Whaam! The Art and Life of Roy Lichtenstein
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,History & Criticism
Whaam! The Art and Life of Roy Lichtenstein Details
From School Library Journal Grade 4–8—Bold and graphic, with an attractive design, this title will appeal to budding artists and comic-book fans. The reproductions of Lichtenstein's work are large format, in full color, and provide eye candy for kids who aren't interested in reading the text. Cleverly inserted in between Lichtenstein's pieces are reproductions of the classic and comic-book art that inspired him, such as Henri Matisse's The Red Studio and even advertisements for shoes. Lichtenstein is known for his paintings inspired by comic books, but Rubin does an excellent job of mentioning his other work, such as his sculptures and landscape art. The insightful quotes and most of the references to his personal life serve only to explain how his art evolved or how he came to be in a particular place in the world. This approach is effective because the star here is the art and the process. The text (a bold typewriter font) is simple but descriptive and compelling. Lichtenstein's signature Benday dots appear in all of the page margins; even the page numbers are enclosed in circles. The back matter is exceptional as well, with a thorough glossary and index and an expansive list of additional resources. The thoughtful design and content show that the author truly had young people in mind while making this book.—Laura Lutz, Queens Borough Public Library, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Read more From Booklist As in her Andy Warhol: Pop Art Painter (2006), Rubin presents an overview of a modern master with clear writing and an abundance of his eye-popping works, all framed on pages that mirror the artist’s signature use of primary colors and Benday dots. She begins with Lichtenstein’s early career as a middling expressionist, secretly making paintings based on comic books and advertising. She then details his techniques and explains that while his works might look mass-produced—like Warhol’s—Lichtenstein remained true to his painterly roots, painstakingly applying the dots and heavy lines to actual canvas. Nearly all of the works discussed are reproduced here, some accompanied by the comic panels that inspired them. While the book does inexplicitly maintain the distinction between “fine” art and “comic” art—Lichtenstein’s work being an example of the former for commenting on the latter—some readers, particularly graphic novel aficionados, may disagree. This well-sourced introduction to an artist with obvious kid appeal is ideal to open the floor to questions about the boundary between art and imitation. Grades 4-7. --Ian Chipman Read more See all Editorial Reviews
Reviews
Written simply enough for a child, but very enjoyable for an adult. Great pictures help you visualize the nuances of his artwork in detail enabling the budding artist to copy and develop the techniques and style of this master through studying the beautiful photos of his artwork.
