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26th out of 70 books
—
30 voters
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin
As a child in the late 1800s, Horace Pippin loved to draw: He loved the feel of the charcoal as it slid across the floor. He loved looking at something in the room and making it come alive again in front of him. He drew pictures for his sisters, his classmates, his co-workers. Even during W.W.I, Horace filled his notebooks with drawings from the trenches . . . until he was...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
January 8th 2013
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Author Jen Bryant and illustrator Melissa Sweet joined forces to create one of the best picture book bios I've read in a long, long time. All too often picture book bios leave me underwhelmed. They either are skimpy with the facts or too much information is crammed into 36 or so pages. A Splash of Red strikes just the right balance.
Bryant does a superb job of getting at the essence of Horace Pippin, a self-taught artist who, after being wounded during WWI, reinvented himself as a painter. Pippin...more
Bryant does a superb job of getting at the essence of Horace Pippin, a self-taught artist who, after being wounded during WWI, reinvented himself as a painter. Pippin...more
Born in 1888, Horace Pippin loved to draw from the time he was a small child. He would draw on scrap paper using charcoal, he would draw for his friends, and he would even draw on his spelling tests though his teacher did not appreciate that. As he grew, he had to quit school in 8th grade. He worked hard with his hands in different ways, but continued to draw and paint. Then Horace went to war and was wounded in his right arm. Now he could no longer draw, or so he thought. He started trying agai...more
Feb 21, 2013
Mary Ann
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
1st,
2nd,
3rd,
4th,
african-american,
history,
picture-book-for-older-readers,
picture-books,
biography
Born over 100 years ago, Horace Pippin loved to draw as a child - everyone asked him to draw pictures for them. But life threw many hard times Horace's way. He quit school after eighth grade to work and support his family. He fought valiantly in World War I, but he was wounded and never regained full use of his right arm. When he returned home, Horace's "fingers itched to draw all the colors and textures he saw," but his right arm was too weak to lift.
Bryant shows young readers how Pippin, throu...more
Bryant shows young readers how Pippin, throu...more
I love Jen Bryant's picture book biographies with Melissa Sweet's mixed media illustrations. These ladies, who won the Caldecott Honor for A River Of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, are almost peerless in their genre. I was so excited when I saw they were collaborating on a book about the self-taught African American artist Horace Pippin. I discovered Pippin's art in the early 1990's, with the help of another book, I Tell My Heart: The Art of Horace Pippin, by Judith Stein. I immedi...more
This new picture book biography by Jen Bryant chronicles the unusual story of Horace Pippin, a self-taught African American folk artist who didn't complete his first painting until he was over forty years old. Born in 1888, Horace quickly demonstrated a love of drawing, and everyone loved his pictures. One day, Horace entered a magazine contest, and won his first art supplies--paints, colored pencils, and brushes. In 8th grade, he had to quit school to go to work to help out his family, but he c...more
A SPLASH OF RED: THE LIFE AND ART OF HORACE PIPPIN by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet, ill., Knopf, January 2013, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-375-86712-5
"I marched to the battle of the German trench
In a war that was bound to end all wars"
-- Phil Ochs
"I can never forget suffering and I will never forget sunset. I came home with all of it in my mind."
-- Horace Pippin
Do you know who I suddenly now have even more respect for? Walt Disney. Why?
"...Because we like you!
...M-O-U-S-E"
No. Seriously. Because Disney w...more
"I marched to the battle of the German trench
In a war that was bound to end all wars"
-- Phil Ochs
"I can never forget suffering and I will never forget sunset. I came home with all of it in my mind."
-- Horace Pippin
Do you know who I suddenly now have even more respect for? Walt Disney. Why?
"...Because we like you!
...M-O-U-S-E"
No. Seriously. Because Disney w...more
A completely wonderful book. Interestingly written, rhythmic text, detailed collage illustrations with vivid quotes from Pippin himself incorporated into the drawings, and meticulously documented research (hurrah!).
Examples of the rhythm of the narrative:
"Horace put his big hands to work. He fetched . . . He sorted . . . He played . .. He piled . . . and arranged. . . he drew . . ."
"Horace loved to draw. He loved the feel of the charcoal as it slid across the floor. He loved looking at something...more
Examples of the rhythm of the narrative:
"Horace put his big hands to work. He fetched . . . He sorted . . . He played . .. He piled . . . and arranged. . . he drew . . ."
"Horace loved to draw. He loved the feel of the charcoal as it slid across the floor. He loved looking at something...more
A phenomenal tale about the life of Horace Pippin, a 20th century African American folk artist. This book will not be for everyone, but for me it was one of the best children's books I have read this year. It certainly was the best non-fiction book that I have read aimed at picture book readers.
This book did what Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein failed to do, which is to make something otherwise uninteresting to children highly interesting. The mixed mediums used for the illustrations added an...more
This book did what Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein failed to do, which is to make something otherwise uninteresting to children highly interesting. The mixed mediums used for the illustrations added an...more
I’ve never heard of Horace Pippin, but because of this story, I looked further to find he is a highly respected folk artist with his art placed in museums all over the country. The book relates his interesting life story whose parents, former slaves, were very poor, causing Pippin to quit school at age 14. He had little money for art materials, and won some supplies by entering a contest once. His love of art and persistence to capture scenes from his life helped keep him drawing and painting....more
A picture book bio about self-taught painter Horace Pippin. His life and the beginnings of his art are paralleled and his world is brought to life through Sweet's watercolor, gouache, and collage artwork. Both an author and illustrator's note follows the story and a further reading list, film reference, website list, and quotation sources are included.
Every inch of the book is jam-packed with information including the title page which includes a reproduction of one of Pippin's biblical paintings...more
Every inch of the book is jam-packed with information including the title page which includes a reproduction of one of Pippin's biblical paintings...more
Appealing and interesting picture book biography of African American artist Horace Pippin. Illustrations have a folk art feel, have many interesting details, and are done in the artist's palette, always including the "splash of red". The text seems to be written to be read aloud. I like the texture that the use of mixed media brings to the artwork -- it brings it alive, almost seems like a journal in parts. I also really like the way the author's quotes are worked into the illustrations. Endpape...more
This is a little bit of everything, and it's all amazing. It's an important art history lesson about the artist Horace Pippin, it's a beautifully produced picture book that you'll fall into and get lost in among the pretty chaos of drawing, painting, and collage, and it's a book that will inspire any reader to sit down and have fun with colored pencils, crayons, whatever you have. The author and illustrator obviously made a choice not to deal much with race, and only hint at the violence of war,...more
Wow! Loved this book. Thanks to the Random House representatives at NCTE who knew I would and gave me a galley at NCTE. Can't wait to get the actual book in my hands as well. Bryant and Sweet team up (A RIVER OF WORDS) to share another creative talent with young audiences--Horace Pippen, a self-taught painter, war hero, and all around remarkable man. (Truly, picture book biographies are my current favorite genre! I am learning about so many who have paved the way for others!) The work of Bryant...more
A highly recommended picture biography book. Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet did a great job and A Splash of Red has just the right balance between information and illustrations.
Horace Pippin was a self-taught artist who, after being wounded during WWI, reinvented himself as a painter. Pippin's determination not to give up in spite of everything are shown by rich illustrations that combine watercolor, gouache, and collage combined with quotes from the painter.
"I can never forget suffering and I wil...more
Horace Pippin was a self-taught artist who, after being wounded during WWI, reinvented himself as a painter. Pippin's determination not to give up in spite of everything are shown by rich illustrations that combine watercolor, gouache, and collage combined with quotes from the painter.
"I can never forget suffering and I wil...more
gr1-4
Another fabulous book by the combo of Melissa Sweet and Jen Bryant. This is an amazing story about Horace Pippin, who was not trained as an artist but drew his whole life. Even after he was injured in the war, so he had to hold his right hand with his left. Use of quotes is striking. Nice historical notes, along with a map that shows thumbnails of some of his paintings and in which cities they can be seen. Great references. Horace's notebooks and letters are at aaa.si.edu/collectionsonline/...more
Another fabulous book by the combo of Melissa Sweet and Jen Bryant. This is an amazing story about Horace Pippin, who was not trained as an artist but drew his whole life. Even after he was injured in the war, so he had to hold his right hand with his left. Use of quotes is striking. Nice historical notes, along with a map that shows thumbnails of some of his paintings and in which cities they can be seen. Great references. Horace's notebooks and letters are at aaa.si.edu/collectionsonline/...more
I am overwhelmed by the talent and creativity oozing on every page of this brilliant biography of African American artist Horace Pippin. Lovingly illustrated using watercolor, gouche, and mixed media, illustrator Sweet honors Pippin with her delightful pictures of his life. Bryant and Sweet researched Pippin together and provide an extensive historical note in the back as well as resources for further study. Quotes from Pippin are scattered throughout the book. A SPLASH OF RED is a sincere celeb...more
This is a wonderful biography of a painting I'd never heard of. Horace Pippin was an African American WWI veteran from West Chester, PA (my wife's old home turf) who was discovered by NC Wyeth. The book is gorgeously illustrated and Jen Bryant's prose tells the story of Pippin's life and career concisely and interestingly.
There seems to be a growing number of books like this, biographies of artists told in a picture book format. Most of these do an excellent job of having form meet function; thi...more
There seems to be a growing number of books like this, biographies of artists told in a picture book format. Most of these do an excellent job of having form meet function; thi...more
A gorgeous picture book about the life of Horace Pippin. Like many artists, he grew up loving to draw. He drew and painted pictures for friends. While fighting in World War I, his shoulder was wounded and he could no longer paint without the control and same movement of his right hand. After some time, Horace realized that he wanted to make art so badly that he'd try to work around his injury. By holding his injured hand, he made art and eventually his artwork became famous.
This was a very posi...more
This was a very posi...more
A very interesting and enlightening book. I really liked this one, and I think, Melissa Sweet did another great job with the illustrations. My only complaint is that the illustration style is so much like Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade, that it made me like it a little less. I think it is beautifully illustrated, nonetheless.
A Splash of Red is a fantastic, beautiful look at the life and work of Horace Pippin. The pages are full of patchworked color, text, and casual sketches that give this book a genuine personality-like a neighbor. Yes, this book is like a neighbor. Highly recommended for children ages 7-9, but can be enjoyed by a wide audience of art and history lovers-or by anyone who loves a story of triumph over adversity, and the celebration of finding beauty in the toughest of times.
Horace Pippin was a self-taught African-American folk artist. He had fought in World War I and was wounded in his right shoulder, which made it difficult for him to take up art again upon his return home. But he trained himself to draw and paint with the assistance of his other hand, and eventually his work was discovered by the art community (notably N.C. Wyeth).
I always like learning about artists that are new to me. Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet did a great presentation here.
I especially like...more
I always like learning about artists that are new to me. Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet did a great presentation here.
I especially like...more
Another good Picture Book Biography of an artist. They are so nice, the way the illustrator can incorporate the art styles of the subject in the pages of the book. Gives children a great grasp of the artist's life and work. This is an excellent one. I'd never heard of the artist before -- and now I have! An African-American artist who fought and was injured in WWI. So there's also the thread of overcoming adversity to be able to paint again.
“Pictures just come to my mind and I tell my heart to go ahead.”- Quotes by Horace Pippin pepper this picture book of the celebrated artist. Jen Bryant tells the life of someone with a dream and desire to paint who needed to drop out of school to help out his family and who was wounded in his right arm as a WWI soldier. His determination to not let these things stop him is inspiring! Melissa Sweet’s illustrations are eye-catchingly beautiful.
Once again, Bryant and Sweet form a perfect team as they share the story of Horace Pippin, American artist, who overcame a war injury to paint a large body of work. I love Sweet's collage-style blend of quotations, artifacts, maps, stamps and more to create Pippin's world.
Note: I support independent bookstores and encourage you to check out http://www.indiebound.org/ to find your closest bookstore.
Note: I support independent bookstores and encourage you to check out http://www.indiebound.org/ to find your closest bookstore.
This book was great! I learned something! Someone I probably would have never heard of. Horace Pippin has an amazing story. Even though for a children's picture book it was kind of long, I found myself sucked in wanting to learn more. I am not a good artist, but I am excited by those who are. This is a great story. Would be perfect for a non-fiction book for late elementary. I really enjoyed it!
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin is much more than a biography. It's the story of what anyone can accomplish with determination and perseverance. Despite poverty and a disability, Pippin was a 20th century artist who used bold colors and designs to create his art. The story is beautiful and the artwork that goes along with it is bold, colorful, and eye-catching. I think the book is appropriate for any age and readers can find a variety of messages in this narrative.
Horace Pippin drew and painted all his life. He never received any formal training--he had to leave school in eighth grade to help support his family. Throughout years of manual labor at home and fighting in World War I in France, he drew. His arm was badly injured, but slowly, painfully, he found a way to to paint. Eventually, his paintings were "discovered" and people around the world could see his work. Melissa Sweet's collage illustrations are clever and include "handwritten" quotes, such as...more
This is a picture biography of Horace Pippin, the artist. Lots of fun pictures and a good story. I like illustrated biographies that give a glimps into the life of a person. This book shows enough details that kids will get enough information for a short book report. And there are enough great illustrations to help kids be interested in what happened in Horace Pippin's life.
Horace Pippin heard the words "Make a picture for us" all through his life. An injury during World War I rendered his painting arm useless. The read aloud text and mixed media art bring life to the tale of this self-taught American Folk artist who overcame many hardships to display his work in museums throughout the country.
Reviewer 14
Reviewer 14
A beautifully written and illustrated book about the artistic life of Harold Pippin, who despite a a war injury to his right arm, went on to become an established folk artist. He was discovered at age 49 by the artist N.C Wyatt. Delightful bio of Pippin at the end. Anxious to read more by this author and illustrator.
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Feb 22, 2013 08:53pm