| Nintendo's DS handheld has been the home for | | | | of water movement. Several areas - for instance |
| more than 1.000 titles, since its inception back in | | | | light and shadow - are covered in detail, with |
| 2004. While the majority of available games will do | | | | examples drawn from the works of famous |
| little more than improve your hand-eye | | | | painters like Jan van Huysum or John Constable. |
| coordination, an exclusive few - e.g. Dr. | | | | Short cut to Louvre? |
| Kawashima's Brain Training - has tried to apply the | | | | The DS' touch screen works surprisingly well as a |
| DS to our betterment and not just idling time | | | | painter's canvas, and a handy zoom function gives |
| away. | | | | you that extra bit of precision when working on |
| With the launch of the DSi, Nintendo started to | | | | tricky sections. Drawing tools are kept to a |
| provide games through digital downloads, amongst | | | | minimum, but what made the cut are taught in |
| them the painting school program 'Art Academy'. | | | | depth. |
| Developer Headstrong Games creative offering is | | | | Working you way through the course will take |
| now available as a full blown cartridge, bundling the | | | | you a while, but when you've completed all ten |
| two 'semesters' that previous were released on | | | | main chapters, there's precious little to keep you |
| the DSiWare service as separate titles. | | | | occupied. Acquired skills can be applied in the free |
| Tutor me up | | | | paint area, where a number of included reference |
| Art Academy is subtitled 'Learn painting and | | | | pictures can be used as inspiration - lucky DSi |
| drawing techniques with step-by-step training', | | | | owners can use the handheld's camera to extend |
| which precisely captures what the game is all | | | | their library. |
| about. The main feature is a portable art course, | | | | Menus and icons are simple and close to self |
| that'll take you through basic knowledge that | | | | explanatory; after initial guidance younger family |
| budding artists should find useful. Under the gentle | | | | members should be able to express them selves |
| guidance of master painter 'Vince' you'll be treated | | | | at least with confidence, if not style. A soothing |
| to 'classes' ranging from basic pencil techniques to | | | | ambient soundtrack underpins your brushstrokes, |
| advanced methods and ideas such as | | | | and a few sound effects - e.g. scraping noises |
| multi-layering and the colour wheel. | | | | from pencils - add depth to the experience. |
| While the title never will be enough to create the | | | | Artistic aspirations warranted |
| next Bacon or Monet, the game delivers a | | | | Art Academy enters the precious short list of |
| thoughtful and considerate curriculum. Lessons are | | | | edutainment titles on Nintendo's handheld with all |
| presented with clarity and easy understandable | | | | flags flying. Parents seeking to add a bit of variety |
| guidelines, and you'll be taught skills like shadowing, | | | | to their kids' DS library, teaching them a ting or |
| colour mixing, under drawing, wet versus dry | | | | two in the process, should consider Art Academy |
| paint and grids. | | | | as a serious contender for their next purchase. |
| Studies range from still life pictures of citrus fruits | | | | Verdict: Get it! (Verdict list: 'Get it! |
| to mini lessons on how to create the impression | | | | |