Speaking of Art: Colorful Quotes by Famous Painters

The way many people express their inner feelings, how they feel about the world and how they feel about others can subtly creep into their art. Bob Raczka has captured the wisdom and wit of eighteen artists from Romare Bearden to Pablo Picasso. Each artist's select work graces a one or two-page spread and is accompanied by a quotation that expresses how each one feels about their own artistry or an aspect of art. Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better know as "Grandma Moses," will bring a smile to your face with her quip, "If I didn't start painting, I would have raised chickens." The reader is treated to Vincent van Gogh's painting "The Sower" and a glimpse at his inner feelings when he says, "The only time I feel alive is when I'm painting." In this book Raczka makes the art world come alive for young and old alike. These pages swirl with the personalities of the artists and their work. Included are Vincent van Gogh (The Sower), Paul Klee (Howling Dog), Henri Matisse (The Red Studio), Juan Gris (Landscape with Houses at Caret), Grandma Moses (A Beautiful World), Grant Wood (Dinner for Threshers), John Singer Sargent (Lady Agnew of Lochnaw), Frida Kahlo (Self-Portrait with Monkey), Edgar Degas (The Rehearsal), Jasper Johns (Three Flags), Jackson Pollock (Eyes in the Heat), Georgia O'Keefe (Evening Star, No. III), Joan Miró (The Poetess), Salvador Dalí (The Elephants), Marc Chagall (Bouquet with Flying Lovers), Romare Bearden (Family), KeithHaring (Untitled), and Pablo Picasso (Interior with a Girl Drawing). This is the thirteenth book in Bob Raczka's series, Art Adventures. Each book is marvelously edited and can easily be a stand-alone book. Each painting is presented in full color and is accompanied by its title, the date painted and where it can be located. There are many striking paintings that will attract the attention of the reader, but I think most will gravitate toward paintings such as Dalí's surrealistic elephants. This book is very well done and will be a learning experience for each person who dives into its pages. In the back of the book are thumbnail black and white photographs of each artist and interesting vignettes about their lives. Be assured that any book with Raczka's name affixed to it is a surefire winner!