IntroductionVincent and His Colorful FriendsImagine taking a stroll through a field of
sunflowers in the south of France. A hundred or
so years ago you might have run into a red-bearded
artist in a big straw hat standing in front of an easel.
He would quickly cover his canvas with thick layers of
paint. His colors would be so vivid they’d seem to glow.
And oh, how he loved the color yellow! When he was
finished, he’d carry the wet canvas to his yellow house,
setting it against a wall to dry.At dinnertime, you might spy him again at a table
in the local café. He’d be having a lively discussion with
his buddy the postman or writing a letter to his brother
Theo. Then again, the letter might be to one of his
artist friends. He loved to write letters. On he would go,
page after page, writing about everything—but especially about his paintings. Who would have guessed that one
day those letters would be read by thousands? Or that
his paintings would hang in the greatest museums in the
world? Or that the painter, Vincent van Gogh, would be
one of the most famous artists who ever lived?
This book follows the path of van Gogh and four of
his friends—Paul Gauguin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec,
Paul Signac, and Émile Bernard. It tells the story of their
lives and how those lives crossed paths.Each artist had his own individual style and idea
about what to paint. Van Gogh went to southern France
to paint the bright blue skies and yellow fields. After a
brief stay in southern France, Gauguin moved to Tahiti
to capture its tropical landscape. Signac sailed his boat
in the Mediterranean Sea and recorded the scene in dazzling
dots. Bernard toured the French countryside on
foot, painting pictures and writing poetry along the way.
Toulouse-Lautrec was happiest sitting in a Paris café,
sketching the nightlife that was the subject of his fabulous
paintings and posters.What made their work different from what was
painted before? How did the artists help one another?
Did they always get along? You’ll learn about these
things and more while making fun projects along the
way. Learn how to paint a self-portrait like van Gogh
and make a 3-D peep box of his Starry Night. Follow the
steps to design a poster like those by Toulouse-Lautrec.
Celebrate Signac’s two passions by making a Pointillist
sailboat (that you can sail!). Write a poem like Bernard,
and cook up a soup that’s better than van Gogh’s.
Perhaps you’ll find terms that are new to you. If so, look
them up in the glossary at the back of the book.Van Gogh and his friends lived during an exciting
time in the history of art. Learn why their paintings are
so well loved today.
Carol Sabbeth (Author)
Carol Sabbeth presents art workshops to children and teachers throughout the United States. She also impersonates famous female artists in storytelling performances to bring their artistry to life. She teaches at the American School of Paris's summer program, and is the author of Crayons and Computers, Kids' Computer Creations, and Monet and the Impressionists for Kids. She lives in Roswell, Georgia.
Carol Sabbeth (Author)
Carol Sabbeth is the author of Crayons and Computers, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and Monet and the Impressionists for Kids. She presents art workshops to children and teachers across the United States. She lives in Roswell, Georgia.