Showing Distance in Art

Children's Literature - Children's Literature

Well-known artworks are used to point out how artists have created certain effects. In Distance, a look at St. Ives by Rogier van der Weyden gives a close-up of the man and a long distance view out of the window. Kids will notice that things are smaller in the distance. Flatford Mill by John Constable presents a vast scene that includes a river and a village in the distance. Blobs of color and indistinct images are what give the sense of distance in this painting. As with the other books in the series, there is a good selection of art representing a variety of style. The last section of the book offers tips (changing sizes, viewing a scene through a window, hazier colors, having the sky and earth meet at the horizon) and challenges kids to try their hand at painting and in particular to show distance by using these and other techniques described in earlier examples. The final section offers more information about the paintings used to illustrate the author's points. There is a glossary, list of web sites and an index. Part of a series of six books entitled "How to Look at Art." 2000 (orig. 1997), Gareth Stevens, Ages 8 up, $19.93. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4-In simple, succinct phrases, Richardson describes famous paintings by renowned artists. Each two-page spread takes a look at a different work of art; the left-hand pages present a full-color reproduction while on the right a number of details in close-up views are accompanied by questions or comments. For example, when viewing Domenico Ghirlandaio's Portrait of a Girl in Faces, readers are asked to notice the color of the subject's skin, the lines under her eyes, and the light on her hair, and to offer an opinion on whether or not she is smiling. Studies in perspective are featured in Distances. The sky seems to touch the ground in Edgar Degas's Beach Scene, while foreground figures loom dramatically large in Paolo Uccello's The Rout of San Romano. In Shadows, the effectiveness of light, darkness, and their contrast is explored in Geertgen tot Sint Jans's The Nativity, at Night, Jan Vermeer's The Lacemaker, and in many other masterpieces. Observant youngsters will see where the different sources of light originate and how strong light makes colors brighter and shadows deeper. Each title has a few activities. While the questions and suggestions posed by the author will help children become more discerning when examining paintings, they do get somewhat repetitious. However, like a number of other recently published art series, these titles will introduce young students to terms, techniques, and a broad range of styles.-Patricia Mahoney Brown, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, Kenmore, NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.