| Title | : | Out of This World: The Surreal Art of Leonora Carrington |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0062441094 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780062441096 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 40 |
| Publication | : | Published January 22, 2019 |
Leonora’s parents wanted her to become a proper English lady, but there was only one thing she wanted, even if it was unsuitable: to become an artist. In London, she discovered a group of artists called surrealists, who were stunning the world with their mysterious creations. This was the kind of art she had to make. This was the kind of person she had to be.
From life in Paris creating art alongside Max Ernst to Mexico, where she met Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, Leonora’s life became intertwined with the powerful events and people that shaped the twentieth century.
Out of This World is the fascinating and stunningly illustrated story of Leonora Carrington, a girl who made art out of her imagination and created some of the most enigmatic and startling works of the last eighty years.
Out of This World: The Surreal Art of Leonora Carrington Reviews
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Author/illustrator team Michelle Markel and Amanda Hall, who also collaborated on
The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau, join forces again in this picture-book biography of surrealist artist Leonora Carrington. Born into a well-to-do English family, Carrington's parents had hopes that she would lead a conventional life, becoming a "proper" young lady. Instead, her unusual way of looking at the world, and her desire to create, evident from the time she was four, and would scribble on the walls, eventually led her to art school, and then into the circle of surrealist artists. Living for a time in Paris, she eventually fled to Mexico during WWII, here becoming friends with fellow woman surrealist Remedios Varo. Eventually, thanks to an art collector who arranged for a show in New York City, Carrington's work became more famous. She continued to create her fantastic paintings and sculptures all her life, eventually dying in Mexico City in 2011...
Remedios Varo is my absolute favorite, of all the surrealists, and Leonora Carrington, whose style is very similar, comes a close second, so when I saw Out of This World: The Surreal Art of Leonora Carrington, I was absolutely thrilled! I hadn't read the earlier book by this author/illustrator team (something I will have to rectify), so I had no expectations going in. What I discovered was a simple but engaging text and absolutely gorgeous artwork. Amanda Hall really manages to capture the enchantment, the eldritch charm of Carrington's work here. She mentions in her brief afterword that it was a challenge to create visuals that had the feeling of her subject's work, without simply reproducing any of the images from that work. I think she certainly has succeeded! I am so very glad to see this artist being presented to children - I wish there was a children's book about Remedios Varo! - and I appreciated the way that author Markel emphasizes the ways that these two artists' work addressed the woman's experience, within the surrealist field. Recommended to all young art-lovers, and to anyone looking for excellent new picture-book biographies. -
This was a fascinating picture book biography of Leonora Carrington. I’m not sure why I didn’t know anything about Carrington’s life before now, because she rubbed shoulders with many artists I do know of, including Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo. During her childhood she struggled to pay attaching in school and was even expelled from multiple schools. She also refused to choose a husband, despite her parent’s urging, but later married her greatest art teacher, Max Ernst. And when she dove into art, she enjoyed fantastical elements (influenced by surrealism). So very interesting! The back matter includes an Author’s Note, and Illustrator’s Note, and a Selected Bibliography. The artist used watercolor inks and gouache, layered with hard and soft pencil crayons.
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The Miller Memo! -
My kids and I had a lot of fun with this book. They loved the pictures and made games out of counting the cats and birds on the pages and detailing everything that was wacky (yes we've been reading Wacky Wednesday a lot lately!). My daughter is interested in seeing some of Leonora Carrington's art now, too, which is an added bonus.
A thumbs up from a 5 year old boy and 7 year old girl (and their mom). -
Having recently read
Leonora in the Morning Light by
Michaela Carter, I wanted to learn more about the artist. This book, Out of This World: The Surreal World of Leonora Carrington, is a biography written for children. The illustrator, Amanda Hall, did not try to copy Ms Carrington's work, but wisely filled the pages with her own fanciful creatures, and they are delightful. The author has briefly told the highlights of the life of Leonora in the text, but does add more detail in the notes at the end. This is a wonderful introduction for children to the life and art of an important artist of the twentieth century. I am still on a quest to see more of Carrington's own art work now. -
'....she became the woman she wanted to be."
Unbeknownst to me, Leonora Carrington was actually one of the few female surrealists of that cultural movement which took off in the 1920's. This colorful book demonstrates how her vivid imagination was honed by her grandmother's fantastical stories, which led her to expand her ideas on canvas. Her distraught parents saw another kind of future for her but she saw things differently, in more ways than one. Her travels throughout the world and the contemporaries she became acquainted enriched her life and contributed to the life she wanted to live.
I'd recommend this to little kids everywhere but especially young girls. The message "Do what you love, love what you do" and everything else falls in line. -
There are a dearth of picture books about women artists, especially the lesser-known ones. This one introduced me to Leonora Carrington, and I'm really glad. Definitely do an image search for her work -- I was disappointed the book didn't include any of it, but the illustrations (by Amanda Hall) are in her style, and backmatter includes an Author's Note, Illustrator's Note, and Selected Bibliography. This author/illustrator team also did "The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau."
"She was never rich and never proper, and she never moved back to England. But she became the woman she wanted to be." -
Interesting book about a woman artist I have never heard of. I enjoyed the story and the message. Leonora was a surrealist artist and helped change the way women were thought of in art. She was born in England, went to school in Italy, created art in England, moved to France, had to emigrate to escape WWII, moved to Mexico and that is where her art was highly influenced. Great Author's Note at the end too.
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This is a strong biographic portrayal anchored in historic events and times. If you've ever used or heard the expression "It felt surreal", this is a terrific book to explore the surrealism movement. it is also a vivid portrayal of women in political, social and art history told in appealing narrative and with vivid, explorative illustrations.
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A great age appropriate story and introduction of an artist that many may not know. Gorgeous art that captures the artist, her art and the times and places around her. Realistically abstracted.
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Ever since she was a little girl, Leonora Carrington loved to draw on walls, in books, on paper—and she loved the fantastic tales her grandmother told that took her to worlds that shimmered beyond this one, where legends became real.
Leonora’s parents wanted her to become a proper English lady, but there was only one thing she wanted, even if it was unsuitable: to become an artist. In London, she discovered a group of artists called surrealists, who were stunning the world with their mysterious creations. This was the kind of art she had to make. This was the kind of person she had to be.
From life in Paris creating art alongside Max Ernst to Mexico, where she met Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, Leonora’s life became intertwined with the powerful events and people that shaped the twentieth century.
Out of This World is the fascinating and stunningly illustrated story of Leonora Carrington, a girl who made art out of her imagination and created some of the most enigmatic and startling works of the last eighty years. -
Bold illustrations bring this beautiful story to life as author Michelle Markel takes us on journey to explore the life of artist Leonora Carrington. Carrington’s story begins in a time when artists were often looked as miscreants and ladies were meant only to find husbands. But Carrington could not ignore her passion for creating art or the call of her imagination. This lovely and lyrical story is coupled with incredible art that both delights and inspires.
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3.5
I have to admit that I'm not familiar with this artist's work, but I'll definitely look it up now. This is a beautifully illustrated children's biography. My favorite page said this:
"And her women did things they didn't do in paintings made by men. Instead of lying on a couch, they were listening to the stars. Instead of posing in gowns, they were going on magical processions. They were friends with monkeys, Minotaurs, and mythic birds." -
I liked the surrealistic art that accompanies this memoir of a surrealist, and I liked how it talks about how her art was different than male surrealists, just because she approached females as more active than merely reclining on couches. But the end notes not only extend her story, but have major differences with her story in the body of the book (ie, she married to escape the war in Europe), which I didn't appreciate.
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Tells the story of Leonora Carrington from childhood to her death, really emphasizing her consistent love of making art and the way she depicted women.
The artist's note at the end basically says that they couldn't use any of Leonora Carrington's work in this book (even in endnotes) or have illustrations that were too close to it. But the inspiration is really clear (it's still all very surrealist). -
A stunning biography that captures the essence of the art Leonora Carrington created. The image of Europe on fire as bombs drop during WWII and the people escaping on a flying horse boat is just one example of the detailed illustrations in this book. The illustrator is British so it is not eligible for the Caldecott.
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Michelle Markel’s marvelous biography of unconventional artist Leonora Carrington is a delight to read. Kids will relate to her free spirit and will find comfort in the ultimate support of her parents. It’s empowering to learn about women who bucked tradition and lived the way they want to. Amanda Hall’s dream-like illustrations perfectly complements the story.
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Beautifully written and illustrated, Out of This World tells the story of artist Leonora Carrington. Both to a wealthy English family, Leonora loved to draw from an early age. As an adult she discovered surrealism and worked alongside artists such as Picasso. She eventually moved to Mexico where she spent the rest of her life creating the art she so loved.
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Again, it drives me nuts when artist biographies don't show any works by the artist. I feel like the biography aspect of this was well written, but just again, the art and lack thereof. The illustrations were lovely and held true to the surrealist aspect, but still. And stylistically they owe more to Peter Max than Leonora Carrington...
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I loved the way this biography mixed surrealist-inspired illustrations with educational text to tell the fascinating story of Leonora Carrington. The book empowers artists and women and inspires creativity!
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Surreal illustrations to match a surreal artist.
A story about a woman who didn't want to match her family's or society's expectations. She pursued art, had to leave France because of the Nazis and ended up living in Mexico. -
Another children's picture book biography of an artist. And as usual an artist I don't know. But in this one the writing really sold me to want to know. And that art gave a flavor though I'm not sure it's all that accurate a flavor. The afterword could have been better. 3.5 of 5.
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The illustrations are a little muddy and overwhelming, as well as confusing since the words and the pictures don’t necessarily follow. If doing an art unit on surrealism, it might be a good addition, but not a go to book.
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Muy bonito libro sobre la vida la pintora Leonora Carrington y muy bien ilustrado en un estilo que recuerda al de ella.
Me encanta tener una posibilidad más de hablar de una pintora mujer, más allá de las que siempre se suelen representar. -
I love finding out about women that I had never heard about before. The artwork in this book is gorgeous.
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Informative & magical!
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This book talks about a girl named Leonora Carrington
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An inspiring, radiantly illustrated picture biography of the surrealist artist.
