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Dancing Through Fields of Color: The Story of Helen Frankenthaler
They said only men could paint powerful pictures, but Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011) splashed her way through the modern art world. Channeling deep emotion, Helen poured paint onto her canvas and danced with the colors to make art unlike anything anyone had ever seen. She used unique tools like mops and squeegees to push the paint around, to dazzling effects. Frankenthaler became an originator of the influential “Color Field” style of abstract expressionist painting with her “soak stain” technique, and her artwork continues to electrify new generations of artists today. Dancing Through Fields of Color discusses Frankenthaler’s early life, how she used colors to express emotion, and how she overcame the male-dominated art world of the 1950s.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 28, 2024
A wonderful introduction to Helen Frankenthaler and her place in the color field painting movement. I can see why people are drawn to her art; it resonates in that place where we all appreciate the beauty of nature. So often we pass this beauty on our way to doing something we think is important. The beauty of nature we pass by is a gift not taken.
July 7, 2019
This beginning biography tells the story of Helen Frankenthaler. I admit to never have heard of her before. I thought this looked like a book of color and flowers and perfect for spring. How lucky it’s so much more.
Helen is an abstract artist and she would smear color and soak it into her canvases. She used color like it was an emotion. The artwork in the book is wonderful. There are splashes of color all over the place. Growing up, Helen lived in a world of color. I can relate a lot with Helen. I love bright colors and I surround myself with them. I like them messy and bright and everywhere. When I had my own Condo, people would call it the crayola box. Color gushed out everywhere. People weren’t used to so much color. I miss my bathroom which was floor to ceiling blue with fish stickers all over the walls. It was pure fun.
Helen also met Jackson Pollock and that really opened her up. She is a famous artist respected in her field and now I have learned a little something about her.
The kids thought this book was great. They loved the thought of being able to use your body to paint and they loved the message of breaking all the rules. That appealed to them, imagine that. I think this was good for the niece. She is a perfectionist. She felt emotions reading this and seeing all the colors. She couldn’t say why, but she liked this. She gave it 4 stars. The nephew thought it was a cool book. He gave this 3 stars. They both want to get out a big roll of paper and paint on it now. This weekend, I told them.
Helen is an abstract artist and she would smear color and soak it into her canvases. She used color like it was an emotion. The artwork in the book is wonderful. There are splashes of color all over the place. Growing up, Helen lived in a world of color. I can relate a lot with Helen. I love bright colors and I surround myself with them. I like them messy and bright and everywhere. When I had my own Condo, people would call it the crayola box. Color gushed out everywhere. People weren’t used to so much color. I miss my bathroom which was floor to ceiling blue with fish stickers all over the walls. It was pure fun.
Helen also met Jackson Pollock and that really opened her up. She is a famous artist respected in her field and now I have learned a little something about her.
The kids thought this book was great. They loved the thought of being able to use your body to paint and they loved the message of breaking all the rules. That appealed to them, imagine that. I think this was good for the niece. She is a perfectionist. She felt emotions reading this and seeing all the colors. She couldn’t say why, but she liked this. She gave it 4 stars. The nephew thought it was a cool book. He gave this 3 stars. They both want to get out a big roll of paper and paint on it now. This weekend, I told them.
March 24, 2019
Elizabeth Brown beautifully portrays the creative experience of Color Field painter Helen Frankenthaler with energy and joy, and Aimée Sicuro's illustrations match Brown's carefully selected words in tone and vibrancy. Brown masterfully distills her extensive research to show how Frankenthaler followed her heart and defied artistic rules, then remade them by creating her own "soak-stain" painting technique. Brown uses dance terms to describe not only how Frankenthaler moved about as she created her work, but the movement she created in her work. This painstakingly-crafted picture book is a work of art in itself and stands out in its field.
March 19, 2019
A beautiful read with gorgeous illustrations. Perfect for parents wanting to nurture lovers of art, history, and learning about the unique perspectives an artist brings to her work. Loved it!
December 18, 2021
Dancing Through Fields of Color: The Story of Helen Frankenthaler is a children's picture book written by Elizabeth Brown and illustrated by Aimée Sicuro. It centers on abstract expressionist painter Helen Frankenthaler, who carries a deep fascination with color and light from childhood to adulthood.
Helen Frankenthaler was an American abstract expressionist painter. She was a major contributor to the history of postwar American painting. Having exhibited her work for over six decades, she spanned several generations of abstract painters while continuing to produce vital and ever-changing new work.
Brown's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The narration frames her artistic motivations as primarily emotional, undermining her deliberate aesthetic decisions. Moreover, though the textual descriptions of Frankenthaler's process are gorgeous. Backmatter includes a timeline, activities, author's notes, quotes and sources, primary and secondary bibliography. With sweeping strokes, Sicuro conveys the young artist’s joy in the act of creation, her images of seaside landscapes spilling off the canvasses, and waves trailing from the beach she’s painting into her bedroom.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. As a child, Helen Frankenthaler, an Abstract Expressionist who created the Color Field painting movement, shirked rules in favor of free expression. Frankenthaler attends art school, where she adheres to rigid expectations, but the work of Jackson Pollock reawakens her, liberating her to paint emotively.
All in all, Dancing Through Fields of Color: The Story of Helen Frankenthaler is an enthusiastic starter biography of an American artist.
Helen Frankenthaler was an American abstract expressionist painter. She was a major contributor to the history of postwar American painting. Having exhibited her work for over six decades, she spanned several generations of abstract painters while continuing to produce vital and ever-changing new work.
Brown's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. The narration frames her artistic motivations as primarily emotional, undermining her deliberate aesthetic decisions. Moreover, though the textual descriptions of Frankenthaler's process are gorgeous. Backmatter includes a timeline, activities, author's notes, quotes and sources, primary and secondary bibliography. With sweeping strokes, Sicuro conveys the young artist’s joy in the act of creation, her images of seaside landscapes spilling off the canvasses, and waves trailing from the beach she’s painting into her bedroom.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. As a child, Helen Frankenthaler, an Abstract Expressionist who created the Color Field painting movement, shirked rules in favor of free expression. Frankenthaler attends art school, where she adheres to rigid expectations, but the work of Jackson Pollock reawakens her, liberating her to paint emotively.
All in all, Dancing Through Fields of Color: The Story of Helen Frankenthaler is an enthusiastic starter biography of an American artist.
March 14, 2019
Elizabeth Brown's lyrical words and Aimaee Sicuro's passionate illustrations bring Helen Frankenthaler to life and will make you want to become an artist.
May 19, 2019
Brown introduces young readers to Helen Frankenthaler, who is best known for her big, bold Fields of Color paintings. Helen's love of color and freedom of expression began as a child, when she was encouraged by her parents to follow her instincts about art, even while her teachers were promoting q more realistic style of painting done within the lines. Sadly, at age 11, Helen's colorful inspiration failed her when her beloved father suddenly died, and though she kept painting, it was never the same as before since it never really expressed what she felt inside. Then, as an adult, Helen met Jackson Pollock, and she realized that if he could break the rules, so could she. But it took a trip to Nova Scotia to really free Helen's painting. And what Helen created were paintings seeped in colors and deep emotion - a technique called "soak stain" where the paint is allowed to seep into the canvas. Sicuro's watercolor illustrations are energetic and bright, and without trying to recreate the soak stain techniques, she nevertheless manages to capture the sense of Helen Frankenthaler's paintings. Back matter includes More About Helen Frankenthaler, a Timeline of her life, Author's Note, Quotes and Sources, and an extensive Select Bibliography. Also included is a Poured Paint/Soak-Stain Activity that kids can do to really understand how Helen's technique works, and the most important thing to remember for this activity - there are no rules!
June 1, 2019
The text ebbs and flows and surges, bringing life and energy to Frankenthaler’s story. Knowing what I know now from Elizabeth Brown’s post last week for Behind the Scenes, I can see that her experimentation with and immersion in the techniques the artist used brought forth a text that really imitates the art. Though painting is a rather quiet pursuit, Brown’s tremendous selection of verbs carry the story from Frankenthaler’s heart to our own.
The softly colored illustrations are warm and inviting, free and flowing. This story of a rebel artist who found her way will no doubt inspire kids to play with their own creativity and find their own freedom in art.
The softly colored illustrations are warm and inviting, free and flowing. This story of a rebel artist who found her way will no doubt inspire kids to play with their own creativity and find their own freedom in art.
May 25, 2019
I love reading biographical picture books. They are amazing because they have a way of getting to the heart of the person quickly. This book stays within that structure and shows quickly how important color was to the artist, Helen Frankenthaler. I enjoyed learning about her infatuation with colors. I especially enjoyed the author's note at the end of the book.
April 2, 2019
Helen Frankenthaler's story and her art is beautifully presented through Elizabeth Brown's lush, descriptive text. Gorgeous illustrations by Aimée Sicuro reflect Frankenthaler's unique technique of thinned oil paint and "soak-stained" effect, using unconventional tools. Leading the reader through her happy earlier childhood and then a heartbreaking loss to emerge has one of the 2oth century's leading (female) abstract Expressionist artists, who never liked to paint inside the lines. The stunning spread which includes "Helen dreamed of setting her colors free, like she was as a child, running without boundaries." perfectly encapsulates her art: setting the colors free. Includes richly detailed back matter.
April 18, 2019
I really liked how this showed Frankenthaler's own explorations of ways of doing art throughout her life as well as those she was trained in (like still lifes and cubism) and how she was influenced by other people working (her professors, Pollack).
The main text mostly doesn't contain her art, but the illustrations use watercolor, ink, and charcoal (and really color in general) in ways that work well with Frankenthaler's own style. The illustrations also did a great job of showing the other styles around her/influencing her.
Some of the verbs in the text are really part of the illustrations, which was fun. And the use of verbs here in general is great. I was surprised by how dance-y some of it is!
The main text mostly doesn't contain her art, but the illustrations use watercolor, ink, and charcoal (and really color in general) in ways that work well with Frankenthaler's own style. The illustrations also did a great job of showing the other styles around her/influencing her.
Some of the verbs in the text are really part of the illustrations, which was fun. And the use of verbs here in general is great. I was surprised by how dance-y some of it is!
May 21, 2019
I could have stared at every page of this beautiful book for an hour. The illustrations are striking and free in a way only watercolor can be. I had never heard of Helen Frankenthaler, but now that I know who she is I have a feeling I'll be keeping an eye out for her name in art museums for a long time to come.
May 1, 2019
Biographies give us an opportunity to see how great women (and men) became legends. But in Dancing Through Fields Of Colors, children get so much more than a timeline. Brown’s retelling of Helen Frankenthaler’s life also reminds readers (young and old) to believe in yourself, never give up and always, always question everything. Author and illustrator come together beautifully, balancing text with art although this is one of those rare books where, in spite of being a picture book, the language is so vivid the art is almost just a bonus.
April 13, 2019
Elizabeth Brown skillfully immerses us into the colorful and creative life of Helen Frankenthaler, an exceptional and talented artist in the area of Abstract Expressionism. Readers get to deeply experience the ups and downs with Helen as she grows up in a loving family and finds her way in the art world which can be cruel and crushing. The illustrations captures the spirit and exuberance of Helen and her art and complement the story perfectly.
January 27, 2019
Dancing Through Fields of Color is a stunningly beautiful book about the life of Helen Frankenthaler. The words and illustrations allowed you to feel colors and emotions laid out on the pages. You felt every pain and joy alongside Helen as she explored her life as an artist. This is a perfect non-Fiction picture book to share with students along with some amazing art and dance opportunities.
February 8, 2019
I'll be looking for Frankenthaler's paintings as I visit galleries after reading this picture book biography describing her approach and process to her painting. I loved all the color names sprinkled through the pages.
March 15, 2019
This book is gorgeous, both the illustrations and the rich, descriptive text. I loved learning about Helen Frankenthaler and how she created her own style in the modern art world. Beautiful and inspiring!
March 28, 2019
Lyrical language and colorful illustrations provide context and an appreciation for a lesser-known (to me, anyway!) figure in American art history, as well as an appreciation for Frankenthaler's pour and soak splashy art technique. Fun art activity for your kids in the endpapers!
March 31, 2019
Absolutely gorgeous nonfiction picture book. The words and illustrations dance on the pages of this inspirational biography of artist Helen Frankenthaler. A must for any budding artist’s bookshelf. Or anyone who prefers to color outside the lines
March 20, 2019
The life of Helen Frankenthaler is told in this lovely book, where colors swirl across the pages with beautiful words and images.
May 9, 2019
This was lovely. Well researched, honest, and the illustrations are true to the art form and color field movement. A wonderful addition to any library or school collection.
Read
May 22, 2019Wow, this book is fantastic. The illustrations really do the book and the artist justice, I feel.
Read
May 9, 2019Love this children's biography of
a lesser known artist!
a lesser known artist!
April 28, 2019
An inspiring, beautifully written story about a famous female painter.
June 15, 2019
It is good to see biography of Helen Frankenthaler in picture book form. Despite some plummy writing in text and awkwardness in illustration I would recommend this book. The young reader will identify with Helen's desire to paint her own way and with the loss her father.
August 30, 2019
What a fascinating look at a life marked by creativity and living from the heart. Helen Frankenthaler lived beyond societal norms to be her truest artist-self. This beautiful book will make you want to dance too!
January 6, 2021
A solid artist biography picture book. A little too lyrically/poetically wordy at times (would've liked to know more about Helen Frankenthaler's actual life/work), but a useful book for entering discussions of abstract expressionism and misogyny in the art world.
Themes: Art, Color, Freedom
Age range: Preschool and Early Elementary
Themes: Art, Color, Freedom
Age range: Preschool and Early Elementary
July 17, 2024
Summary:
"Dancing Through a Field of Colors" by Marge Pellegrino and illustrated by Joanne Liu is a children's book that celebrates the beauty and joy found in the world of art and creativity. The story follows a young girl named Celia, who loves to dance and express herself through colors. As Celia explores her imagination and the world around her, she discovers the vibrant hues of nature and the power of self-expression through painting and dance" (ChatGPT, July 15, 2024).
Commentary:
This story is truly touching as we follow Helen on her story through her love through art and also watch as her father passes, and her color embody her feelings. We see her find her love for art again and then find herself in college for art. We hear stories about her in college and how she still is the most outgoing and unique students in that classroom. This message of this story is truly beautiful and shows students to never give up on what they truly believe in.
Application:
In my classroom, we could do this story as a read aloud for the class. We can watch through YouTube and find a more interactive video of this story being told. We can then have circle time about some of the things that we love do to and jobs that we would want to have when we are older and how some of the things we love to do know, can help us when we get those big jobs in the future.
"Dancing Through a Field of Colors" by Marge Pellegrino and illustrated by Joanne Liu is a children's book that celebrates the beauty and joy found in the world of art and creativity. The story follows a young girl named Celia, who loves to dance and express herself through colors. As Celia explores her imagination and the world around her, she discovers the vibrant hues of nature and the power of self-expression through painting and dance" (ChatGPT, July 15, 2024).
Commentary:
This story is truly touching as we follow Helen on her story through her love through art and also watch as her father passes, and her color embody her feelings. We see her find her love for art again and then find herself in college for art. We hear stories about her in college and how she still is the most outgoing and unique students in that classroom. This message of this story is truly beautiful and shows students to never give up on what they truly believe in.
Application:
In my classroom, we could do this story as a read aloud for the class. We can watch through YouTube and find a more interactive video of this story being told. We can then have circle time about some of the things that we love do to and jobs that we would want to have when we are older and how some of the things we love to do know, can help us when we get those big jobs in the future.
September 23, 2021
Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011), a leading abstract expressionist of the twentieth century, “never wanted to follow the rules” in her painting, collages, card making, chalk paintings, or beadwork. After graduating from college and meeting Jackson Pollock, an artist who broke all the rules, Helen Frankenthaler revolutionized modern art with her Color Field style of painting which included her “soak stain” technique and use of unexpected tools (mops, sponges, and squeegees). Her abstract art was tied to nature and human emotions, and she achieved success in a field dominated by male artists. Aimée Sicuro’s illustrations in watercolor, ink, and charcoal pencil with evocative words dancing across some of the double-page spreads convey Frankenthaler’s creative spirit with their movement, energy, and color. Back matter includes a “More About Helen Frankenthaler” section, timeline, a Poured Paint/Soak-Stain Activity, an author’s note, sources of quotes, and a bibliography.
March 16, 2024
I searched out this children’s book after finishing a biography of Helen Frankenthaler. Elizabeth Brown writes an accurate biography of Helen from childhood into adult success and recognition in a minimum of words for a young child but with enough detail for the slightly older (ranked for 4-8), or even an adult reader who would like to dip their toe into modern art history. Then there are photographs and an essay, a timeline, author’s note, quotes and sources, and bibliography. Plus, supplies and details for exploring color field painting is included. This book could be a good school book report or classroom project as well as introduction into abstract expressionism art history.
As a gift book, I would reserve this for a child with an inclination toward art (are they all so inclined?).
Kudos to the illustrator, Aimée Sicuro.
As a gift book, I would reserve this for a child with an inclination toward art (are they all so inclined?).
Kudos to the illustrator, Aimée Sicuro.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews