Art of Children’s Literature
I. Visual Elements
In many children’s books the story is told through both text and pictures. (Not only “picture” books)
Picture Story Book
Pictures and text equally important and the total format reflects the story’s meaning.
Illustrated Book
Includes pictures, but they are merely extensions of the text. Enrich but are not necessary.
Decorated Book
Includes small pictures or designs, often at beginning or end of chapter.
II.
Different purposes accomplished through illustrations:
• Convey Meaning
• Convey Feeling or Mood
• Provide Aesthetic Dimension- Pleasure
• Define/develop characters
• Reinforce or enhance text
• Establish setting
• Interesting Asides
III.
Visual Elements
A.
Line: The stroke marks that form part of a picture and often define its outline.
• Defines objects
• Suggests motion, direction, energy or mood.
• Thin, wide, feathery, jagged, curved, straight.
• Leads the viewer’s eye
• Vertical—Stability
• Horizontal—Tranquility, rest, peace
• Diagonal—Motion
B.
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Color: Visual element of a book observed for its hue, lightness, and saturation.
Hue: Cool or warm end of the color spectrum
Lightness: diaphanous to opaque
Saturation: intense or pale colors
Lack of color
Shape: Spatial forms of a picture. Carries a mood or message.
May be evaluated for:
• Simplicity or complexity
• Definition or lack of
• Rigidity (geometric shapes) or suppleness (organic shapes)
• Size
• Negative (blank) Space
Texture: Tactile surface characteristics of objects (Impression of how it would feel)
• Rough/slick
• Firm/spongy
• Jagged/smooth
Composition: Arrangement of the visual elements in a picture, and the way the elements
relate to each other.
• Focal point
Carin Barwick KASL 2012
[email protected]
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Proportion/Balance
Harmony/Disharmony
IV Artistic Styles
A.
Realistic Art
• Natural forms
• Accurate Representation
• Without idealization
• “Looks like what it looks like”
B.
Impressionistic Art
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Renders fleeting visual impressions with the use of light
Primarily concerned with properties and proportions of light and color
Often places dots or slashes of unmixed color next to one another to simulate natural light
Not concerned with minute detail
Often dreamlike
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C.
Expressionistic Art
Communicates an inner feeling/vision by distorting external reality.
Shocking colors
Rough, rapid brushwork
Leans toward abstraction
More undisciplined than realism, impressionism
Concern for “essence” of subject, not details
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D.
Abstract Art
Emphasizes form and surface qualities
Little/no direct representation of objects
Emphasis on mood or feeling
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E.
Surrealistic Art
Presents incongruous dream and fantasy images
Sometimes juxtaposes unlikely objects
Often highly romantic or fanciful
Often used meticulously detailed realism to make scene believable
Combines colors, textures, forms in unique ways
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F.
Primitive/Folk Art
Style reminiscent of a particular era/culture.
Artistic expressions of folk cultures from every part of the world.
Often represent rural, peasant communities, ethnic groups
Motifs, symbols, decorative patterns of the culture used
Often a simplification of line, color, space and volume
“Untrained” or “naive” art
Child-like quality
Disregard for anatomy, perspective
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G.
Cartoons
Exaggerated, rounded figures
Popular with Children
Carin Barwick KASL 2012
[email protected]
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Lively line creates movement
Object is humor
V. Artistic Media
A.
Drawing:
Pen & ink, colored pencils, pastels, pencil (graphite)/charcoal
B.
Collage:
Real objects, assorted textures
C.
Print Making: Woodcuts, linoleum prints, block prints, lithography
D.
Photography
E.
Painting:
Oils, acrylics, watercolors, gouache, tempera
F.
Mixed Media: Combination of 2 or more media (watercolor and collage)
G.
Computer
Carin Barwick KASL 2012
[email protected]