The apprenticeship of Andrew Wyeth Painting a family legacy

Readers first meet Andrew Wyeth (1917--2009), the future painter of Christina's World, as a dreamy boy sprawled in tall grass, a sketch pad balanced on his stomach. Creative freedom defined his childhood in rural Pennsylvania, his family encouraging both wild pretend play and serious artmaking. But as Barretta shows, being N.C. Wyeth's son wasn't easy--the "larger-than-life" illustrator cast a long shadow portrayed as slowly transforming from constrictive to mutually supportive. Andrew Wyeth's wife Betsy is introduced as another important relationship--she provides the unwavering support he needs to flourish. Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations evoke the subject's warm realism, his lived-in color palette, and, above all, his profound humanism, making this picture book biography both aesthetic and informative. Back matter includes reproductions. Ages 5--9. (Oct.)

Gr 1--4--More of a journey of an artist than a straightforward biography, this title focuses on the growth and development of the noted American artist Andrew Wyeth. Facing health challenges and growing up in an artistic family headed by N.C. Wyeth, he was raised with all the ingredients needed to become an artist. He was deeply connected to nature, to his imagination, and to art as a means for communicating his experience of the world. The text follows Wyeth's life, highlighting significant dates such as when he began an apprenticeship in his father's studio. Rather than painting the heroic figures of his father's illustrations, he was set on the task of learning the basics of studying shape, light, and shadow followed by learning about drawing the human body. The boy deeply admired his father but eventually developed his own style; his success as an artist is firmly grounded throughout this title in his connection to people and nature. Back matter includes a bibliography, reproductions of some of Wyeth's most important works, and further information. The illustrations, done in watercolor and colored pencil, capture the growth of the artist and the beauty of his surroundings in harmony with his own work. VERDICT Firmly rooted in Wyeth's childhood, this title will appeal to budding artists; his story is one that offers a path for those who find their passion for the world best expressed through art. Recommended.--John Scott

An exacting account of how American painter Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) embraced his own unique style. Born into an artistic family headed by the successful children's illustrator N.C. Wyeth, "frail" Andy went on to become part of "a new generation of artists." The lengthy narrative contains ample detail about Andy's creative early life and formal art education before diplomatically delving into the friction between father and son. While the elder Wyeth savored the fantastical, his son found that "the most exciting characters, places, and stories to paint were the ones he lived with every day." With eloquent quotes from Andy and his inner circle, Barretta has crafted a sensitive and nuanced portrait of a complicated parent/child relationship. His holistic view provides a wealth of information about Andy's burgeoning career, the tragic death of his father, and the wife and friends who steadfastly supported him, including the subject ofChristina's World, one of five Wyeth works reproduced within the book. Barretta's watercolor and colored pencil images are pleasant; one standout spread beautifully summarizes Andy's life and career with sketches from many different Wyeth paintings. The author/illustrator's admiration for Andy shines in the backmatter, which includes a bibliography, information on the Wyeth family, a glossary of art techniques, and additional fun facts. Most people have pale skin. A sincere and focused biography that will leave readers determined to paint--and live--their own way.(Picture-book biography. 6-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.