CCBC-Net Archives
[CCBC-Net] Art and Artists in Literature for Children and Teens
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Elizabeth Bluemle <ehbluemle>
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 12:16:15 -0400
The first two books that occurred to me both happen to be about people who are driven to make art, but are forbidden to do so.
#1 -- the Newbery winner (which I had somehow missed) I, JUAN DE PAREJA, by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino.
When I was a new school librarian in Manhattan several years ago, one of my seventh graders ran up to me, eyes shining. "You HAVE to read this book!" And she hugged it, then gave it to me like a gift.
What I loved about this book was that it highlighted a man who was a slave in 17th-century Spain, who assisted Velasquez and yet was a master artist himself. Forbidden by law to make art, Juan -- a wonderful character, intelligent and talented -- chafes against the restrictions. The book is beautifully written and gives a taste of the time and place, and those delicious chalky pigment powders.
#2 -- THE VANISHING POINT, by Louise Hawes This is another book that makes the most of the sensuous aspects of art -- the saturated colors, the smells and sounds and sights of an art studio (not to mention gardens and food) in 16th-c. Bologna. In this story, a young woman, Vini, shares her famous artist's father's artistic gifts, but because she is a girl, she is overlooked. She sets up a Cyrano de Bergerac-like scheme with a handsome but not very talented apprentice in her father's studio to present her work as his. Part rich historical fiction, part operatic love story, this was a fun and pleasureful read.
There was a third in this vein, but I had a big time lapse between the beginning of this email and now, and I am blanking on what it was. Hmm.
I also loved CELINE by Brock Cole, one of the first books about a teenage artist that felt true to me, that had art at its center rather than as a convenient hobby. And FRIDA, by Jonah Winter and Ana Juan, was mesmerizing.
For me, the ultimate books about making art for children's books are:
Molly Bang's PICTURE THIS: HOW PICTURES WORK (already recommended);
Scott McCloud's UNDERSTANDING COMICS (which applies not only to the making of comics, but to the way we interpret visual work; just brilliant);
Uri Shulevitz's WRITING WITH PICTURES: HOW TO WRITE AND ILLUSTRATE CHILDREN'S BOOKS (again, the scope of this book goes far beyond its title; it is a kind of bible for visual storytellers).
Ahh, art. What a terrific topic!
Cheers, Elizabeth B.
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 12:16:15 -0400
The first two books that occurred to me both happen to be about people who are driven to make art, but are forbidden to do so.
#1 -- the Newbery winner (which I had somehow missed) I, JUAN DE PAREJA, by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino.
When I was a new school librarian in Manhattan several years ago, one of my seventh graders ran up to me, eyes shining. "You HAVE to read this book!" And she hugged it, then gave it to me like a gift.
What I loved about this book was that it highlighted a man who was a slave in 17th-century Spain, who assisted Velasquez and yet was a master artist himself. Forbidden by law to make art, Juan -- a wonderful character, intelligent and talented -- chafes against the restrictions. The book is beautifully written and gives a taste of the time and place, and those delicious chalky pigment powders.
#2 -- THE VANISHING POINT, by Louise Hawes This is another book that makes the most of the sensuous aspects of art -- the saturated colors, the smells and sounds and sights of an art studio (not to mention gardens and food) in 16th-c. Bologna. In this story, a young woman, Vini, shares her famous artist's father's artistic gifts, but because she is a girl, she is overlooked. She sets up a Cyrano de Bergerac-like scheme with a handsome but not very talented apprentice in her father's studio to present her work as his. Part rich historical fiction, part operatic love story, this was a fun and pleasureful read.
There was a third in this vein, but I had a big time lapse between the beginning of this email and now, and I am blanking on what it was. Hmm.
I also loved CELINE by Brock Cole, one of the first books about a teenage artist that felt true to me, that had art at its center rather than as a convenient hobby. And FRIDA, by Jonah Winter and Ana Juan, was mesmerizing.
For me, the ultimate books about making art for children's books are:
Molly Bang's PICTURE THIS: HOW PICTURES WORK (already recommended);
Scott McCloud's UNDERSTANDING COMICS (which applies not only to the making of comics, but to the way we interpret visual work; just brilliant);
Uri Shulevitz's WRITING WITH PICTURES: HOW TO WRITE AND ILLUSTRATE CHILDREN'S BOOKS (again, the scope of this book goes far beyond its title; it is a kind of bible for visual storytellers).
Ahh, art. What a terrific topic!
Cheers, Elizabeth B.
-- Elizabeth Bluemle Flying Pig Bookstore www.flyingpigbooks.com Author, My Father the Dog (Candlewick Press) www.elizabethbluemle.comReceived on Tue 06 Jun 2006 11:16:15 AM CDT
