RADIANT CHILD by Javaka Steptoe
Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat became well-known for his
collage-style paintings during the 1980s. But, before he found fame and glory,
he spent his time creating art. His mother is a big influence on, and supporter
of, his love for art. She brings him art books to read and look at, gets down
on the floor and draws with him, takes him to art exhibits, and shows him that
art is all around him.
Jean-Michel decides to pursue his dream of being an artist.
He leaves home when he is a teenager and goes to New York
City
Author Javaka Steptoe includes some additional information at
the back of the book about Jean-Michel.
THE BOOK OF MISTAKES by Corinna Luyken
This is a wonderfully creative way for an illustrator to
show how artwork can take on a life of its own. She starts with a head that has
two eyes, one bigger than the other. That was a mistake. So, she tries to
correct her mistake by making the smaller eye bigger, but she makes it too big,
so she adds a pair of glasses. The neck and arms are drawn next. When the neck
ends up looking too long, she adds a high lace collar. And, so it continues, as
we see how the artist can change a mistake into a great finished drawing.
BETWEEN THE LINES: How Ernie Barnes Went From the Football
Field to Art Gallery
Ernie Barnes loved art from his childhood all the way
through until his death. His mother nurtured his love for drawing and artwork,
and his father nurtured his love for music. He didn't try out for his high
school football team, but the football coach noticed his physique, and recruited
him to the team, where he became a star player. From there, he went on to play
in the American football League.
But Ernie's real love was art. When he wasn't actually on
the field playing, he would sit on the sidelines and sketch what was happening
on the field. He didn't really want to play football, but as a young black man
in the segregated South, he didn't think he could make a living with his
artwork.
After the last game of the 1964 season, Ernie quick the
game. He didn't have any money, but he had an idea. Over the years he had
produced dozens of drawings and paintings, many of them football-related. He
decided to pitch his idea at a meeting for the owners of the AFL .
He told them he wanted to "become the Official Artist for the American
Football League." And, he did. His paintings now hang in museums in such
places as Philadelphia Los
Angeles , New York Washington ,
DC
Sam starts drawing a picture of a velociraptor on the wall.
Eva wants to draw, too, but Sam doesn't want her to join him. The two
"battle" it out with markers, each drawing something to counteract
what the other drew. Eva draws a marmot to balance out Sam's velociraptor. Sam
doesn't like the marmot, so he has his velociraptor try to eat the marmot. Eva
draws a big friend to protect the marmot. And, so it continues until Eva gets
frustrated and doesn't want to draw anymore. Sam discovers it might not be so
much fun to draw by himself.
THE AMAZING COLLECTION OF JOEY CORNELL by Candace Fleming
Joseph Cornell became known for his ability to turn ordinary
objects into wonderful creations. Author Candace Fleming tells Cornell's story
by showing the reader how he started collecting things when he was a young boy.
His motto was, "If I like it, I keep it."
He liked many, many different things, and they kept piling
up. When they would no longer fit into his room, he was given space in the barn
for his collections. After the collection grew and grew and grew, he started
putting some of the things together to create new things. After a while, he had
a whole new collection. He then opened the barn to show his family what he had
done. That led to his career as an artist.
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