There is a tiny artist living inside your heart, beating against the chambers with his fists, pleading for a chance to prove himself. You just don't know it yet. Art Academy for the Nintendo DS will help you get in touch with that little artist through carefully coordinated lessons that will give you the one thing you really need to launch your new hobby: Confidence.
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Educational
ESRB Rating: E
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Educational
ESRB Rating: E
THE BASICS: School is in Session
Art Academy began life as a series of downloadable DSiWare lessons. Nintendo gathered the lessons into one game card and added some more so that aspiring artists can experience the "game" on any iteration of the Nintendo DS, and not just the Nintendo DSi.
Art Academy isn't just a digital doodlepad. It's a surprisingly thorough collection of lessons that walks you through penciling, painting, color mixing, and technique. Your lesson guide is Vince, a bearded artiste who carefully breaks down each lesson into step-by-step instructions. Vince even delves back into art history and explains how great artists from the past used certain tricks to make the act of painting less intimidating. He then implements said techniques into the lesson at hand, such as sketch grids, or finding simple shapes in a seemingly complex picture.
But Art Academy's instruction isn't rigid and mechanical. Vince also notes the importance of observing models organically--for instance, drawing a tree in the direction that it grows, versus settling for a stiff tracing.
Art Academy isn't just a digital doodlepad. It's a surprisingly thorough collection of lessons that walks you through penciling, painting, color mixing, and technique. Your lesson guide is Vince, a bearded artiste who carefully breaks down each lesson into step-by-step instructions. Vince even delves back into art history and explains how great artists from the past used certain tricks to make the act of painting less intimidating. He then implements said techniques into the lesson at hand, such as sketch grids, or finding simple shapes in a seemingly complex picture.
But Art Academy's instruction isn't rigid and mechanical. Vince also notes the importance of observing models organically--for instance, drawing a tree in the direction that it grows, versus settling for a stiff tracing.
PROS
It's Easy to Use - If the world of art instruction intimidates you, you need not fear Art Academy. The lessons are plainly worded and friendly.
It's Good for Advanced Students - Art Academy isn't exclusively for beginners. Established artists who need a bit of brushing-up (so to speak) on their shading and color theory will find plenty to do.
It's Not Too Restrictive - Vince will walk you through the lessons if you want him to, but he'll also offer plenty of separate lessons for when you want to strike out on your own. There's also a "Free Paint" mode that lets you put your skills to work on anything you like.
Your Results are Surprisingly Good - Vince begins each lesson by showing you a complex-looking sketch or painting you're supposed to aspire towards. You'll think to yourself, "Whoa, no way I'm going to manage that," but more often than not, you'll be surprised at how well your final product turns out.
It's Good for Advanced Students - Art Academy isn't exclusively for beginners. Established artists who need a bit of brushing-up (so to speak) on their shading and color theory will find plenty to do.
It's Not Too Restrictive - Vince will walk you through the lessons if you want him to, but he'll also offer plenty of separate lessons for when you want to strike out on your own. There's also a "Free Paint" mode that lets you put your skills to work on anything you like.
Your Results are Surprisingly Good - Vince begins each lesson by showing you a complex-looking sketch or painting you're supposed to aspire towards. You'll think to yourself, "Whoa, no way I'm going to manage that," but more often than not, you'll be surprised at how well your final product turns out.
CONS
The Instruction is Limited - Vince interacts with you, but only to a certain degree. He doesn't observe your drawing as you go along and offer tips for improvement, for instance. In fact, you could draw a sad clown face instead of the apple at the center of the lesson, and Vince wouldn't notice.
Drawing on the DS Screen can be Awkward - The Nintendo DS screen is a pretty limited easel, space-wise. Even the DSi XL's screen feels too confined at times.
There's No Undo - A double-edged drawback, this. If you make a bad mistake, you can rewind the lesson and try a particular step again. However, that means sitting through Vince's explanation one more time. It would be nice if there was a simpler "undo" function, though obviously, traditional art lacks such conveniences.
You Can't Print Your Work - Your finished pieces can be displayed in a digital gallery, and even "framed." But you can't print out your work, even at a low resolution.
Drawing on the DS Screen can be Awkward - The Nintendo DS screen is a pretty limited easel, space-wise. Even the DSi XL's screen feels too confined at times.
There's No Undo - A double-edged drawback, this. If you make a bad mistake, you can rewind the lesson and try a particular step again. However, that means sitting through Vince's explanation one more time. It would be nice if there was a simpler "undo" function, though obviously, traditional art lacks such conveniences.
You Can't Print Your Work - Your finished pieces can be displayed in a digital gallery, and even "framed." But you can't print out your work, even at a low resolution.
CONCLUSION: Art Away
Art Academy won't turn you into an artistic prodigy overnight, but it'll help push you on the path to competence. If you're always wanted to build up your art skills, or you know someone who wants to do the same, go ahead and enroll.
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
