Rough Sketch Beginning

by James Berry, Robert Florczak (Illustrator)

As James Berry and Robert Florczak explore the creative process, they draw inspiration from natural wonders such as the sun, a mountain, and the sea. By tying abstract concepts to nature, the author and artist push the limits of traditional poetry and picture book illustration to illuminate the mysterious process of developing a work of art. “A beautifully written, lavishly designed, and ingeniously illustrated book.”-Booklist

Genres: Art, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

James Berry, OBE, Hon FRSL (1924-2017) was a black Jamaican poet and writer who settled in England in the 1940s. His poetry is notable for using a mixture of standard English and Jamaican Patois.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a picture book but not a children's book (although it might interest some children). It showcases a quite magnificent painting by Robert Florczak (a landscape--rather Maxfield Parrish like at least in coloring.) The painting is printed on a fold out double double spread. The rest of the book shows various color sketches Florczak made either in preparetion for the painting or as general reference and observation. He's a wonderful painter. The text is a poem, also lyrical about the natural world, for adults.