Tag Archives: Frida Kahlo

Feb11

Women Artists A to Z – Melanie LaBarge. Illustrated by Caroline Corrigan

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9781760896317

Penguin Random House Australia

February 2020

ISBN 9783760896357

Imprint: Puffin

RRP $24.99

No matter if you are looking for something biographical and ‘easy’ or as an introduction to outstanding and diverse artists or to supplement your Mighty Girl collection this is a very welcome addition.

These are the women who, in each of their disciplines, have turned the art world around to bring their gender into the forefront. Some names will be known such as Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe but others like Jaune Quick-to-See Smith and Betye Saar may be new to readers. It’s wonderful to see Australian artist Mirka Mora is included in this stellar array.

Covering painting, sculpture, textiles, drawing and more each double spread features an artist with salient facts and summed up in one word such as ‘D for Dots’ (Yayoi Kusama) and ‘U for Unique’ (Alice Neel).

At the end of the book further biographical details on each artist featured along with intriguing and provocative discussion questions and art prompts make this a superb teaching resource as well as just a pleasurable excursion into the world of these amazingly talented women.

The illustrations in a naïve style are riotously colourful and redolent of each artist’s individuality further providing inspiration for readers.

It may be an ‘ABC’ book but truly it is far more than that and lends itself easily to art classes for all from very young to senior readers.

Highly recommended for inclusion in your collection and very much to be shared with your art faculty.  I’ll bet you’d like your own copy so to celebrate its release I have a give-away for you! Comment on this post and all names (Australia only) will be entered into a random draw!

Aug12

Little Frida – Anthony Browne

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1546492208673

Walker Books

April 2019

ISBN: 9781406381221
Imprint: Walker
Australian RRP: $24.99
New Zealand RRP: $27.99

The absolutely mega-talented Anthony Browne brings his own distinctive style to the story of another fabulous artist, Frida Kahlo.

This glorious picture book gives younger readers an insight into the background and artistic genesis of Kahlo who has, over the years, become an increasingly iconic artist particularly among younger people.

Told simplistically with some detail about Frida’s early life and the beginnings of her imaginative journey into her unique artistic journey this book is a pleasure both to hold and to read.

Of course Anthony’s own surrealist imagery is a perfect approach to the work of the most celebrated artists in this genre. The superb colour palette echoes that of Frida’s own works and so is a double insight into her life and work.

The growing number of biographical works for younger readers is proving a huge drawcard for many children and this factional version of Kahlo’s history will be a welcome addition to your shelves. For me, with my love (bordering obsession) with Browne’s work, this will be a keeper for my own shelves.

Highly recommended for readers from around 5 years upwards.