Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Draw with...Joan Miro
Nonfiction Art Book
For ages 7 to 9
Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2011 ISBN: 978-1847802729
Joan Miro was a Spanish artist who was born at the end of the 18th century. He studied both business and art and then he went to Paris in France where he steeped himself in the art world that was flourishing in the great city. In the early 1920’s, Miro saw the work of Surrealist artists, and he was inspired to “draw on his dreams as subject matter for his paintings.” He held on to elements of realism but added in “symbols and imaginary elements” into his art, which gave his art a naïve and childlike feel.
The wonderful thing about Miro’s art is that his style is simple enough that it is accessible to anyone who has enjoys wielding a paintbrush or pencil. After providing us with an informative biography of Miro, the author of this book gives us how-to diagrams that show us how to recreate twenty-one of Miro’s drawings and paintings. On every spread we see Miro’s original artwork on the left hand page, and on the right hand page there are step by step images showing us how to recreate the art.
The original artworks include sketches, colored lithographs, colored woodcuts, and colored stencil prints. On many of the spreads readers will find quotes from Miro’s writings and from interviews that he gave.
This book would make a great gift for a young artist who has in interest in modern art.
