by Barbara Brenner
Illustrated by Olivier Dunrea
This picture-book biography introduces the story of Benjamin West, who is often referred to as the father of American art. Born the 10th child of the Wests in 1738, he began drawing at a very young age. He learned about color from local Indians, and he learned about "hair pencils" (paintbrushes) from a traveler. Since he couldn't obtain any of his own, he made them with hairs from the family cat, Grimalkin.
When Benjamin West was seven years old, the only thing in the world he wanted to do was draw pictures. For a time, that got him into a peck of trouble. Papa wasn't pleased when Benjamin "borrowed" his best quill pen. Mama wasn't happy that Benjamin would rather sketch the cows than milk them. Truth was, there was nothing Benjamin cared more about than art, and that led him to some surprising adventures. Realizing their son's potential, Benjamin's parents sent him to Philadelphia to study with a real artist. The trip changed his life.
Here in lively easy-to-read words and vivid pictures is the engaging true story of Benjamin West, the farmboy from colonial Pennsylvania who grew up to become the first world-famous American artist and a friend to Benjamin Franklin and the king of England.
Dunrea's folk-style gouache paintings incorporate period architecture, furnishings, and handicrafts. The pictures are framed with thin black lines, giving the book a formal appearance. This is a fine introduction to artists and the Colonial period.
Hardcover, 48 pages
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