What do French artist Henri Matisse and American artist Horace Pippin have in common? Both are subjects of wonderful children's picture book biographies. Both books beautifully present the joys and passion of art as well as the difficulties of living the life of an artist. There is inspiration here for adults as well as children.
Colorful Dreamer: The Story of Artist Henri Matisse by Marjorie Blain Parker, illustrated by Holly Berry
"Henri's parents loved him very much. But, sometimes, they worried about him. They worried he might end up down-and-out. Life was difficult. They worked so hard to make a decent living. And Henri was not a hard worker.He did not excel at school. He did not excel at violin lessons. He did not, in fact, excel at much of anything—except, perhaps, dreaming."
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
"At night, he piled wood for the stove and arranged dominoes so his grandmother could play. Then if he could find scrap of paper and a piece of charcoal, he drew pictures of what he had seen that day.
Horace 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 loved thinking about a friend or a pet, then drawing them from the picture in his mind."
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