Heiligman, Deborah. Vincent & Theo.

Heiligman, Deborah.  Vincent & Theo.      Macmillan/Henry Holt    2017  454p  $19.99  Hardback  ISBN 978-0-8050-9339-1      hs/adult    Biography  VG-BN 

This is a comprehensive biography about two brothers who shared and supported each other through life’s highs and lows, with information based on the letters between Vincent and Theo over the course of their lives. For quite a while most of the world paid attention to Vincent van Gogh and not to Theo. We are now able to see Theo because Vincent sketched several portraits of Theo sitting, in the countryside, in a garden, and so forth. Based on this book, readers will realize that the brothers were intimately entwined. They depended upon on one another in many ways. Vincent was prone to melancholia, depression, and wide mood swings, while Theo was the stable brother, who funded Vincent’s life and career and promoted his artwork.
   

The story of Vincent’s life is multifaceted. He had mood swings that made him sad, low, and angry. During these days he used dark colors and dark shadows in his artwork, and it was full of pessimism. On other days he was full of energy, ideas, and enthusiasm, which resulted in the use of brighter colors, sunlight and passion.
    

This book provides an insight into the life of a struggling artist.  It would be a good addition to a high-school collection that needs biographies or materials on artists.

Summary: This is a comprehensive biography about Vincent and Theo van Gogh, two brothers who supported each other through life’s highs and lows, with information based on their letters.

Vincent van Gogh, Theo van Gogh                             --Linda McNeil

Venezia, Mike. Jackson Pollack.

Venezia, Mike.  Jackson Pollack. (Rev. ed)  Scholastic/Childrens Press  2017           32p      $29.00 ISBN 978-0-531-22191-4     elem/ms  Biography        VG-BNs       

What is most fascinating about this Pollock biography is author Mike Venezia’s attempt to judge the art without bias, not an easy feat with art in the abstract category.  Of course, he fails in this attempt, but readers will forgive him because he combines playful, creative cartoon-like images with typical biographical data, hoping to interest young readers in art.  Venezia successfully shows the beauty of Pollock’s paintings while at the same time he points out the criticism of his abstracts. He covers Jackson’s early life, showing how he painted using any old things that were around the house.  The reader learns about Jackson’s talented brothers, the family’s moves around the western part of the U. S., and Native American influences in his paintings.  In the next stage of Pollock’s life, post high school, Venezia discusses Benton’s influence over him.  In this period, Pollock was dissatisfied with his creations, and his dark side appeared.  His teachers were undeterred by this dark side, however, and continued to try to help him.  Highly influenced by Orozco and Picasso, Pollock put together a style that made people begin to notice.  Finally, his signature style consumed him, consisting of works characterized by a lack of symbols and shapes, painted with drips and splatters all over huge canvases, and although these paintings were not immediately sold, they withstood the test of time.  Venezia does offer the reader the possibility that anyone could throw paint around and paint a Pollock design.  Bias comes through, however, when Venezia closes the book with his opinion that Pollock’s work is very exciting, with the feelings evoked by its “color, movement and energy.” 

The strength of this series, as mentioned above, lies in its unique combination of the serious and the playful, the authentic and the created, and the detailed and the simple.  If the writer’s purpose is to inspire children to read, Venezia will achieve this goal easily.          

Summary: This book covers Pollock’s interesting life growing up out west, moving from ranch to ranch with his family, followed by a move to New York to take art classes and ending with his unusual development as an artist.    

Jackson Pollock-Biography, Jackson Pollock-Art                                         —Martha Squaresky

Tan, Shaun. The Bird King: An Artist’s Notebook.

Tan, Shaun.  The Bird King: An Artist’s Notebook.     Scholastic/Arthur Levine  2013      unp   $19.99  ISBN 978-0-545-46513-7     hs    VG-BN

Have you ever considered the creative process of a book illustrator?  Shaun Tan is an award-winning illustrator and author of award-winning children’s books. (In 2011 he won his first Oscar for Best Short Animated Film.)  The Bird  King: An Artist’s Notebook offers a window into Tan’s unique sensibility and insight into how he creates his critically acclaimed books.

Collected sketches are gathered from several of his books, including Tales from Outer Suburbia, The Arrival, and Lost and Found.  There are also many new sketches, including drawings from life.  The drawings, doodles, and sketches are done in a variety of media: pencil, ink, charcoal, chalk, and gouache. The brief text is reminiscent of bonus commentary to accompany a favorite movie.  Young artists are sure to be inspired by this fascinating and intimate glimpse into the mind of a successful artist.

Shaun Tan, Book Illustration                                --Hilary Welliver

Uschan, Michael. Comic Art.

Uschan, Michael.  Comic Art.  Cengage (Gale/Blackbirch/Greenhaven)  2013  112p  $34.80  978-1-4205-0862-8  series: Eye on Art.  ms/hs VG-BN

In this overview, the author has written a very information book on the importance and influence of comic art in the last several decades. The first chapter provides a foundation of the art form and how it started. Succeeding chapters cover the topics of single-panel cartoons, comic strips, comic books, and the evolution of comic art.

The inclusion of photographs, chapter notes, several lists, including where to obtain more information, picture credits, and a glossary/index make this a useful research tool.  The inclusion of web sites for youngsters is also important in school classrooms today.

The flow and balance of both the text and full-color visuals are integrated to present a very stimulating book for both young and reluctant readers. 

This book is one in the Eye on Art series by Cengage.  The series consists of four books at this time.  The general theme of the series is different types of art.    

Cartoons, Art, Comic art                                    --Linda McNeil

Brothers, Meagan. Supergirl Mixtapes.

Brothers, Meagan.   Supergirl Mixtapes.   Macmillan/ Henry Holt   248p  $17.99      978-0-8050-8081-0       hs          VG      Conflict   

Maria moves to New York City to live with her estranged mother. Punk rock and other music of the 1980s and 1990s are featured prominently is this book about coming of age and facing the reality of parents that really don’t parent well. Grades 9-12.      Maria, a main character from Debbie Harry Sings in French, is once again featured, but this book lacks the punch of the first novel. Maria has only seen her mother twice in the last fourteen years, because mom abandoned Maria to move to New York City and become an artist when Maria was two years old.  Since Maria is not getting along with her father particularly well, he reluctantly agrees that Maria can travel from South Carolina to NYC to live with her mother.  Once in New York, Maria finds that her mother lives with a much younger boyfriend, is not dependable, and appears to be at the same emotional age as Maria.  The prep school Maria transfers to subtly bullies her, leading Maria to quit school.  A elderly friend of Maria’s family takes her under her wing and gives her a unique form of home schooling.  Maria comes to the realization that all adults have quirks and are less than perfect in this coming-of-age novel.  Stronger character development of the supporting characters would have given the book more punch.  The reader understands surface motivation, but a true sense of characters caring for each other or for Maria is absent.  However, it is perfect for readers who want to revisit the 1990s art scene in NYC.                   --Lois McNicol

Mastering Comics.

Abel, Jessica, and Matt Madden.  Mastering Comics.    Macmillan/ First Second 318p  $39.99      978-1-59643-617-6   secondary         VG-BN

This is a follow-up book to Drawing Words & Writing Pictures.  It will provide a wealth of essential information for authors, artists, teachers, and cartoonists.  It will be appreciated by both beginners and experts, as well as the inquisitive browser; there is something for everyone.          The authors have created a book structured like a fifteen-week college course, yet it has all the aspects of a professional handbook.  Comic lovers will relate to it as they wonder about the choices of color and layout composition in the comics they read.

The book is divided into four basic sections: "Building" (idea generation), "Sharpening Focus" (perspective, composition, style),
"Black/White and Color on Paper and Screen" (using tone, color, & ink), and "Self Publishing & Getting Yourself Published".

It has appendices, a bibliography, a glossary, and a dual index for the first volume (color coded).  It also has such special features as homework ideas, activities, sidebars, tip boxes, projects for extra credit, and further reading on various subjects.  Another plus is the companion web site: www.DW-WP.com.

I must admit I tracked down a copy of the first book before I started reading this one.  As a watercolor artist and bookbinder, I also found many tips and tricks I could use in my field.  I particularly liked the chapter on the horror of the blank page. (What artist hasn’t been panicked at some point.)  I also liked the way the perspective chapter was presented along with the printing and binding.  But I know that there are many other binding techniques besides the Japanese binding for self publishers to use.  There is now the world of pop-ups, and I would have liked to see that included.  Maybe in book three?

The authors have written a wonderful book that presents the reader with techniques, story generation ideas, tools, professional tips and insights.

This is a great book for anyone interested in the field of visual storytelling.  It can be related to fields beyond the world of comics.

                                                            --Linda McNeil

Hart, Christopher. Extreme Art Ultimate Books of Trace and draw Manga, revised.

Hart, Christopher. Extreme Art Ultimate Books of Trace and draw Manga, revised. Watson-Guptill (see Random) 2009 192 21.95 978-0-8230-9806-4 ms/hs

Previously published as three separate titles, this combination provides step-by-step instructions for drawing Manga type characters. This easy to follow book presents three basic types of characters: teens, chibis, and monsters. Fans of Manga art will love this title.
This easy to follow book presents three basic types of characters: teens, chibis (cute ones) and monsters (which can be friend or foe). The author, who has many other how-to-draw books, starts out with certain characteristics of the characters, like eyes, hair, body type and hands. Then he proceeds to full characters using a two page spread with one page divided into four steps and then a full page representation. The drawings are in black and white, with a few lines outlined in orange. Not only are there instructions on drawing the characters free hand, but the large, full page representations will enable the artistically challenged to trace the character. There are 80 characters in all. Fans of Manga art, cartoons and books will love this title.
This title is an excellent choice for libraries from elementary school up through high school. Librarians be warned: you will not be able to keep this book on the shelves; buy multiple copies! TW.

What is fine art?

Many art teachers look for a creative way to define fine art. This youTube video features CreatureComforts. It does a unique presentation of the definition of art.