Summary: Where do artist get there ideas; where do their muses come from? Anyone who has dabbled in the arts often times looks to those who came before them and searches for inspiration, hoping to find a spark that pushed others to somehow push them. Every artist has something that helped them pursue their dream and many a budding artist looks to the biographies of others to find a connection to their own lives. Fabulous! does a good job of presenting the life of Andy Warhol to young readers, depicting Andy as a weakling who overcame difficult obstacles to follow his gift. Then with strong explanation of his artistic style and technique, Christensen does well in explaining Andy's artistic expression and influence on others. From soup cans to celebrities, Andy's work is unmistakable. Yes, there are sordid details of his life omitted, but Christensen does an admirable job in simplifying his life.
Reference: Christensen, B. (2011). Fabulous! A portrait of Andy Warhol. New York, NY. Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
Impressions: Growing up as a fan of Nick Rhoades, from Duran Duran, I quickly learned about Andy Warhol, since he was a muse of Nick. I didn't always gravitate towards Andy's work, but I did recognize his influence. I never really knew his history until I read Christensen's biography. Even though I wasn't aware of his upbringing, I did know about his drug habits, alcoholism, alienating behavior, and survival from a gun shot wound. I mention this because this book never mentions them. Does this omission then truly tell about the artist and about his life? I don't think so. But since this book is geared towards children then I could understand, which, to me, would make it an ideal book in painting a portrait of this artist as a young man.
Professional review: The “fabulous” life of Andy Warhol is made accessible and understandable via this child-friendly look at the life and career of one of America’s most recognizable painters.
Shy, sickly Andy spent many lonely hours resting in bed. Warhol’s mother understood his uniqueness, and instead of forcing him to attend school, stand up to bullies or play sports, she unfailingly nurtured his talents and accepted and supported his interests. Andy attended art classes at the Carnegie Museum art school in Pittsburgh and was encouraged by teachers who also recognized his promise. Comics, movie magazines, glamorous superstars and luminous icons from his Eastern Orthodox parish church fueled his imagination. Christensen effectively re-imagines Warhol’s unmistakable style for 21st-century kids while offering a developmentally appropriate take on Warhol’s life. She focuses on his early graphic work and the exciting, transformative era of Pop Art. She conveys the explosive impact of his Campbell’s soup cans and Marilyn as she discretely limns the early activities of “The Factory.”
Though readers will need to consult the backmatter for the details of the more complex and tumultuous years from the mid-’60s to his death in 1987, they will find this a vital and exciting child-appropriate introduction to an American icon. (Picture book/biography. 6-9)
Kirkus Review (2011). [Review of Fabulous! A portrait of Andy Warhol]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/bonnie-christensen/fabulous-portrait-andy-warhol/.
Library Use: This book could be used in the elementary level for kids studying the lives of various artists. The focus of this book is good in showing Andy's artwork and capturing his Pop Art styling. I think many kids won't understand the artistry of his work, but there is a good chance they might recognize his illustrations, as well as his influence.
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