

worked as a reporter; as an educator for public health projects in Bangladesh

and in Mali, West Africa, incorporating information on maternal and child

health into stories; and as a teacher in colleges.

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Customer reviews

1,343 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a comprehensive guide that works through complex concepts with simple explanations, making it a valuable resource for practicing artists. They appreciate how it illustrates visual concepts with clarity, and one customer notes how it breaks down pictures into their most basic elements. The writing style receives positive feedback for being exceptionally well written, and customers find it entertaining to read. The book's length receives mixed reactions, with several customers noting it is pretty short.

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79 customers mention content, 74 positive, 5 negative

Customers praise the book's content, describing it as a comprehensive guide that is to the point and serves as an excellent tool for learning.

...Thanks to Molly for such a great book. I really reccomend this book.Read more

...Simple, yet powerful, and well worth many re-reads!Read more

Brilliant book that strips composition down to its bare essentials....Read more

A great and approachable introduction to/explanation of how different aspects of art make it work....Read more

29 customers mention design, 27 positive, 2 negative

Customers praise the book's visual guide to composition, which walks readers through design principles, with one customer noting its excellent simplification of concepts.

This is the best book on composition I have ever read....Read more

This is a wonderful design book. 10 stars for the simple explanations, the accompanying illustrations really help with understanding the concepts....Read more

Really helps you see the picture as a system of elements picked, planned, and arranged to serve your goal. Pretty short too.Read more

Very well structured way of getting through the idea of meaning in the creation of visual works of art. Good resource for someone teaching teenagers.Read more

28 customers mention simplicity, 25 positive, 3 negative

Customers appreciate the simplicity of the book's explanations, with one customer noting how it makes art techniques easy to understand.

A simple graphic book that uses the story of Little Red Riding hood to help artists explore the impact of colour, size and shape in graphic design....Read more

...taken a design class but i thought this was very interesting and easy to understandRead more

This is a wonderful design book. 10 stars for the simple explanations, the accompanying illustrations really help with understanding the concepts....Read more

...It has easy to understand information and a few exercises to cement that information into your brain. I highly recommend this book.Read more

23 customers mention interestingness, 20 positive, 3 negative

Customers find the book incredibly interesting and very enjoyable to read, with one customer noting it's particularly valuable for children's book writers.

...Very interesting for those of us who dabble in design.Read more

Interesting book. As a photographer it gave me ideas to consider when planning photo shoots.Read more

A really interesting book.Read more

Decent read. Elementary but important. I recommend this book to any one looking to learn about basic shapes and placements.Read more

18 customers mention informative, 18 positive, 0 negative

Customers find the book informative, particularly noting it as a valuable resource for practicing artists. One customer mentions it's great for creators and consumers of images, while another highlights its usefulness for marketing and advertising materials.

...kindle edition, not the book itself, which is an excellent and useful resource....Read more

...Also, the author's suggestions regarding study tools and techniques are very helpfulRead more

...More practical than theoretical. Good deal as a Kindle book.Read more

...These principles will be useful for any artist. I’m planning on printing them as a list and posting them next to my easel.Read more

16 customers mention visual illustrations, 16 positive, 0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual illustrations, which clearly explain visual concepts. One customer notes how it breaks down pictures into their most basic elements, while another mentions its helpful approach to understanding visual arts.

...Easy to read and understand ! Great graphic explanations .Read more

...what we see in art and illustrations is explained with simple graphics and concepts anyone can grasp. Well done!Read more

...gift and provides excellent ideas for discussion with others about visual meaning , design elements and our Individual response....Read more

...pictures, this book by the marvelous Molly Bang will help you look at shapes and colors and placement in a clear and powerful way....Read more

13 customers mention writing style, 13 positive, 0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as simply and exceptionally well written, with one customer noting how it improved their compositions and shape language.

...shape and make me think more clearly in term of composition,very well written book and great in metaphor and making thing simple yet awesome book...Read more

...It's simply written and reader-friendly. Anyone studying any kind of art can benefit from Molly Bang's extensive knowledge and experience.Read more

...I knew all this but didn't really understand. Well presented and written. I used Kindle, kinda wish I'd had the real book in hand. Ah well...Read more

...It presents design concepts clearly and succinctly....Read more

11 customers mention length, 7 positive, 4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the length of the book, with some finding it pretty short.

Profoundly simple principles in a short and concise dialogue. I absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants to make their illustrations more powerful.Read more

...It brings nothing new in its field, it's very short. The book doesn't go into great depth in any discipline it touches....Read more

Brief but insightful. I will likely quote it in my upcoming book, Worshipology.Read more

A reasonably short, exceptionally well written treatise on pictorial composition, and color theory that will engage anyone interested in visual art,...Read more

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Poppy Turner
Excellent Simplification of Composition!
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Breaks down a lot of the principles of effective imagery in a fantastic way! Read it for an art class and it really improved my compositions and shape language

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Garik Loran
clear articulation and demonstration of principles
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2026
Verified Purchase
I am a scientist and educator interested in using children’s books to help children learn science. This book does a great job of helping me think through the effectiveness of artwork in the books I review.

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Lisa Pecunia
Gem of a book but I think I got a used copy
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2022
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is a wonderful design book. 10 stars for the simple explanations, the accompanying illustrations really help with understanding the concepts. This is the kind of book I'll buy copies of as gifts, but not lend out my own copy. I'm going through art school and can definitely see myself reading this book over and over again to continually remind myself of these core principles.
I took off 1 star because the copy I got was dirty (crusty stuff on the back cover and dusty smears on some of the pages), there's a small tear in the front cover, and the binding was poorly glued. Not sure if it was a return or if it was just poorly handled in storage. Either way I was disappointed in the overall condition of this otherwise beautiful book. I'm considering returning it for a fresh copy and if so will update this review.

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6 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer
Exceptional analysis in simple terms
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
If you like making things, especially making pictures, this book by the marvelous Molly Bang will help you look at shapes and colors and placement in a clear and powerful way. It encourages you to experiment too, and all you need is construction paper and scissors. An excellent book for artists and storytellers, and for people trying to cope with strong emotion.

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4 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer
The Hardcover version is wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
This delightful thoughtful book is just as fun for an artist as it is for non artists. It makes a wonderful gift and provides excellent ideas for discussion with others about visual meaning , design elements and our
Individual response. I have already gifted it a friend outside the visual arts field and plan to gift it
To other book loving friends in the future. It is inviting and one wants to open it a take a look right away.
I highly recommend this book for a wide range of individuals and ages. When Covid season passes
I hope to enjoy this book in person with my grandchildren and use the discussions to explore
The many Caldecott award books we collectively own.

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11 people found this helpful

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Lenny Gonzalez
Quick read about meaning in visual arts. Very good approach and explanation.
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2019
Verified Purchase
Very well structured way of getting through the idea of meaning in the creation of visual works of art. Good resource for someone teaching teenagers.

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Cheryl Gingerich
The Bible of reading art!
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2023
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This book explains, clearly and precisely, how the human brain is wired to respond to different colors and shapes in art, with simple visual aids. It was required for my M.A. in Children's Literature, and I learned more from this book about how to read a piece of art or illustration than I would have believed existed. It's simply written and reader-friendly. Anyone studying any kind of art can benefit from Molly Bang's extensive knowledge and experience.

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7 people found this helpful

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Light47
Molly Bang Picture This
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is the Queen of books on composition that most artist don't seem to know about. It is simple and to the point. A great read.

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4 people found this helpful

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Styler1326
It arrived in terrible condition.
Reviewed in Poland on March 7, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The book after taking it out of the package is dirty and torn, it looks like someone used it for a looooong time before me... a disaster

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Styler1326

It arrived in terrible condition.

Reviewed in Poland on March 7, 2025
The book after taking it out of the package is dirty and torn, it looks like someone used it for a looooong time before me... a disaster

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Noe
Perfecto
Reviewed in Spain on September 22, 2022
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
El libro vino en perfectas condiciones.

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Jess
Fantastic
Reviewed in Australia on January 23, 2025
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GREAT book especially for teaching arts concepts to teens

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Martha Jane Alexander
Great!
Reviewed in Canada on December 23, 2022
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is the best book on picture-making and composition that I have ever read. I can't believe nobody told me about this book when I was in art school. Very comprehensive and straightforward. This is a great how-to book whether you are drawing/painting or taking photographs.

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Kristian
Great book to learn composition
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 25, 2025
Verified Purchase
I bought it a while ago and I love cooking at this book once in a while, also great when teaching private art lessons to students as it talks about composition in simplistic way that is easy to understand.

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Picture This: How Pictures WorkRevised and Expanded 25th Anniversary Edition Paperback – Illustrated, August 16, 2016

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1.0 out of 5 stars It arrived in terrible condition.

It arrived in terrible condition.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Perfecto

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to learn composition

It arrived in terrible condition.

Perfecto

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Great!

Great book to learn composition