Talking With Artists Volume 3 by Pat Cummings

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cummings, P. (1999). Talking with artists : volume three : conversations with Peter Catalanotto, Raul Colon, Lisa Desimini, Jane Dyer, Kevin Hawkes, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Elise Primavera. New York: Clarion. ISBN 9780395891322

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Pat Cummings talks with different authors and has them respond to the same questions. Questions include short biographical information about their lives with photos of them as children and adults. This book can inspire artists of all ages. All of the artists have individual answers like their art.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Pat Cummings gets the artists to discuss their lives in a way that is simplistic but allows them to elaborate on what makes them unique. The artists draw upon their personal background to inspire their work. Cummings asks the artists the same questions. Where do you get your ideas? What is a normal day like? Where do you work? Do you have any children? Any pets? What do you enjoy drawing the most? Do you ever put people you know in your pictures? What do you use to make your pictures? How did you get to do your first book? Their responses are all varied but their love for their work is very evident. The reader sees what the artist wants you to see about their work. It adds a very personal touch to understand what the artist might have drawn about. Pictures of the artists and their work at different stages of their lives lets you see that at a very young age their personality was coming through. It is interesting to find out how the artist got their first book. Anyone who is thinking about becoming a published artist should read about how other artists got started.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Carolyn Phelan (Booklist, March 15, 1999 (Vol. 95, No. 14))
”Beautifully designed to draw readers, this book will inspire many children to make art and possibly even to choose it as a career some day.”

Tanya Tullos (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 12, No. 1))
“A special section on "Secret Techniques" will perhaps inspire young artists to try new techniques.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Other books for children about illustrators: Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators talk to
Children About Their Art by Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book
A Caldecott Celebration by Leonard Marcus
Pass it Down: Five Picture Book Families Make their Mark by Leonard S. Marcus
Show and Tell: Exploring the fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration by Dilys Evans
* Have students create their own art while using the style of a famous artist.
* Gather other books illustrated by the different artist and compare and contrast their work.
Andy Warhol by Joanne Mattern
Mary Cassatt by Joanne Mattern
Georgia O”Keeffe: painter of the Desert by Jacqueline A. Ball and Catherine Conant
Monet by Mike Venezia