Great game, easy and fun to use, my 11 year old loves it.

art academy is really good perfect for those who think they cant draw. perfect for a present to anyone. :]

The developers have made the right choice: rather than creating a software from the (ambiguous) ambitions for designers and / or professionals, have all attributed to the educational value, in order to introduce everyone in the world of painting. The heart of the Art Academy are just the ten lessons - plus some secondary - which should lead any user, even without any graphic talent, a decent level of artistic ability. The techniques presented as rising complexity - you pass by the chiaroscuro of the management of an apple on a light colored figure, until you get to play a real part - and the various steps are quite satisfactory in the sense that no lesson is purely abstract, but always leads to the creation of a drawing "real" (as opposed to shade a sphere, in fact, you work directly on an apple). The training is divided always in theory, technical demonstration and practice (in person). The theoretical part is really interesting, simple, concise and direct and effective, expressed in terms of increasingly complex concepts understandable (for example the regulation of complementary colors, shadows, and the management of the different illumination of an object based on the surface), and especially is supported by the next demonstration. Basically, before leaving the situation in your hand, Leo - the "master" Art Academy - it shows how carefully performed step just explained: it may seem unnecessary and pedantic, but to observe in many cases, at least in painting, is very more useful than "hear" the theory. In the next stage, ie the separation between the assimilation of the concept and putting into practice the same, lie the most serious shortcomings of the software: Although each lesson is divided into several sections intermediate (drawing the outline of the apple, the color of the flat same, the placement of the shadows, the lights, the final finishing) in some cases there is a feeling that the player is left to itself. It is not easy to know when the fault is attributable to the developer or when you simply have to do with a topic too complex to be learned from a product like this (assuming you can learn in general): the fact is that in many evaporated from the cases outlined in the definition of a dog full of the same, without the player - provided, of course, has no graphic talent, which does not include the software anyway - to understand or assimilate the various changes. Apart from these unfortunate incidents, however rare, and, as we said before, the lessons are well done from every point of view, and can also be useful to those who are already (sort of) expert in the field, especially as regards the choice of colors to light or shade. Drawing and painting The biggest problems arise from the Academy of Art that it is (despite what the title says) a software introduction to painting, not drawing, and despite this forces the player to prepare for the "base" of the painting. Of course this makes it more realistic and rewarding, but also more difficult: given the nature of the lessons (which are precisely focused on painting) probably would have been better to let the opportunity to work on a model previously established. Apart from this, the tools available are a synthesis between essential and superfluous well done: there are various types of pencil and brush, a grid to control the aspect ratio, but above all an excellent and intuitive to mix the colors (and the ' water). Even in this case the developers have cleverly acted within the boundaries imposed by the DS: The options included are a good compromise between simplicity and freedom. Art Academy tends to mimic the behavior of acrylics, explains in detail the basis for proposing a technique rather than patched up so many - not least because the acrylic is best to learn to paint. After school principal mode is more interesting, of course, "free drawing": here you can build images from scratch, using all the tools - in theory - should now master. As Art Academy is compatible with all versions of the DS, the perfect handheld to play with and certainly the DSi: beyond the larger screen, which leaves more freedom in tracing the brushstrokes, the room gives the opportunity to take photos and use as a template to create your own painting. The images can be shared (with DS) and save - and when done is work in progress - but, having regard to the resolution, you can not print (which, to some, could be annoying).

i have this and think its a great way for people who want to be able to draw better learn to i used it and found it easy to use its easy and fun to use i found it hard to put down once i had got started on it, its totally worth the money its good to teach children with it as well i think its fun for all ages

Nintendo Art Academy is a must buy for anyone with artistic aspirations if you like me have no idea how to transfer them on to canvas, this super program will teach you how, in a series of step by step simple to follow lessons each one building upon the last. I have owned Art Academy for a little over 48 hrs and have completed 6 of the lessons, included in these are a simple pencil drawing of an apple a basic sunset using paint for the first time, an apple tree as seen on the Art Academy TV advert a still life lime, which I now look back at, amazed that I was able to paint such a life like image, the last painting lesson I attempted thus far was a large rolling wave thats full of movement I find it hard to think that I was able to create this image, I just can't stop looking at it.. I wish my so called art teaches at school could have instructed me in this simple method of painting and drawing I certainly would not have been driving a truck for a living today. Art Academy certainly gets 10/10 from me as the best Nintendo DS program ever! Must go now I've got to do lesson 7.