American artist Georgia O’Keeffe was an
observer of the landscape around her all her life – from her growing-up days in
Wisconsin, through her art school years and time in Chicago and New York City,
to her beloved home in New Mexico. By age twelve she had declared she was going
to be an artist – make a life with her art – a bold statement for a woman in
the early 1900s. As author Rachel Rodríguez writes in Through Georgia’s Eyes,
“Georgia expresses feelings in her own way. Words work. But for her, the color
blue says it better.” Color, shape, subtle forms, evocative images…giant
flowers and concrete city canyons, red hills and adobe walls. This picture book
biography of a daring, creative person who knew what she wanted to do and
determinedly made it happen is told in simple, lyrical prose that draws readers
squarely into O’Keeffe’s vision of “the wideness and wonder of the world.”
Illustrator Julie Paschkis’s cut-paper collages convey the grandeur and the
intimacy of O’Keeffe’s unique style, perfectly complementing the story. An
endnote provides readers with additional details of this exceptional artist’s
life. Ages 5-8.
Another wonderful picture book biography
of Georgia O’Keeffe is author and artist Jeanette Winter’s My Name is
Georgia. Young readers might read both and compare them, an artistic
exercise in itself, particularly when viewed alongside actual reproductions of
the artist’s work.
