Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions for granting my wish for a digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Portrait of an Artist: Vincent Van Gogh’, written by Lucy Brownridge and illustrated by Edith Carron, in exchange for an honest review.

Intended for children ages 7-10, this serves as a brief introduction to the life, work and legacy of Van Gogh. It’s due to be published on 3 September.

The text is simple while informative and is combined with striking illustrations that incorporate some of Van Gogh’s paintings. I loved the occasional cat that Carron has placed in her pictures.

Given the ages of its intended readership, the manner of Van Gogh’s death by suicide is sensitively noted that “Vincent decided that he had had enough of being unwell”. It leaves the subject open to allow a parent, guardian, or teacher to respond appropriately if questions are raised.

The final pages chooses ten of his masterpieces to highlight points in his artistic career.

I found this to be delightful and certainly highly recommended to help in instilling an appreciation of art and art history in younger readers.

Portrait of an Artist: Vincent van Gogh by Lucy Brownridge is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This book is excellent for kids to learn about van Gogh's life and his art. It tells about where he lived, what he painted, and in the back of the book it has extra information on his paintings. This is a find starting point for young historians or painters!

A beautiful illustrated book narrating the life of Vincent Van Gogh,one of the most loved and known artist worldwide.

Despite having a troubled life and a tragic death,his legacy is so important and it is essential to transmit his story to new generations,maintaining his relevancy.

I loved the fact that the illustrations recall the artist’s style and that his works are used to tell his story.

This book could be used for children of different ages and it can be a starting point for deeper discussions.

Well done to the author and to the illustrator!

The Portrait of an Artist series by Lucy Brownridge is an excellent introduction to art and its importance to our world. This specific title focuses on the life and works of Vincent van Gogh, which presents some challenges for the author. Brownridge is able to include very complex topics, self-harm, depression, and suicide, with a delicate touch. Younger children will be able to enjoy the illustrations, while older children may use the opportunity to ask important questions. Children of all ages will be engaged by the beautiful illustrations by Edith Carron, which serve as a backdrop for van Gogh's own paintings. Lucy Brownridge has created a series of books that will appeal across the generations and will facilitate renewed interest in the seminal works of the past.

Beautifully illustrated story of the life of Vincent van Gogh. Great introduction to the artist and his work.

What a beautiful book! I read this with my 5 year old and she was fascinated by the story and the illustrations. The perfect way to introduce Van Gogh to a child. I can't wait to add this to our shelf.

"Portrait of an Artist: Vincent van Gogh" is a great introduction to Van Gogh. The picture book covers a lot of his life and works well.

Portraits of an artist: Vincent Van Gogh is a book about an interesting and tormented man. Van Goghs paintings are my favorite. To find out so many interesting facts about his life make those paintings event more beautiful.

The childlike simple illustrations are a lovely contrast to Van Goghs paintings that are included throughout the story, to show different times of his life.

What a beautiful tribute.

The perfect and lovely book to celebrate a notable artist’s life. The book presents information in an accessible and inviting way. I would gladly add this to my shelf.

Another book in the Portrait of an Artist series.
This is one dedicated to the life of Vincent Van Gogh.
The tag line is “Discover the artist behind the masterpieces.”

Anyone with a passing knowledge of Van Gogh’s life will know it was a troubled one and perhaps not easy to reduce to the understanding of 4-7 year olds.

Written by Lucy Brownridge and wonderfully illustrated by Edith Carron. I like that the colourful drawing throughout the book reflects the artist it is about.
Vincent was a troubled soul but a person of great talent that he struggled to express or find personal contentment. He loved to draw but when he came to make his sketches into paintings his colour palette was drab and predominately brown.
What I like is that this is detailed and placed within the story; his lack of self-esteem and complex of inferiority in the shadow of his brother. That Theo his sibling was supportive is brought home which is a strand a parent can develop with their children.
Vincent has a light bulb moment both figuratively and in the reality of being introduced to vibrancy of colour through meeting the Impressionists working in Paris where he’d gone to be with his brother.
This is the difference between light and shade and this again is explained well here.
Finally I really liked that his mental health issues were not set aside or even just skirted over but generically termed an illness. Interestingly through his use of colour you can have a conversation with an inquisitive child around the choice of colours employed in certain paintings.

What I love most about this series is the exposure to works of art. Here 10 of Van Gogh’s masterpieces are looked at in more detail.
Hopefully the book will lead to a greater interest in the arts and creative pastimes. I am looking forward to a visit to an art galley and being asked if that’s a Van Gogh or just an example of the Impressionist period.
Lovely books that your children will adore.

I love the child-like quality of the illustrations in this kid-friendly biography about Vincent Van Gogh. Each page is full of vibrant color, and painted in styles that mimic some of Van Gogh's techniques. Readers will learn about the early influences on Van Gogh's life and see examples of his work on each double page spread. The prints tie in perfectly with the story line as it proceeds.

I found it interesting that the title page lists the illustrator first and then the author. But I have to say the illustrations are really the driving force in the story with so many rich details to explore on each and every page. The story, while well written, seems more of a supplement to the visual story the art tells.

I was particularly pleased that the author handled Van Gogh's self-inflicted ear injury, as well as his untimely death, in a very sensitive manner. Parents of older children may want to research more about Van Gogh's struggles and have a discussion about depression, mental illness and suicide.

I loved that the back of the book provides titles of paintings, the year they were painted and the museum location where the work is displayed. Additional background notes are offered for a many of paintings. An extension activity could be to either visit a local museum or explore one online and search for more of Van Gogh's works. Online images can be zoomed in to find greater detail.

This book would make a great resource for art education. The illustrations introduce children to color combinations, perspective drawing, and visual storytelling. Students can explore how Van Gogh's style of painting changed once he was introduced to impressionism. The book will also serve as a great model for replicating art on their own: younger readers can copy the techniques of the illustrator's work and older students can try their hand at creating works modeled after Van Gogh's actual paintings.

Portrait of an Artist: Vincent Van Gogh can be pre-ordered before its September 3, 2019 release. Order a copy for yourself and an art enthusiast in your life!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Portrait of an Artist: Vincent Van Gogh from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully illustrated and clearly presented, this is a wonderful introduction to the life and work of Vincent Van Gogh. Very visually engaging, each page has plenty to hold the readers interest. This would be a perfect read alone or small group text for my KS2 students.

These books are a great way to introduce art and artists to children.
I liked the illustrations and though the way they described Van Gogh's death was perfect and age appropriate.
The paintings chosen to showcase Van Gogh's body of work was well thought out, properly showing the vast difference in his use of colors.

Definitely recommend

Portrait of an Artist: Vincent van Gogh by Lucy Brownridge is a visually stunning account of the life and work of the beloved Dutch artist. The text is simple, yet comprehensive, and is written in straighforward and concise terms that even the youngest of children will find accessible. I was immediately drawn into the stunning illustrations, feeling almost transported to the world that Van Gogh himself inhabited.

This book is the perfect tool by which to introduce young children to the appreciation of classic art. I would not hesitate to purchase this book, not only to share with the children in my life, but as a cherished addition to my own collection.

Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions for granting my wish, and allowing me access to this beautiful gem of a book.

This book provides a brief introduction to the life and paintings of Vincent Van Gogh. Lavishly illustrated by in bright colors by Edith Carron, the illustrations include many small reproductions of Van Gogh’s paintings placed throughout. The author treads lightly on well-known events of van Gogh's life, such as the severing of part of his ear and his suicide at age 37. As a result, the ending is confusing. Nevertheless, the many reproductions of his work and the colorful context in which he lived in Arles provide a concise introduction to the artist that could stimulate further investigation.

This book is the perfect means to introduce a young reader to Van Gogh and his life's accomplishments.
What a beautifully illustrated book! What I found especially meaningful was the incorporation of Van Gogh's actual paintings throughout.
It also tells of the painter's life from beginning to end. The text touches on his tormented life. It's important to use this as a stepping stone to further discussion for young readers since it is such a difficult subject.

The perfect book to introduce kids from 7 to 10 to painting, art and to one of the most loved painters wolrwide. The text and illustrations (in his style) are engaging and beautiful. The incorporation of some of his works a wonderful way of intoducing his art. His death is discreetly and sensitively pointed at (“Vincent decided that he had had enough of being unwell”) which is important for kids that age.
All in all, a must-have for anyone who wants to instill a love of art into children.
I highly recommend this book !
#PortraitOfAnArtistVincentVanGogh #NetGalleyFrance

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in this series I have read after the Frida Kahlo edition. This follows a similar approach, key events and art in the life and career of Van Gogh are set against some lovely illustrations.

I was interested to see how the author would manage to talk about some of the more difficult aspects of Van Gogh's life but I think this was portrayed really sensitively. Saying that he had enough of being unwell leaves things open enough to discussion without being overly blunt, we need to remember the audience for this book are very young children.

Some of the facts area little iffy but as with the Kahlo edition, this is a beautifully illustrated book that would be a great gift for any young person with a developing interest in art.

This book is part of a series on artists. I have read the one on Frida Kahlo, which was well done, and now there is an entry of Van Gogh. This short book does an excellent job of telling the story of Van Gogh's life and work. Young readers will learn about Vincent's struggle to find what he wanted to do; for example, they will read that Van Gogh was a minister for a time before becoming an artist. Van Gogh's mental health issues are included in an honest, but not too detailed, way. Readers will also learn about Van Gogh's brother Theo and his relationship with Paul Gauguin. And of course, there is the art! The illustrations are vibrant and many of the artist's works are found on these pages. This book should be a welcome entry for a school collection on artists for young readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

It is no easy task. To take the story of a broken, mentally il man, who now is world famous for his paintings that were considered trash at the time he drew them, is a hard feat to accomplish in a children's picture book.

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/vangoh.png" alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5330" />

This is done as sensitively as possible. There is mention of his mental illness, in passing, and each page has a painting of Van Gogh's which are all explained at the end of the book.

Recommended as a good introduction to children of this very famous artist.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Portrait of an Artist: Vincent van Gogh is a new biography of the artist aimed at young readers (6-10 years). Due out 3rd Sept 2019 from Quarto on their Wide Eyed Editions imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

It's always challenging to write a biography of a subject whose life was fraught with difficulties and illness and ended so tragically. The author manages to tell the story with truth and grace, noting of his death, that "later on that year, Vincent decided that he had had enough of being unwell". This is an appealing full color part of the Portrait of an Artist series including children's biographies for luminaries such as Kahlo, Monet, and Georgia O'Keeffe.

The factual events of Van Gogh's life are shown along with facsimile reproductions of his work. The end of the book also includes 10 of his best known works with a short interpretive paragraph about the symbolism and composition of the paintings.

This is a good support text for a classroom or library unit on artists, art appreciation, composition, and similar. This would also make a good selection for art interested youngsters and their families.

Four stars.

"Portrait of an Artist: Vincent van Gogh" provides a short overview of the life of this famous artist. The colors and style of the illustrations make it an interesting as well as informative book. These drawings will surely appeal to children for whom this picture book is designed. They underscore the contrast between the different phases of the life of the artist, and how his emotions affected his art. The inclusion of images of Van Gogh's masterpieces also lends realism to the story.

This book glosses over the rather negative and disturbing aspects of Van Gogh's life, including his manner of death, which seems appropriate for children for whom this book is intended. At the same time, the author leaves the door open to those who wish to dig more deeply into the life of the artist by reading a more in-depth study of his life. The book contains end notes which describe the paintings included in the book.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

If you are looking for a delightfully illustrated book with which to introduce your child to the life and art of Van Gogh, Portrait of an Artist: Vincent van Gogh should be one of your top picks. Written for ages seven to ten, the sensitively written book begins with Vincent’s close relationship with his brother Theo, his struggles to find a place in society, and his eventual voyage to France and commitment to art as a career after he learned about Impressionism. Brownridge recounts his time in Aries with Paul Gaugin, including the fight that precipitated his self-injury to his ear. The writing becomes slightly less confident when the story picks up with Van Gogh’s depression and suicide. Understandably, this is a topic Brownridge wants to leave with guardians to discuss, but to solve that issue she uses the generalization “unwell,” and vague descriptions that might leave some children confused.

The illustrations in the book are gorgeous. Each spread represents a stage of Van Gogh’s life and includes a representation of a painting from that time, such a colorful drawing of Van Gogh in his Aries garden, with an adorable black cat that reoccurs throughout the book, accompanied with a reproduction of his famous Sunflowers. It’s no surprise that the drawings echo Van Gogh’s impressionistic style.

In addition to providing an age-appropriate but full summary of Van Gogh’s life, the book offers young readers and their guardians or older siblings an opportunity to read together and find the hidden treasures in the art; it can also be a jumping point for a family discussion on mental illness.

Thank you to Net Galley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Easy to follow text that introduces elementary level readers to Vincent Van Gogh's life. Readers briefly see Van Gogh's childhood and his evolution as a painter. Brownridge uses appropriate language to address how Van Gogh died to end the biography.
Van Gogh's paintings are incorporated on every page spread.
Looking forward to reading other books in this series.

This was very, very cute and I wish I had a small child in my life that I could share this with. I love that it uses the actual paintings of van Gogh to tell the story, and a lot of paintings as well! Van Gogh lived a difficult and sad life, and I think this book captures that well in a way that smaller children would be able to understand. And the illustrations are so, so fun. They didn't mention how he died though, which I thought might be a bit confusing for kids because he suddenly jumps from being very sad to being very dead. I think just a small line that connected those two things, maybe like he died of sadness, would be helpful. But other than that, I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this. It was wonderful. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series when they are released.

I've really been enjoying all these books that tell us about the lives of famous people and Portrait of an Artist: Vincent van Gogh by Lucy Brownridge was another great hit. I'm impressed by how well Brownridge describes depression and the manner of van Gogh's death in a manner that is appropriate for young children. As always, the illustrations are great too and I like how his paintings are strewn throughout the book as well as that there are some explanations for some of his paintings in the back of the book.

Another excellent book in this series! It’s perfect for budding artists and any other older elementary child looking to learn more about the arts. The illustrations are all in the style of Van Gogh, adding to the overall mood. The lists found at the end of facts and his most famous paintings are a helpful resource. Highly recommended!

This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

Portrait Of An Artist Vincent Van Gogh is a beautiful illustrated and informative book! We study artist throughout the year in our home as we homeschool. This a wonderful addition to our library. The illustrations are very similar that of the hand of Van Gogh himself. With the colors and details, this book be explored may times.

I really like the art of Vincent van Gogh and "The starry night" is my favorite painting ever. I almost cried that time I had a chance to see it for myself at an art exhibition. So, it's not really a surprise that I decided to read and review this book.

What I liked the most are definitely the drawings. They are really "Van-Gogh-ish". But in the end, I missed something. It's still great, but I think that Frida Kahlo book is done slightly better than this one.

I love this concept. It's an easy to read children's book with exciting pictures of Vincent Von Gogh that stay true to his art. Every classroom in America should have this book. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Rating 4.5

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Wide Eyed Editions for an early copy of Portrait of an Artist: Vincent van Gogh by Lucy Brownridge. This is the second book in this series that I have read and I cannot wait to read the other books in the series. This one, like the one on Frida Kahlo, was very colorful and done in the style of van Gogh. This book tells the story of van Gogh’s life, including him becoming a priest in Belgium, which was something I never knew about him. As with the Kahlo book, I would recommend this for children who like biographies, art, or just learning about new things.

Thanks Net Galley for the preview!

I really like this non-fiction children's book! I gained a lot of good info about Van Gogh and am excited to share with my students. My constant hesitation with reviewing these types of books is being unable to do a read aloud with the students.

Loved, loved, loved this illustration edition about van Gogh's life. I recently saw his art at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and ever since I have been reading as much as I can about this complex and talented man.

Whether you love art, or history, or just casually interested, this is a great book to read about his life. It is safe for children and doesn't talk about the nasty parts of his life, but adults will definitely know what the author is talking about.

I highly recommend and can't wait to pick up my own copy of this book!

This is a great biography about Vincent van Gogh for children. I really loved the illustrations in the book.

This book was a short summary of the events in Vincent's life together with his paintings in each page.

However, compared to Frida's version, the artstyle here was really cute but wasn't filled. There's many white spaces in between and the paintings of Vincent's was just pasted rather than being part of the art in some pages.

Overall, it's still cute and was a good read. I'm not sure what to say about the last page since I read a review mentioning that it's romanticizing his suicide (which I'm not very sure since I watched the BuzzFeed episode about him 😅)

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.

This is a great addition to any child's bookshelf! The book is not just about Vincent Van Gogh's life. It also speaks of resilience and following your passion.
He was the first artist I introduced to my son. And although I was familiar with his life, I still learned something new from reading this book. I like the interesting approach of presenting his illness to young readers.
I enjoy the display of his paintings throughout the book's pages. The drawings are similar to his style, making it easier for the child to identify the artist.
Thank you to Net Galley and Wide Eyed Editions for providing me with an e-book copy in exchange for my honest review!

5★
“When Vincent arrived in Paris, something life-changing happened. He saw paintings by a group of artists now called the Impressionists.”

I’m not alone in enjoying the art of Vincent Van Gogh, and I’ve read a bit about him and Theo, his older brother. Theo was an art dealer, and Vincent liked to draw. He was unhappy, but something I didn’t know was that he became a priest, because he had heard that some people found happiness in serving God.

My Goodreads review includes an illustration with the caption: Vincent tries life as a priest in Belgium.

When being a priest didn’t help him, he returned home and began painting. But he was dissatisfied with his paintings being “a sludgy shade of brown” so asked his art dealer brother for advice. Theo suggested he go to Paris to get some tips from artists there.

My Goodreads review includes an illustration with the caption: Vincent is inspired to paint with what he called “colour gymnastics”.

He and painter Paul Gauguin moved to Arles, where Vincent was captivated by the farms and landscape.

My Goodreads review includes an illustration with the caption: Vincent wanders through the countryside

The story of Van Gogh cutting his ear off is well known, but in this children’s book, the story is slightly modified from the usual.

My Goodreads review includes an illustration with the caption: ”One day he became so frantic, he had an argument with Paul. In a heated moment, he damaged a part of his ear very badly.”

He went to hospital, where he rested and began to enjoy watching the night skies. Notice the famous painting, “The Starry Night” in the top corner of the illustration below.

Vincent studies the stars from his hospital window.

At the end of the book is a selection of his paintings with notes about each, and there is a list of all the paintings scattered throughout the book as well.

My Goodreads review includes an illustration with the caption: Some of Vincent Van Gogh's famous paintings.

This is a particularly colourful, attractive book that should appeal to all ages. Children will be drawn to the vibrancy of his “colour gymnastics”, which illustrator Edith Carron has captured in a simple form, and adults will enjoy revisiting their favourite, familiar paintings.

It is longer and more detailed than I’ve indicated with these few illustrations, and I really enjoyed it. I must admit I found it hard not to hum Don McLean’s famous “Starry Starry Night” while I was reading.

I liked the drawings and it's cool because the art is done similar to van Gogh's style. I also like it because I like abstract art.

Nathan, age 9

A wonderful book about Vincent van Gogh. The illustrations and text are perfect for little minds, and my 6yo enjoys reading this with me. My son loves visual arts and I couldn't ask for a better book to introduce the famous artist with some of his renowned masterpieces to my young child. This beautiful illustrated mini bio is another winner in the series.

"I dream of painting and then I paint my dream"⁣ ⁣
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Today Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most well known painters in the world. His paintings auction for millions of dollars. But the story of his life as a struggling artist is one for the books. He was in the grips of depression and was troubled with psychotic episodes. He ultimately lost that battle too. How would you discuss such a troubled yet brilliant artist with your child? Well, thanks to the publishing world and the amazing authors who make art history fun we have perfect resources for learning. ⁣

The Portrait of an Artist series, never shies from telling the truth but how they choose to say it, is what makes the difference. The book is for kids 6 years and above so the whole biography is written and illustrated in a manner that generates an interest in the life and art of Van Gogh. His struggles are highlighted but in a very age appropriate and sensitive manner.⁣
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Edith Carron's illustrations are in sync with the art of Van Gogh and make for eye pleasing reading experience. ⁣
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The best part is the compilation of ten of Van Gogh's paintings at the end of the book. It helps introduce famous paintings with a brief overview and sparks curiosity. ⁣
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The artwork is beautiful! This is such a wonderful way to get kids interested in art and artists. This series is a wonderful addition to my kids' shelves.

First of all, I love artists’ biographies written for children with rich and colorful illustrations. When I saw this book, it became an absolutely “must read” and I enjoyed it very much. It portrays the great artist as an ordinary person with his own flaws, his ups and downs. The book has excellent pictures and age appropriate language. I recommend it for all children discovering art.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the kindly provided ARC. All opinions are mine.

I thought that this was a beautifully illustrated book which tells the tragically short life of Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most loved and well-known artists in the world.

I love books of this nature and I learnt more about him too and I will admit that after I finished the book I was off on Google finding out more - even as an adult I was intrigued and inspired to go off and find out more.

Despite having a very troubled life and a tragic death at a young age, Van Gogh produced thousands of fascinating works of art, many of which are very well know and his legacy is so important, it is essential to tell his story to new generations, and I loved sharing this one with my daughter.

The illustrator has done a stunning job with the book and it is definitely 5 stars from me - very highly recommended!

Much like the picture book on Frida Kahlo, the artwork in this book is gorgeous. I love the way van Gogh's art is incorporated into the colourful visual narrative. His story is a sad one of course & though the words are simple, I read the end with a lump in my throat. Suicide is not mentioned at all & I thought the ending was handled well. In the case of questions, parents/caregivers can decide how much to share with the child who's reading this.