An ABC of What Art Can Be

by Meher McArthur, Pearl Watson (Illustrator)

Overview

This delightful book is a colorful reminder of the many things that visual art can be, become, and do. Whether it's weaving or making pottery or working on your computer or turning junk into something unexpected and wonderful, An ABC of What Art Can Be is an invitation to look around and think creatively-outside the boring box. After all,
A is for artist, creator of art,
Making all sorts of things with the hands and the heart.
The playful rhymes and dazzling collages are reminders that each of us is unique and can produce a work of art that's equally unique. In this lively book readers will find an ABC that's unlike any other. It includes four pages of "fun stuff"—easy-to-do activities inspired by the text and illustrations. Ages four and up.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780892369997
Publisher:	Getty Publications
Publication date:	01/28/2010
Edition description:	1
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	212,758
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 5.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Meher McArthur is a Los Angeles-based freelance author and educator who has curated exhibitions of Asian art for more than ten years. Her books include Reading Buddhist Art: An Illustrated Guide to Buddhist Signs and Symbols and The Arts of Asia: Materials, Techniques, Styles. Esther Pearl Watson's paintings have been widely exhibited, most recently at the Santa Monica Museum of Art, the Oakland Museum of California, and the Kansas City Museum. She has also lectured extensively and created popular cartoon works, such as Unlovable.

Editorial Reviews

"Done up in rhyme with very good reason, ABC is as easy on the eyes as it is inspiring to the impressionable mind."

Sun Post Weekly (Miami)

 "A tribute to artists and their media...a fun, gifty book for aspiring artists."—Publishers Weekly

 “Done up in rhyme with very good reason, ABC is as easy on the eyes as it is inspiring to the impressionable mind.”—Sun Post Weekly (Miami)

From the Publisher

Art can be as imaginative as the fertile mind that created it. Rhyming couplets go through the alphabet and encourage readers to thinks about art and how best to express it. B is for brush to "paint or write, while "E's for expression. Your personal style." I stands for inspiration, "an idea so clever" and "Q is for question" what can it be? Each page is illustrated in a different technique, from woodcuts to hieroglyphs to chalk and origami, and while the drawings are flat, there is a sense of texture in the weaving and yarn pictures. The creative suggestions for children to try, make, do, and think about may require adult help. It is not certain that this will inspire a child but it will introduce techniques and style that might get the creative juices flowing. Art teachers may want this for their classroom for children to pick up and browse through. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey

Children's Literature - Beverley Fahey

Gr 2–5—This lighthearted artist's alphabet finds inspiration from many forms. For example, "D" appears as chalk on a blackboard paired with the words, "Make DRAWINGS/with pencils or crayons/or chalk—/on paper on cardboard…/or on the sidewalk." Each page is unique in the color and style choices enriching the text and is unified by the collage style used throughout. Tools and terms vary from "hieroglyphs" to "kiln" to "X-hibition," reflecting the world of art rather than one specific area. A few pages of ideas are included to encourage kids to observe and create, such as a suggestion to visit the Getty's Web site. Watson's fun-loving illustrations are a good match for McArthur's rhyming text. An enjoyable alphabet for young artists.—Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, CO

School Library Journal

This short, superwide ABC book is a tribute to artists and their media, with a plainspoken rhyme for each letter: “C's for computer./ If there's one in your house,/ it can help you make art—/ with the click of a mouse!” Watson's collages integrate the letters into the scenes, while echoing the free-spirited sentiments. An orange, scrap paper “J” stands for “Junk/ which we think of as trash./ It's used to make art/ without costing much cash.” A closing section includes suggestions for making art projects like a popsicle stick picture frame and creating paintbrushes from leaves or grass. A fun, gifty book for aspiring artists. Ages 4-up. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly