For the next few Fridays we’ll look at some picture books created to inspire children to be creative themselves. Some tell the story of a famous artist or photographer. Others encourage children to create something themselves.
The first is Action Jackson written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan. It is illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker. Roaring Brook Press published Action Jackson in 2002.
The book begins with a disclaimer that not every detail of the story is factual. However, the sequence of events, the personal habits of artist Jackson Pollock and his method of painting are factual.
The biographical details of Jackson Pollock’s life are minimized in this picture book. What is emphasized is his creative process. He used ordinary house paint and ordinary canvas. He painted in an old barn. He sat and thought a LOT before he started each project, and often in the middle of the process. He described his paintings as “energy and motion made visible.”
I think the most inspiring portions of this picture book are Pollock’s use of ordinary materials, his less than artistic education and his unique style.
The Back Matter of the book gives biographic details and bibliographic information for sources the authors and illustrator used. I think teachers will find Action Jackson especially useful.