I wondering if anybody knows of any good books I can read that would get me oriented with "Art," specifically the visual arts (paintings mainly)
I'm not trying to become an artist, I just want to know about the different styles, theories, and significant figures in the area. I want to be fluent enough to have a somewhat intelligent conversation about the subject.
My vocabulary is pretty limited when it comes to describing why I like particular pieces, e.g., "I like that because its pretty," so I would like to become a little more proficient in discussing the subject.
...also, i'm trying to engage a girl on a subject she's interested in.