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Nofretari Plaing Draughts, EgyptianEven though the queens body looks stiff, her elegant robe seems to flow gracefully to the floor. By giving the robe many gently curving lines, the artist creates a feeling of movement in an otherwise static picture. Trace your finger along the lines of the queens dress to experience the course of the artists brush.
The Reluctant Dragon, Maxfield ParrishUsing your imagination, you can go anywhere you want to go, even to faraway lands where dragons live. Here a young boy and a dragon sit quietly on a stony hill, staring at each other. Look at the expressions on their faces. What do you think each is thinking about the other?The title of this picture is The Reluctant Dragon. The word reluctant means unwilling or hesitant. Why do you think this dragon is reluctant?
The Races at Longchamp, Edouard ManetAnd theyre off! On this beautiful day at the races the artist shows you the action from the middle of the track. How does this dramatic viewpoint help you sense the speed and excitement of the race? The artist put paint on the canvas with loose, free strokes of his brush to give the scene a blurry look, as if you were glimpsing the race only for a split second. Pretend you are a jockey on one of these horses. How do you think it would feel to be in this race? What would it sound like to you?
Cheyenne Winter Games, Dick WestIn this lively picture, a community of Native Americans are enjoying a winter field day. How many different events do you see? You probably can find some games that youve played before; others may look unfamiliar to you. Point to some of the games you know. If you could jump into the picture, which game would you like to play?
The Magic Flute, Marc ChagallThe artist used just four colors in his picture. Two are cool colors--the blue and green. They help to give the picture a feeling of tranquility. The other two, red and yellow, are warm colors. What mood or feeling do they give the picture?
How Artists See Play
Sports, Games, Toys, Imagination

By Colleen Carroll 
Size: 7 x 9" 
Hardcover, 48 pages
48 full-color illustrations
Published 1999
ISBN: 978-0-7892-0393-9
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$12.95


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In How Artists See Play children can see how Jacob Lawrence chose bright colors and strong curving lines to convey the speed and energy of Olympic relay racers; how Maxfield Parrish used his imagination to paint a whimsical dragon; how Jean-Baptiste Chardin painted a boy blowing a soap bubble so realistically that it seems you could pop the bubble with your finger; and how Dick West depicted a community of Native Americans enjoying a winter field day.

"Carrolls series... eclipses the competition... How Artists See has the makings of a classic--a core experience for budding art enthusiasts to build on." -- Publishers Weekly

"Wow! . . . It just doesnt get any better than this." -- Childrens Literature Choice list

How Artists See is a breakthrough series of interactive, inquiry-based books designed to teach children about the world by looking at art and about art by looking at the world. Each volume presents sixteen diverse works of art, all devoted to a subject that every child already knows from personal experience. Author Colleen Carrolls engaging, conversational text is filled with thought-provoking questions and imaginative activities that spark childrens natural curiosity both about the subject of the artwork they are looking at and about the way it was created.

This direct, interactive approach to art — and to the world — promotes self-exploration, self-discovery, and self-expression. The books introduce basic artistic concepts, styles, and techniques, and are loads of fun. For children who want to know more about the artists whose works appear in the book, biographies are provided at the end, along with suggestions for further reading and an international list of museums where each artists works can be seen.

As children begin to understand the multitude of ways that artists see, they will deepen their appreciation of art and artists, of the world around them, and of their own unique vision.

Colleen Carroll is an educational consultant whose clients include Nickelodeon, MTV, USA Today, and the Smithsonian Institutions National Museum of American History. She has taught sixth grade in California and now develops the art curriculum for The Edison Project. She lives in New York.

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