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Chuck Close: Face Book
This fascinating, interactive autobiography presents Chuck Close’s story, his art, and a discussion of the many processes he uses in the studio. The question-and-answer format is based on real kids’ inquiries about Close’s life and work, and his answers to them. Close, who is wheelchair-bound and paints with a brush strapped to his arm, discusses the severe dyslexia and face blindness he has struggled with since childhood, as well as a collapsed spinal artery that left him nearly paralyzed at the age of 48.
An engaging feature of the book is a mix-and-match Chuck Close self-portrait section. This hands-on component encourages the reader to create new and interesting combinations of Close’s techniques and images. The book also includes an illustrated chronology of Close’s life, a list of museums where his work can be seen, and an index.
Winner of the 2012 Boston Globe - Horn Book Nonfiction Award
Praise for Chuck Close: Face Book
STARRED REVIEW
"Art lovers of all ages will revel in this vivid, wonderfully affecting book, which is almost as ingenious and memorable as Close himself."
–Kirkus Reviews, starred review
STARRED REVIEW
"Close describes his work with candor and insight. The high quality printing and lush colors of the reproductions make it easy for readers to share that excitement. A nifty mix-and-match section lets readers compare the methods used in 14 of the artist’s self-portraits."
–Publishers Weekly, starred review
STARRED REVIEW
“Excellent-quality reproductions of his paintings appear throughout. A readable and engaging look at a fascinating artist and his methods of working.”
–School Library Journal, starred review
"Chuck Close’s art and life story are the ideal way to introduce art and artists to children."
–Horn Book
"A winner. Chuck Close's honest, personal memoir about his life and work makes an ideal book for kids who find school challenging, who are creative or who see the world a bit differently from their peers. In other words, this one's for most everyone."
–Shelf Awareness
An engaging feature of the book is a mix-and-match Chuck Close self-portrait section. This hands-on component encourages the reader to create new and interesting combinations of Close’s techniques and images. The book also includes an illustrated chronology of Close’s life, a list of museums where his work can be seen, and an index.
Winner of the 2012 Boston Globe - Horn Book Nonfiction Award
Praise for Chuck Close: Face Book
STARRED REVIEW
"Art lovers of all ages will revel in this vivid, wonderfully affecting book, which is almost as ingenious and memorable as Close himself."
–Kirkus Reviews, starred review
STARRED REVIEW
"Close describes his work with candor and insight. The high quality printing and lush colors of the reproductions make it easy for readers to share that excitement. A nifty mix-and-match section lets readers compare the methods used in 14 of the artist’s self-portraits."
–Publishers Weekly, starred review
STARRED REVIEW
“Excellent-quality reproductions of his paintings appear throughout. A readable and engaging look at a fascinating artist and his methods of working.”
–School Library Journal, starred review
"Chuck Close’s art and life story are the ideal way to introduce art and artists to children."
–Horn Book
"A winner. Chuck Close's honest, personal memoir about his life and work makes an ideal book for kids who find school challenging, who are creative or who see the world a bit differently from their peers. In other words, this one's for most everyone."
–Shelf Awareness
64 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2012
6 people are currently reading
553 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Close
57 books15 followersChuck Close is a renowned American painter, printmaker, and photographer. His 1998 traveling retrospective, organized by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, confirmed his place in the pantheon of major contemporary artists. His paintings, prints, and photographs, represented by PaceWildenstein in New York, are widely exhibited and collected."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
March 30, 2015
Are you into art are reading? If you answered yes then "Chuck Close Face book", is a perfect book for you it give you that side of art that you may love. This is a autography type of book that show you (the reader)the artist chuck point of view in art and why he became a artist in the first place.
This story take place in the childhood of chuck close. Chuck close is a about a man telling his life story and why he does what he does, chuck is a artist and all ways wanted to be since he was a little boy now the problem which is also the conflict of his life is that when he was growing up in the 1940s and the 1950s was ditnosted with "dyslexia and also had "prosopagnosia" which is called "face blindness"which makes you not remember faces or names.Chuck not being able to do go in school not knowing his math or anything is called person vs society because he had to deal with his class mates and his teachers.
I was surprised that the author Chuck was going through a lot of problems but yet he was still able to become a wonderful artist that he is now for example he could not remember faces and what he did was paint faces so he could remember them and I like the way he kind of related everything that he couldn't do but did them with art like he wasn't really good at social studies so when he would have to present he would draw out a time line and paint the stuff that they ate .he would relate the things that he can't do and made it to what he can do and I really like that about Chuck.
One thing I really did not like about the book was that it kinda waited to the last minute to tell you why he would draw people not smiling but then again I kind of liked it because then you're just like you're just reading reading even if its boring or just reading over and over just to get to that one part that you like which is why he didn't paint people smiling and I think that's why he put it at the end but being a kid I want to know that first cuz then I'm just like reading it and I want to see it but I really like that the author has that good attention grabber in there.
I give this book a 5 because I like the way goes great details I like the way it gots a good attention grabber that makes me want to continuously read and I like the way that the book was created as an interview with him like everything written in the book was what he had to say and I really like that about the book and I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in art and kind of have that disability and something that you can't do and read this book so then you know that you can relate it to something that you can do and kind of problem solve just like Chuck Close.
This story take place in the childhood of chuck close. Chuck close is a about a man telling his life story and why he does what he does, chuck is a artist and all ways wanted to be since he was a little boy now the problem which is also the conflict of his life is that when he was growing up in the 1940s and the 1950s was ditnosted with "dyslexia and also had "prosopagnosia" which is called "face blindness"which makes you not remember faces or names.Chuck not being able to do go in school not knowing his math or anything is called person vs society because he had to deal with his class mates and his teachers.
I was surprised that the author Chuck was going through a lot of problems but yet he was still able to become a wonderful artist that he is now for example he could not remember faces and what he did was paint faces so he could remember them and I like the way he kind of related everything that he couldn't do but did them with art like he wasn't really good at social studies so when he would have to present he would draw out a time line and paint the stuff that they ate .he would relate the things that he can't do and made it to what he can do and I really like that about Chuck.
One thing I really did not like about the book was that it kinda waited to the last minute to tell you why he would draw people not smiling but then again I kind of liked it because then you're just like you're just reading reading even if its boring or just reading over and over just to get to that one part that you like which is why he didn't paint people smiling and I think that's why he put it at the end but being a kid I want to know that first cuz then I'm just like reading it and I want to see it but I really like that the author has that good attention grabber in there.
I give this book a 5 because I like the way goes great details I like the way it gots a good attention grabber that makes me want to continuously read and I like the way that the book was created as an interview with him like everything written in the book was what he had to say and I really like that about the book and I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in art and kind of have that disability and something that you can't do and read this book so then you know that you can relate it to something that you can do and kind of problem solve just like Chuck Close.
June 21, 2018
A fun autobiographical introduction to this artist. Highly recommended for kids interested in becoming an artist.
July 19, 2014
I have always thought that art by Chuck Close was a little odd - maybe even weird.. but I have a new appreciation for him and his work after reading this book.. I love that fact that the text is answering questions by kids about his life and his work.. and the explanations are detailed and interesting...
January 15, 2023
Wanted to read something from Chuck Close for awhile now. I thought this book was going to be different than what it is but that’s my fault for not looking closely.
I really liked this book and the interchangeable face. I did think that they would have talked a little more about his prosopagnosia, “face blindness” considering all he “paints” are faces.
I really liked this book and the interchangeable face. I did think that they would have talked a little more about his prosopagnosia, “face blindness” considering all he “paints” are faces.
March 3, 2015
If you like books that are about how people been through so much in the begging but then they succeed at the end, if so this book is for you. The genre of this book is auto biography because this book is about Chuck Close who wrote this book himself. The fact that I really like about this book is that it shows all the pictures that he made throughout his life.
This book is basically about a man named Chuck Close in all the things that he has been through to get where he is at know. I'm going to tell you how he got where he is at know.
When Chuck Close was young he had severely dyslexic, and if you don't know what that is its when people struggle with spelling,writing, or reading but it also effect other areas as well and he was labeled as dumb. Chuck wanted to do sports but he couldn't but he was really talented at art so he got support for that. He didn't know he had dyslexic was until he was an adult. He struggled with some of his paintings when he was young but as he grew older as and adult he got used to it. Chuck grew up in a very poor town called Everett,in Washington State and he had several art and music classes every week out there which made him improve in his art talent. Back in the 1940's they mad time magazines in they were hand painted, so every time one came to his house he would take his grandmother's magnifying glass in try to figure out how they made it. As Chuck got older he made self-portraits of himself with different types of paints. Then it got bigger he start doing other people to show evidence of expects threw out there life.
I believe the authors purpose of writing this book is to show and explain to people who is going threw the same thing or something similar to what he is going threw,in basically send a message to people telling them to never give up even though your not perfect but everybody is talented at something. For example, in the book it states " There were a number of reasons why I wasn't going to give up first I had to support my two daughters in my wife." "The physical challenges of being a quadriplegic were new,but I already had the resolve and stubbornness I needed to keep going."
I like the way the author Doesn't always have the people that he are painting smiling because it explains the people that he are painting expressions in how they are really felling . For example , in the text it states "I painted my my wife grandmother." Look at her face she's not smiling because she was the only person to survive in the Holocaust during World War II in she was angry cause her entire family had been killed by nazis in that explains the aspects of her long life.
I would truly give this book 5 stars because I love all the details that he gave in how he explained all the things that he has been threw to get were he is know. I also like the way he gave a message to the people who may be going threw the same thing. I would Recommend this book to Kelsey because I know she love books that explains what people been threw to get to there goal. So if you want to read more about how Chuck close got to his goal or you may be going threw the same thing or something similar check this book out its a very good book!!
This book is basically about a man named Chuck Close in all the things that he has been through to get where he is at know. I'm going to tell you how he got where he is at know.
When Chuck Close was young he had severely dyslexic, and if you don't know what that is its when people struggle with spelling,writing, or reading but it also effect other areas as well and he was labeled as dumb. Chuck wanted to do sports but he couldn't but he was really talented at art so he got support for that. He didn't know he had dyslexic was until he was an adult. He struggled with some of his paintings when he was young but as he grew older as and adult he got used to it. Chuck grew up in a very poor town called Everett,in Washington State and he had several art and music classes every week out there which made him improve in his art talent. Back in the 1940's they mad time magazines in they were hand painted, so every time one came to his house he would take his grandmother's magnifying glass in try to figure out how they made it. As Chuck got older he made self-portraits of himself with different types of paints. Then it got bigger he start doing other people to show evidence of expects threw out there life.
I believe the authors purpose of writing this book is to show and explain to people who is going threw the same thing or something similar to what he is going threw,in basically send a message to people telling them to never give up even though your not perfect but everybody is talented at something. For example, in the book it states " There were a number of reasons why I wasn't going to give up first I had to support my two daughters in my wife." "The physical challenges of being a quadriplegic were new,but I already had the resolve and stubbornness I needed to keep going."
I like the way the author Doesn't always have the people that he are painting smiling because it explains the people that he are painting expressions in how they are really felling . For example , in the text it states "I painted my my wife grandmother." Look at her face she's not smiling because she was the only person to survive in the Holocaust during World War II in she was angry cause her entire family had been killed by nazis in that explains the aspects of her long life.
I would truly give this book 5 stars because I love all the details that he gave in how he explained all the things that he has been threw to get were he is know. I also like the way he gave a message to the people who may be going threw the same thing. I would Recommend this book to Kelsey because I know she love books that explains what people been threw to get to there goal. So if you want to read more about how Chuck close got to his goal or you may be going threw the same thing or something similar check this book out its a very good book!!
March 1, 2015
Chuck Close: Face Book, is the epitome of perseverance. Chuck Close is an artist who is paralyzed from the chest down. He demonstrates intense dedication to his art because of his passion to do it. In a quote from the book, “His determination to be able to paint again, even if it meant having to ‘spit on the canvas.” (p.4). This book truly is inspirational to students who are passionate about something but feel insecure about achievement.
The style of this book is a combination of an interview and the story of his life. Students at an elementary school interviewed Chuck. This format is very reader friendly and makes the book desirable for students to pick up, read, and enjoy.
On each page there is a question followed by a long answer and photographs that relate. Many of the questions are ones that any student would want to know the answer to. Chuck’s art is all over this book, there is a whole section dedicated to a flipbook that showcases the many different techniques he uses to diversify his art.
Something that I found so wonderful and interesting was that when Chuck was a student he had severe dyslexia. Back when he was in elementary school, dyslexia was not diagnosed and children who suffered from it was misunderstood. Chuck figured out a way to use his art to help his disorder. Most teachers were receptive of this and would change a lot of their expectations and requirements for projects so the Chuck could show his learning through is art. This is something that is so inspiring for me as an adult and I am sure for students are well. Everyone is different and has different needs in life and in learning. There are ways to make things work for you, you just need to work at it and stick with it. Perseverance.
The text features of this book include:
- Photographs
- Pictures
- Captions
- Bold Words
- Quotes
- Timeline
- Resources
- Glossary
The style of this book is a combination of an interview and the story of his life. Students at an elementary school interviewed Chuck. This format is very reader friendly and makes the book desirable for students to pick up, read, and enjoy.
On each page there is a question followed by a long answer and photographs that relate. Many of the questions are ones that any student would want to know the answer to. Chuck’s art is all over this book, there is a whole section dedicated to a flipbook that showcases the many different techniques he uses to diversify his art.
Something that I found so wonderful and interesting was that when Chuck was a student he had severe dyslexia. Back when he was in elementary school, dyslexia was not diagnosed and children who suffered from it was misunderstood. Chuck figured out a way to use his art to help his disorder. Most teachers were receptive of this and would change a lot of their expectations and requirements for projects so the Chuck could show his learning through is art. This is something that is so inspiring for me as an adult and I am sure for students are well. Everyone is different and has different needs in life and in learning. There are ways to make things work for you, you just need to work at it and stick with it. Perseverance.
The text features of this book include:
- Photographs
- Pictures
- Captions
- Bold Words
- Quotes
- Timeline
- Resources
- Glossary
April 23, 2012
Too cool!
A book about a contemporary artist for kids by a publishing company that seems to understand the needs of younger readers when it comes to non-fiction. This book would be a home-run in the art classroom as a non-fiction piece!
The artist renders his face using different styles and mediums. All of these are in the book labeled for the medium and approach. But each rendering is cut into three pieces allowing the reader to flip the panels to see that Chuck's face still comes through even in mixed media.
An artist who was paralyzed by a blood clot forming in his spine, Close chooses a sort of question and answer approach to the book making the text accessible. Close does not shy away from talking about "the event" that took the use of his legs.
The layout of the book reads like an extended feature article one might find in a magazine affording access to information and transitioning from topic to topic.
Lots of discussion in the book about his technique which artists of all ages would enjoy!
And I am sure that you could imagine your younger readers flipping the panels back and forth. So could ABRAMS, so these panels are extra thick for younger readers!
A book about a contemporary artist for kids by a publishing company that seems to understand the needs of younger readers when it comes to non-fiction. This book would be a home-run in the art classroom as a non-fiction piece!
The artist renders his face using different styles and mediums. All of these are in the book labeled for the medium and approach. But each rendering is cut into three pieces allowing the reader to flip the panels to see that Chuck's face still comes through even in mixed media.
An artist who was paralyzed by a blood clot forming in his spine, Close chooses a sort of question and answer approach to the book making the text accessible. Close does not shy away from talking about "the event" that took the use of his legs.
The layout of the book reads like an extended feature article one might find in a magazine affording access to information and transitioning from topic to topic.
Lots of discussion in the book about his technique which artists of all ages would enjoy!
And I am sure that you could imagine your younger readers flipping the panels back and forth. So could ABRAMS, so these panels are extra thick for younger readers!
June 20, 2012
"Why do you only paint faces?"
"Why doesn't anyone in your art smile?"
"When you were paralyzed, were you afraid you wouldn't be able to paint again?"
These are some of the questions artist Chuck Close answers in his new autobiography for children. Filled with his portraits of mostly ordinary people, this book let's readers into Close's extraordinary life.
Born right here in Washington state in 1940, Close began taking art lessons at age 8. His severe dyslexia and prosopagnosia (face blindness) made school difficult, and so he put the full force of his attention into art. Over the years, Close developed his distinctive portraiture style featuring giant canvases filled with neutral faces, including many self-portraits. One great feature of this book is a section of Close's self-portraits divided horizontally into thirds so readers can mix and match his different works (you can see an example of this on the book's cover).
For 8- to 12-year-old budding artists and art lovers, there's no better non-fiction to read this summer. It's an inspirational story of an artist who overcame significant hardship to achieve success and fame.
"Why doesn't anyone in your art smile?"
"When you were paralyzed, were you afraid you wouldn't be able to paint again?"
These are some of the questions artist Chuck Close answers in his new autobiography for children. Filled with his portraits of mostly ordinary people, this book let's readers into Close's extraordinary life.
Born right here in Washington state in 1940, Close began taking art lessons at age 8. His severe dyslexia and prosopagnosia (face blindness) made school difficult, and so he put the full force of his attention into art. Over the years, Close developed his distinctive portraiture style featuring giant canvases filled with neutral faces, including many self-portraits. One great feature of this book is a section of Close's self-portraits divided horizontally into thirds so readers can mix and match his different works (you can see an example of this on the book's cover).
For 8- to 12-year-old budding artists and art lovers, there's no better non-fiction to read this summer. It's an inspirational story of an artist who overcame significant hardship to achieve success and fame.
April 13, 2012
Clay's Caldecott favorite!
I've been a huge fan of the world famous artist Chuck Close for many, many years and was delighted to see his Face Book was everything I could have hoped for. Brilliantly designed as questions from studio-visiting kids that Close answers visually and verbally, this inspired me, made me laugh and nod, and I predict it will send kids of all ages and abilities (AND disabilities) straight to their own studios (treehouse, kitchen, bedroom, art class, backyard) wherever they may be. Close suffers terribly from dyslexia and also face blindness (!) and has painted from a wheelchair since "The Event," a blood vessel collapse, paralyzed him from the chest down when he was 48. Heartening, funny, great overcoming obstacles/never give up true-life story. Great flip-book center section, index, resource page and glossary. Bravo Abrams.
I've been a huge fan of the world famous artist Chuck Close for many, many years and was delighted to see his Face Book was everything I could have hoped for. Brilliantly designed as questions from studio-visiting kids that Close answers visually and verbally, this inspired me, made me laugh and nod, and I predict it will send kids of all ages and abilities (AND disabilities) straight to their own studios (treehouse, kitchen, bedroom, art class, backyard) wherever they may be. Close suffers terribly from dyslexia and also face blindness (!) and has painted from a wheelchair since "The Event," a blood vessel collapse, paralyzed him from the chest down when he was 48. Heartening, funny, great overcoming obstacles/never give up true-life story. Great flip-book center section, index, resource page and glossary. Bravo Abrams.
January 12, 2016
I'm calling this a 'picture book' because I don't know how else to classify it...part biography, part question-answer, and all art.
Close had an exhibit in OKC, and we went twice...just to stare from across the room, and as close as we could get...just stare at these huge faces, and the abstract renderings over photographs. Close is a master of paint and airbrush, and fingerpainting, and woodcuts and print-making...
He overcame such adversities...dyslexia, physical weakness, and in midcareer, a paralyzing 'event' that could have ended his career. Instead, he propped himself in his wheelchair, had brushes velcroed to his wrists, and kept painting.
If possible, I admire him more now. I am in awe of his talent and his courage. NOW I need to see the portraits again.
Close had an exhibit in OKC, and we went twice...just to stare from across the room, and as close as we could get...just stare at these huge faces, and the abstract renderings over photographs. Close is a master of paint and airbrush, and fingerpainting, and woodcuts and print-making...
He overcame such adversities...dyslexia, physical weakness, and in midcareer, a paralyzing 'event' that could have ended his career. Instead, he propped himself in his wheelchair, had brushes velcroed to his wrists, and kept painting.
If possible, I admire him more now. I am in awe of his talent and his courage. NOW I need to see the portraits again.
January 7, 2013
Holy crap.
Anyone who reads this and then says, "I can't" is an idiot.
Favorite Quotes
If a face expresses some emotion - laughter or anger or sadness - to an extreme, there is only one possible reading of the photo or painting. But if you present someone in a very neutral, straight-forward way, then there is no simple reading of who this person is. You have to look at other clues.
Some of my work measures over ten feet tall. When a viewer confronts such a large image, it is hard to see the head as a whole. You experience the portrait almost like a landscape that you are traveling over.
I think problem-solving is highly overrated. Problem creation is much more interesting.
Anyone who reads this and then says, "I can't" is an idiot.
Favorite Quotes
If a face expresses some emotion - laughter or anger or sadness - to an extreme, there is only one possible reading of the photo or painting. But if you present someone in a very neutral, straight-forward way, then there is no simple reading of who this person is. You have to look at other clues.
Some of my work measures over ten feet tall. When a viewer confronts such a large image, it is hard to see the head as a whole. You experience the portrait almost like a landscape that you are traveling over.
I think problem-solving is highly overrated. Problem creation is much more interesting.
January 15, 2013
I dug this book for the most part. I enjoyed Close's answers to kids' questions- he is far more guileless than his art led me to believe. I liked the mix and match pieces of his portraits. There's something not there, though, and I can't put my finger on it exactly, but this book didn't scratch all the itch it created somehow. It's breathtakingly hard to talk about the creative process, and even harder to do so when one's audience is children whose natural bullshit detectors are set to maximum gain. For my money, Close does a good job.
January 29, 2012
Totally brilliant book! Possibly among the very finest kids' book on art ever conceived. Though it is suggested for ages 8-12, I suggest than anyone who loves the arts or Chuck Close in particular withh want to spend some quality time with this book.
April 19, 2012
The autobiography assignment. Oh, it exists. It exists and children’s librarians know to fear it. At a certain time of year a child will approach the reference desk and utter the dreaded words, “I have to read an autobiography of somebody famous”. Never mind that while biographies are plentiful, good autobiographies come out once in a blue moon and, when they are written for kids, tend to be about children’s authors anyway (See: Jack Gantos, Beverly Cleary, Jerry Spinelli, Walter Dean Myers, Jean Fritz, etc.). If a kid wants somebody famous in a field other than writing, the pickings are slim. You might find a good Ruby Bridges book or To Dance by Siena Siegel or that children’s autobiography Rosa Parks wrote. Beyond that, you’re on your own. It is therefore with great relief that we come across Chuck Close: Face Book. Sure, I’m relieved that at long last there’s an autobiography for kids by someone outside the children’s literary sphere, but what really thrills me is the sheer splendor of the thing. Chock full of gorgeous full-color reproductions of Close’s work and biographical info, the real treat is at the center of the book. It’s a game, it’s informative, it’s what we all needed but didn't know it yet.
Culled from interview questions lobbed at the artist Chuck Close by P.S. 8’s 5th grade students, this is a title that is part Q&A, part explanation of artistic techniques, and part flip book. From his earliest days Chuck had the makings of an artist. Which is to say, he was a bedridden kid whose poor health enabled him to draw. His parents encouraged Chuck’s desire and though he was not a particularly good student in other areas, in art he thrived. Eventually he was able to cultivate a style entirely of his own, until “The Event” when he was paralyzed. Yet even after that trauma he was able to continue his art. The children’s questions go through Close’s life and even allow him to explain his artistic techniques. Backmatter includes a Timeline, Resources, a Glossary, a List of Illustrations and an Index. Curiously the only other children’s book about Chuck Close (Chuck Close Up Close by Jan Greenberg) is not one of the eight books listed in the Resources section at the back of the book.
We talk all the time about role models and how to find them. Chuck Close is probably as close as you can get to a perfect role model in terms of difficulties he has faced. First and foremost there was the nephritis that rendered him bedridden at the age of 11 and gave him plenty of drawing time (he and Andy Warhol have this much in common). Then there was his prosopagnosia or “face blindness” which kept him from recognizing other people. Add onto that the fact that he got terrible grades (graduating high school without being able to add, subtract or multiply) and then later suffered a collapsed artery in his spine which paralyzed him from the waist down and you basically have a fellow who knows adversity better than most. With all that in mind, the book certainly makes it clear that his success wasn’t the result of being some kind of an artistic genius. Over and over again Chuck reiterates that “Inspiration is for amateurs. Artists just show up and get to work. Every idea occurs while you are working” and later "Ease is the enemy of the artist. Go ahead and get yourself into trouble."
The book's job was to organize the questions and answers in such a way as to create a kind of narrative. The kids questions tend to be things like “Do you work from live models or photographs?” and “Do others help you make your art?” Fortunately someone took the time to find the questions that seem the most biographical and put them at the start. Then she played with them, making “How did you become such a great artist?” first as a kind of jumping off point for the book and “Do you have any advice for young artists?” last. The selection of the art and photographs must have taken some time as well (luckily Chuck was the kind of kid who liked to have interesting pictures taken with monkeys or top hats), and the end product is ultimately vibrant. I was relieved to see that Chuck’s most famous self-portrait, the one taken in 1968 of him smoking a cigarette, was included in the book. In an era where cigarettes are airbrushed out of 1940s dust jacket photos (see: Goodnight Moon) it comes as an odd relief to see the past unwhitewashed. And don’t worry, oh ye concerned parents. Chuck takes the time to inform the kids that smoking isn’t the way to go and that he did it “before people knew how bad smoking is for the body”.
You can see why Close is such a perfect artistic subject for children. He only does faces, not nudes or cow corpses cut in half or profanity laden photography. Just faces. Sometimes his subjects don’t wear shirts, but since you’re only getting their faces anyway it’s hardly do or die. School assignments of Mr. Close are therefore inevitable. With that in mind there seems to have been a conscious effort to make this book as enjoyable as possible. A Q&A book with photographs spotted throughout the text could have been easy enough as it was. Dry but easy. I’d love to know whose idea it was to make the center into a flip book of fourteen of Close’s portraits. They line-up beautifully against one another. Even if you look at a face that was painted in the early 70s and compare it to one taken in the last few years, because Close is such a master they still line-up. Kids will enjoy the simple rudimentary aspects of the biography but they’ll pore over the images in the flip section. For once you can hand them a nonfiction title that’s loads of fun.
One of the book's strengths is that Close is the perfect subject for kids because he is in a unique position that allows him to teach them about different painting techniques. In the course of the book seventeen different processes are explained to kids. Unfortunately for us, in the interests of time or space Chuck will usually give a rough overview of a process but not explain it in any depth. For example a mention of Close’s tapestries simply says that they’re woven in Belgium and that Close takes “the photographs they are made from” and he oversees each step of the process. I’m not quite sure what that means and I’m not sure a kid would either. Fortunately a Glossary at the back does provide a little insight as to what an acid bath or a silkscreen might be. Therefore the book acts as a kind of starting point for kids interested in these techniques. For more information they’ll have to seek out other books on their own.
Though he doesn’t belabor the point, it is clear after reading this book that much of Close’s life can be attributed to the plethora of art classes he had access to as a kid. Even though he grew up in what he describes as a poor town, his school still had the time and resources to hand their students art materials. In an age when artistic programs are increasingly cut in the name of testing it’s important to see how future artists may only appear where schools foster these programs. Certainly Mr. Close’s life is evidence of this. His autobiography is bound to interest budding artists and, thanks to its eclectic formatting, even those kids without a drop of artistic interest in their blood. Though it is only 56 pages this is one title that delivers a wallop. A great way to present an artist. Let us hope that other books will follow in its footsteps even as young artists follow in Mr. Close’s.
For ages 9-12.
Culled from interview questions lobbed at the artist Chuck Close by P.S. 8’s 5th grade students, this is a title that is part Q&A, part explanation of artistic techniques, and part flip book. From his earliest days Chuck had the makings of an artist. Which is to say, he was a bedridden kid whose poor health enabled him to draw. His parents encouraged Chuck’s desire and though he was not a particularly good student in other areas, in art he thrived. Eventually he was able to cultivate a style entirely of his own, until “The Event” when he was paralyzed. Yet even after that trauma he was able to continue his art. The children’s questions go through Close’s life and even allow him to explain his artistic techniques. Backmatter includes a Timeline, Resources, a Glossary, a List of Illustrations and an Index. Curiously the only other children’s book about Chuck Close (Chuck Close Up Close by Jan Greenberg) is not one of the eight books listed in the Resources section at the back of the book.
We talk all the time about role models and how to find them. Chuck Close is probably as close as you can get to a perfect role model in terms of difficulties he has faced. First and foremost there was the nephritis that rendered him bedridden at the age of 11 and gave him plenty of drawing time (he and Andy Warhol have this much in common). Then there was his prosopagnosia or “face blindness” which kept him from recognizing other people. Add onto that the fact that he got terrible grades (graduating high school without being able to add, subtract or multiply) and then later suffered a collapsed artery in his spine which paralyzed him from the waist down and you basically have a fellow who knows adversity better than most. With all that in mind, the book certainly makes it clear that his success wasn’t the result of being some kind of an artistic genius. Over and over again Chuck reiterates that “Inspiration is for amateurs. Artists just show up and get to work. Every idea occurs while you are working” and later "Ease is the enemy of the artist. Go ahead and get yourself into trouble."
The book's job was to organize the questions and answers in such a way as to create a kind of narrative. The kids questions tend to be things like “Do you work from live models or photographs?” and “Do others help you make your art?” Fortunately someone took the time to find the questions that seem the most biographical and put them at the start. Then she played with them, making “How did you become such a great artist?” first as a kind of jumping off point for the book and “Do you have any advice for young artists?” last. The selection of the art and photographs must have taken some time as well (luckily Chuck was the kind of kid who liked to have interesting pictures taken with monkeys or top hats), and the end product is ultimately vibrant. I was relieved to see that Chuck’s most famous self-portrait, the one taken in 1968 of him smoking a cigarette, was included in the book. In an era where cigarettes are airbrushed out of 1940s dust jacket photos (see: Goodnight Moon) it comes as an odd relief to see the past unwhitewashed. And don’t worry, oh ye concerned parents. Chuck takes the time to inform the kids that smoking isn’t the way to go and that he did it “before people knew how bad smoking is for the body”.
You can see why Close is such a perfect artistic subject for children. He only does faces, not nudes or cow corpses cut in half or profanity laden photography. Just faces. Sometimes his subjects don’t wear shirts, but since you’re only getting their faces anyway it’s hardly do or die. School assignments of Mr. Close are therefore inevitable. With that in mind there seems to have been a conscious effort to make this book as enjoyable as possible. A Q&A book with photographs spotted throughout the text could have been easy enough as it was. Dry but easy. I’d love to know whose idea it was to make the center into a flip book of fourteen of Close’s portraits. They line-up beautifully against one another. Even if you look at a face that was painted in the early 70s and compare it to one taken in the last few years, because Close is such a master they still line-up. Kids will enjoy the simple rudimentary aspects of the biography but they’ll pore over the images in the flip section. For once you can hand them a nonfiction title that’s loads of fun.
One of the book's strengths is that Close is the perfect subject for kids because he is in a unique position that allows him to teach them about different painting techniques. In the course of the book seventeen different processes are explained to kids. Unfortunately for us, in the interests of time or space Chuck will usually give a rough overview of a process but not explain it in any depth. For example a mention of Close’s tapestries simply says that they’re woven in Belgium and that Close takes “the photographs they are made from” and he oversees each step of the process. I’m not quite sure what that means and I’m not sure a kid would either. Fortunately a Glossary at the back does provide a little insight as to what an acid bath or a silkscreen might be. Therefore the book acts as a kind of starting point for kids interested in these techniques. For more information they’ll have to seek out other books on their own.
Though he doesn’t belabor the point, it is clear after reading this book that much of Close’s life can be attributed to the plethora of art classes he had access to as a kid. Even though he grew up in what he describes as a poor town, his school still had the time and resources to hand their students art materials. In an age when artistic programs are increasingly cut in the name of testing it’s important to see how future artists may only appear where schools foster these programs. Certainly Mr. Close’s life is evidence of this. His autobiography is bound to interest budding artists and, thanks to its eclectic formatting, even those kids without a drop of artistic interest in their blood. Though it is only 56 pages this is one title that delivers a wallop. A great way to present an artist. Let us hope that other books will follow in its footsteps even as young artists follow in Mr. Close’s.
For ages 9-12.
June 15, 2023
Though written for kids, I loved this book. It was fun.m to flip through the layers of faces, and see how the same portrait is created through a variety of techniques. Makes me want to start working on a portrait myself.
June 17, 2019
Unique and interesting book. Great format.
Read
January 15, 2020Prosopagnosia book for kids
July 19, 2013
More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.
REVIEW: Art teachers and students will love this book! It's a perfect way to introduce a living artist and the struggles he's encountered throughout his life, including dyslexia, partial blindness, and paralysis. Art teachers could use this book to introduce new art media and challenge students to explore new ways to create interesting portraits. Some of the techniques include: watercolor, oil paint, etching, pen & ink, pastel, woodcut, and my absolute favorite, stamp pad ink.
The center of the book features Close's fourteen self-portraits, each cut horizontally into thirds. This is a flip-book, so each of the portraits is interchangeable. For example, the forehead may be in pulp paper; eyes, nose, and moustache might be in etching, and mouth, chin, and neck might be in airbrush watercolor.
The first and last thirds of the book include a one-page introduction, followed by sections of questions from 12 fifth grade students in Brooklyn, NY. Questions include "How did you become such a great artist?" and "Why doesn't anyone in your art smile?" Close answers each question in a first-person, conversational style. Close's answers are honest, reflective, and easy to read.
Outside the 14 main flipbook-style portraits, the Face Book also features lots of Close's other portraits, including portraits of former president, Bill Clinton; supermodel Kate Moss; and artist Zhang Huan, who makes paintings using ashes. Photos and art are full-color and on thick, semi-glossy paper.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Great for browsing or research, Chuck Close: Face Fook is beautiful, interesting, and interactive. This is an autobiography that kids and teens will actually enjoy reading.
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: On order.
READALIKES: Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World (Montgomery); Soul Surfer (Hamilton)
Presentation & layout: 5/5--the flipbook style will appeal to browsers. Lots of white space, photos, and widely-spaced lines make text easy to read.
Quality of information: 5/5--Since this is an autobiography, the information comes straight from the best source possible. This book would work for research or for browsing.
Photos/illustrations: 5/5--Tons of full-color photos and artwork, many of which are full-page.
Documentation of sources: 5/5--All photos and artwork credits documented on p. 55.
Front and back matter: 5/5--Front matter includes one-page introduction. Back matter includes Resources (list of art museums featuring Close's work), Books by/about Chuck Close, websites and videos featuring Chuck Close or his work, a full-page Glossary of art terms, a List of Illustrations, Acknowledgments, and a small Index.
Engrossing: 4/5--It's interesting, but I could put it down. Browsers will love it since the pages do not have to be read in order.
Writing: 5/5--Conversational tone is easy to understand and draws readers in.
Appeal to teens: 4/5--This will be great for art lovers especially. I think putting this book on a centrally-located table (rather than just on a library shelf) will be the best way for my students to see and enjoy it.
Appropriate length: 5/5--At 64 pages, it's not too long or too short.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Essential for MS and HS libraries. Elementary librarians will find an audience as well, just be aware of the portrait of Close smoking a cigarette (p. 12-13). Close does address the cigarette smoking in the corresponding text, stating "I am sorry I ever smoked. Do yourselves a favor and don't start smoking. It is not cool." (bottom of p. 12).
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: On order.
CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: none (Kate Moss portrait is face portion only)
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: mild; Close smokes a cigarette in one portrait
Other: none
August 3, 2016
When I first saw this book I wasn’t sure what it was about and I was even more confused when I opened it and saw the flip pages. I wondered what I would write about and thought maybe it was a visual biography without words.
I was happy to be wrong! I loved this book and thought the design and format were amazing! The question and answer format let Close tell his story in his own way. The questions were posed by twelve fifth graders who visited Close’s studio. The questions and answers form the basis of this book.
Close’s life story is one of overcoming adversity. He was dyslexic before they even had a term for it and had to overcome a lot to graduate from school. He couldn’t do math, had trouble remembering people’s faces, and suffered from neuromuscular problems that made it difficult to have a “normal” childhood.
He said art saved him and after reading this biography, I believe him. At age 48 he became paralyzed yet remained determined to keep doing his art. His story is inspiring to me as an adult; I would imagine kids would be even more inspired by this story of a person who wasn’t good in school but excelled in art.
Close says on page 6, “If you just keep doing something, you get better at it.” This is a great message for everyone. In fact, this book offers a great many life lessons without being pedantic in the least. It teaches the reader about art, about ways of looking at life and overcoming obstacles with determination and self-discipline. Close lives the lessons he imparts and has earned his authority.
Close also dismisses the idea of inspiration and says you have to just get to work, not wait for inspiration to strike. “Inspiration is for amateurs,” he says on page 36. He maintains that inspiration comes to you as you work and I certainly have found that to be true in my own life. This has also proven to be true doing these book journal entries. When I read the books I take notes and then use them as I write up my thoughts. While writing there are always other things and other connections that come to me and writing lends another element of discovery to my enjoyment of the books we’ve been reading.
But, back to The Face Book…
The design is a crucial part of the book. The questions are handwritten while the answers are typed. This delineates the kids’ questions from Close’s answers. There are numerous images of Close’s work so you can see what he’s talking about when he describes his various artistic processes: airbrush, watercolor, oil, pastels, and even fingerprint painting using stamp pad inks. This book really captures the joy of creation and it’s fun to read his descriptions of how he works in each medium.
There are numerous photos of Close at work as a young man and more current pictures of him working from his wheelchair. Another major design element of the book are the 12 self portraits divided into three panels which the reader can flip to create mix and match portraits. This would be appealing to kids who like to interact with books and fits the artistic subject matter.
The timeline at the back of the book is a good way to review Close’s life and provides the chronological structure lacking in the question and answer format of the bulk of the book. The end matter also includes a glossary, list of illustrations, index, and list of resources.
This book is a fantastic addition to any library-public, school or academic. I sure hope the School of the Art Institute and the Columbia College Chicago libraries have copies. That said, the book’s intended audience is likely to be kids between ten and fourteen.
I was happy to be wrong! I loved this book and thought the design and format were amazing! The question and answer format let Close tell his story in his own way. The questions were posed by twelve fifth graders who visited Close’s studio. The questions and answers form the basis of this book.
Close’s life story is one of overcoming adversity. He was dyslexic before they even had a term for it and had to overcome a lot to graduate from school. He couldn’t do math, had trouble remembering people’s faces, and suffered from neuromuscular problems that made it difficult to have a “normal” childhood.
He said art saved him and after reading this biography, I believe him. At age 48 he became paralyzed yet remained determined to keep doing his art. His story is inspiring to me as an adult; I would imagine kids would be even more inspired by this story of a person who wasn’t good in school but excelled in art.
Close says on page 6, “If you just keep doing something, you get better at it.” This is a great message for everyone. In fact, this book offers a great many life lessons without being pedantic in the least. It teaches the reader about art, about ways of looking at life and overcoming obstacles with determination and self-discipline. Close lives the lessons he imparts and has earned his authority.
Close also dismisses the idea of inspiration and says you have to just get to work, not wait for inspiration to strike. “Inspiration is for amateurs,” he says on page 36. He maintains that inspiration comes to you as you work and I certainly have found that to be true in my own life. This has also proven to be true doing these book journal entries. When I read the books I take notes and then use them as I write up my thoughts. While writing there are always other things and other connections that come to me and writing lends another element of discovery to my enjoyment of the books we’ve been reading.
But, back to The Face Book…
The design is a crucial part of the book. The questions are handwritten while the answers are typed. This delineates the kids’ questions from Close’s answers. There are numerous images of Close’s work so you can see what he’s talking about when he describes his various artistic processes: airbrush, watercolor, oil, pastels, and even fingerprint painting using stamp pad inks. This book really captures the joy of creation and it’s fun to read his descriptions of how he works in each medium.
There are numerous photos of Close at work as a young man and more current pictures of him working from his wheelchair. Another major design element of the book are the 12 self portraits divided into three panels which the reader can flip to create mix and match portraits. This would be appealing to kids who like to interact with books and fits the artistic subject matter.
The timeline at the back of the book is a good way to review Close’s life and provides the chronological structure lacking in the question and answer format of the bulk of the book. The end matter also includes a glossary, list of illustrations, index, and list of resources.
This book is a fantastic addition to any library-public, school or academic. I sure hope the School of the Art Institute and the Columbia College Chicago libraries have copies. That said, the book’s intended audience is likely to be kids between ten and fourteen.
May 1, 2015
If you think you cant do something you should keep your mind to it and work for it so eventually you can accomplish it.In this
exciting autobiography Chuck Close was dyslexic, and paralyzed but he still had determination to paint so he found a way to come back and problem solve so he could paint again. First chuck close had weekly art lessons with a professional artist. Chuck Close was dyslexic and he had a condition called the neuromuscular condition so this made it hard for him to do good in his classes. Then Chuck goes to Yale and gets a bachelor of fine arts degree and then a master in fine arts the next year. After as years pass Chuck then teaches art at the university of Massachusetts. Then "the event" occurs when he was 48 years old and he was paralyzed but continued doing art. I really enjoyed this book and I believe it is an inspiring book especially for the people who give up easily and need some inspiration.
Chuck close has been through hard times and still managed to become successful and a great artist. First he was named called and couldn't play games because of his conditions but through all that he noticed he could draw better than his classmates. Then after chuck close decided he wanted to put his life into art he got paralyzed after what he calls "The Event" which is the collapse of spinal artery. This still didn't stop him from wanting to paint because he said art saved his life and it made him feel good about himself. The purpose of the book is to inspire people and make them work for what they want like Chuck Close, the purpose is to show people to keep trying. Another purpose was to explain his artwork and why he painted the way he did.
Facebook is a good title for this book because a quote from the book is "I think I have some idea of a person just by looking at them". I agree with this quote because it is somewhat true and people often judge by looks when they haven't even spoke to a person. Also this is a good title because Chuck Close only painted large faces without expressions because as stated in the text "If a face expresses some emotion laughter or anger or sadness to an extreme, there is only one possible reading of the photo or painting .But if you present someone in a very neutral, Straight forward way, then there is no simple reading of who the person is. You have to look at other clues." to me this means he wanted not only to show a face and its past but he wanted the person looking at it to see all the details and use the paint around the face to understand the person better.
The point of view of the story was Chuck Closes because he was answering the questions that the children asked him and even he said "I" and "my" when answering. The characters motivation was his wife and daughters because first he wanted money and also he seen other artists and there success so he was inspired by them also.
I rate this book five out of five because this type of book is new to me and I enjoyed the details and the questions and answers. Also it was inspiring. I recommend this book to everyone who doesn't believe they can do something or to a person looking to know more about Chuck Close. I like this book, I enjoyed the pictures and I liked how he gave reasoning behind the answers and how every picture was different with different meanings overall this was a great book.
exciting autobiography Chuck Close was dyslexic, and paralyzed but he still had determination to paint so he found a way to come back and problem solve so he could paint again. First chuck close had weekly art lessons with a professional artist. Chuck Close was dyslexic and he had a condition called the neuromuscular condition so this made it hard for him to do good in his classes. Then Chuck goes to Yale and gets a bachelor of fine arts degree and then a master in fine arts the next year. After as years pass Chuck then teaches art at the university of Massachusetts. Then "the event" occurs when he was 48 years old and he was paralyzed but continued doing art. I really enjoyed this book and I believe it is an inspiring book especially for the people who give up easily and need some inspiration.
Chuck close has been through hard times and still managed to become successful and a great artist. First he was named called and couldn't play games because of his conditions but through all that he noticed he could draw better than his classmates. Then after chuck close decided he wanted to put his life into art he got paralyzed after what he calls "The Event" which is the collapse of spinal artery. This still didn't stop him from wanting to paint because he said art saved his life and it made him feel good about himself. The purpose of the book is to inspire people and make them work for what they want like Chuck Close, the purpose is to show people to keep trying. Another purpose was to explain his artwork and why he painted the way he did.
Facebook is a good title for this book because a quote from the book is "I think I have some idea of a person just by looking at them". I agree with this quote because it is somewhat true and people often judge by looks when they haven't even spoke to a person. Also this is a good title because Chuck Close only painted large faces without expressions because as stated in the text "If a face expresses some emotion laughter or anger or sadness to an extreme, there is only one possible reading of the photo or painting .But if you present someone in a very neutral, Straight forward way, then there is no simple reading of who the person is. You have to look at other clues." to me this means he wanted not only to show a face and its past but he wanted the person looking at it to see all the details and use the paint around the face to understand the person better.
The point of view of the story was Chuck Closes because he was answering the questions that the children asked him and even he said "I" and "my" when answering. The characters motivation was his wife and daughters because first he wanted money and also he seen other artists and there success so he was inspired by them also.
I rate this book five out of five because this type of book is new to me and I enjoyed the details and the questions and answers. Also it was inspiring. I recommend this book to everyone who doesn't believe they can do something or to a person looking to know more about Chuck Close. I like this book, I enjoyed the pictures and I liked how he gave reasoning behind the answers and how every picture was different with different meanings overall this was a great book.
February 24, 2013
Chuck Close is a world famous contemporary artist. His artwork is hanging in museums and galleries throughout the world. He is a portrait artist – his specialty is large scale portraits of faces. When he works, he breaks his canvas into grids then fills in each individual square with everything from fingerprints to paper pulp. When you look at squares they don’t mean anything, but somehow, when they are all viewed together as a completed work, they make a remarkable clear portrait. Besides being a unique portrait artist, there are some other remarkable things about Chuck Close. As a child, he was severely dyslexic and learning disabled. He was a poor reader, and he never was able to add and subtract in the conventional way that we do. Even today he uses dominos to help him do that. He also suffered from a condition called prosopagnosia, or facial blindness. People with this condition can’t recognize individual faces – even those of close family members. But, he did have a talent for drawing, and with his parents’ encouragement, he went on to become a successful artist. The second remarkable thing about Chuck Close is that he is wheelchair bound. In 1988, an artery collapsed in his spine leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. He calls this the “Event.” He has since made a partial recovery, he can move his arms, but he paints with a paintbrush strapped to his hand, and he paints in his wheelchair. To work on his enormous canvases, he uses a special hoist to move the canvases up and down to his level so he can paint. Chuck Close Face Book is not your ordinary biography. It is written in a question and answer format. A group of kids was chosen for an interview session and they ask him questions about his life/art. This is the way that you learn about Chuck Close as an artist and a person. The format is very similar to his work. The questions are like the squares of his grids. Individually they have little meaning, but together they form a remarkably clear portrait of the artist and the man. Visually this book is unique and interactive. There are copies of his works with mix and match overlays so that you can create your own Chuck Close portrait. I didn’t know who Chuck Close was before I read this book. Now I do and I find him and his work to be fascinating. Not only is this a book about art, it is a book about self-empowerment, overcoming obstacles, finding your calling, and being successful regardless of the odds. This is a don’t miss book that would appeal to boys or girls probably grades 5 and up.
November 3, 2012
This review is for the Boston Globe/Horn Book Assignment:
In traditional Chuck Close fashion, the whole book is not only available free, but it is interactive. This book is beautiful and inspiring. In it, Chuck Close answers child generated questions in an easy, respectful and enlightening manner. My favorite part of the book was the three panel section of self-portraits. The book is made in a way that you can flip different eyes, nose and mouth parts, done in a variety of media and methods, but they all make Chuck Close's face. I think what is so appealing about Chuck's work is that his most abstract work (the gridded portraits) is incredibly complex and yet, incredibly simple. If one studies each grid layer it is simply a combination of colors or lines. When stepping back, it is only then that the image or portrait comes to life. I think this is liberating for children, especially those who 'can't draw.' Chuck also encourages children by describing his struggles with dyslexia and his muscular disability that has him in a wheel chair. Watching an interview with him recently, I saw how he's used his disabilities in his art style. He uses a brace to hold the paintbrush which facilitates his arduous painting style in the grids. This book gave me an even greater respect for not only his art, but his message of encouragement to children and artists alike.
“The Boston Globe-Horn Book awards are unique for so many reasons—the winners are books that are frequently unusual or under-the-radar choices,” said Sutton. “Because of the small judging panel, there’s always an excellent chance for surprise. Each year, the judges uncover some amazing treasures that I think will delight adult readers as much as the intended audience of children and young adults.”
Chuck Close's book, Face Book is a truly unique book. This book is, as the Boston Globe-Horn Book description of winners suggest, under the radar. My public library does not even have this book in its collection yet; which is very rare. I appreciate Chuck's art and this book truly deserved to win.
In traditional Chuck Close fashion, the whole book is not only available free, but it is interactive. This book is beautiful and inspiring. In it, Chuck Close answers child generated questions in an easy, respectful and enlightening manner. My favorite part of the book was the three panel section of self-portraits. The book is made in a way that you can flip different eyes, nose and mouth parts, done in a variety of media and methods, but they all make Chuck Close's face. I think what is so appealing about Chuck's work is that his most abstract work (the gridded portraits) is incredibly complex and yet, incredibly simple. If one studies each grid layer it is simply a combination of colors or lines. When stepping back, it is only then that the image or portrait comes to life. I think this is liberating for children, especially those who 'can't draw.' Chuck also encourages children by describing his struggles with dyslexia and his muscular disability that has him in a wheel chair. Watching an interview with him recently, I saw how he's used his disabilities in his art style. He uses a brace to hold the paintbrush which facilitates his arduous painting style in the grids. This book gave me an even greater respect for not only his art, but his message of encouragement to children and artists alike.
“The Boston Globe-Horn Book awards are unique for so many reasons—the winners are books that are frequently unusual or under-the-radar choices,” said Sutton. “Because of the small judging panel, there’s always an excellent chance for surprise. Each year, the judges uncover some amazing treasures that I think will delight adult readers as much as the intended audience of children and young adults.”
Chuck Close's book, Face Book is a truly unique book. This book is, as the Boston Globe-Horn Book description of winners suggest, under the radar. My public library does not even have this book in its collection yet; which is very rare. I appreciate Chuck's art and this book truly deserved to win.
February 28, 2014
Pages: 55
Summary:
Most of this book is actually written by Chuck Close, a very famous face painter. He had
many learning problems as he was growing up; he was dyslexic, but nobody knew what that was in the 1940’s. He did poor in math, reading, science and every subject, except art. He grew up poor but received a scholarship to go to an art school where he learned how to paint with many different paints and use various canvases. When Close was older a blood vessel in his spine ruptured and caused him to be paralyzed from the chest down. He now paints with a brush strapped to his wrist. He only paints faces and he paints very big faces; some are 10 feet tall! In order to do this, he has to paint in sections until the painting is done, and he is only able to complete about 2-3 paintings a year because they are so big.
Recommendations & Comments:
This is a great biography for kids to read because they learn about the hardships Close went through and still continued to paint and paint famous people like Bill Clinton. The book is written in very simplistic terms so that kids can read and understand art, and enjoy reading it at the same time. There are so many awesome pictures in this book and he actually shows readers the different phases of painting he goes through in order to actually start his final project. This book applies to many themes that kids need to learn about in life: hard work is needed to be successful, everyone is different and needs to be respected and people are not perfect, you need to do many different drafts of a paper, painting, script, etc, before you can have a finished product. This book also has neat features: a flip book of 10 different faces in the middle of the book, a glossary at the end that explains highlighted words throughout the book, and a timeline at the end of the book with pictures that make the timeline easy for kids to understand.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed By: Jen T.
Summary:
Most of this book is actually written by Chuck Close, a very famous face painter. He had
many learning problems as he was growing up; he was dyslexic, but nobody knew what that was in the 1940’s. He did poor in math, reading, science and every subject, except art. He grew up poor but received a scholarship to go to an art school where he learned how to paint with many different paints and use various canvases. When Close was older a blood vessel in his spine ruptured and caused him to be paralyzed from the chest down. He now paints with a brush strapped to his wrist. He only paints faces and he paints very big faces; some are 10 feet tall! In order to do this, he has to paint in sections until the painting is done, and he is only able to complete about 2-3 paintings a year because they are so big.
Recommendations & Comments:
This is a great biography for kids to read because they learn about the hardships Close went through and still continued to paint and paint famous people like Bill Clinton. The book is written in very simplistic terms so that kids can read and understand art, and enjoy reading it at the same time. There are so many awesome pictures in this book and he actually shows readers the different phases of painting he goes through in order to actually start his final project. This book applies to many themes that kids need to learn about in life: hard work is needed to be successful, everyone is different and needs to be respected and people are not perfect, you need to do many different drafts of a paper, painting, script, etc, before you can have a finished product. This book also has neat features: a flip book of 10 different faces in the middle of the book, a glossary at the end that explains highlighted words throughout the book, and a timeline at the end of the book with pictures that make the timeline easy for kids to understand.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed By: Jen T.
August 24, 2016
I have been wanting to read this for sometime. Now that I finally have my hands on it, I can understand why it go so much attention when it first came out.
This fascinating, interactive autobiography presents Chuck Close's story, his art, and a discussion of the many processes he uses in the studio. The question-and-answer format is based on real kids' inquiries about Close's life and work, and his answers to them. Close, who is wheelchair-bound and paints with a brush strapped to his arm, discusses the severe dyslexia and face blindness he has struggled with since childhood, as well as a collapsed spinal artery that left him nearly paralyzed at the age of 48. An engaging feature of the book is a mix-and-match Chuck Close self-portrait section. This hands-on component encourages the reader to create new and interesting combinations of Close's techniques and images. The book also includes an illustrated chronology of Close's life, a list of museums where his work can be seen, and an index.
Shelf Awareness Awards: WINNER - 2012 Boston Globe Horn Book Nonfiction Award New York Public Library's Children's Books 2012: 100 Books for Reading and Sharing list Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2012 list: Children's Nonfiction Capitol Choices 2013 - Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens Orbis Pictus Recommended Book 2013 Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices 2013 list - The Arts 2013 ALA/ALSC Notable Book.
Subjects
Close, Chuck, 1940- -- Juvenile literature.
Artists -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature
Note: Juv Nonfiction 759.13 Clo
This fascinating, interactive autobiography presents Chuck Close's story, his art, and a discussion of the many processes he uses in the studio. The question-and-answer format is based on real kids' inquiries about Close's life and work, and his answers to them. Close, who is wheelchair-bound and paints with a brush strapped to his arm, discusses the severe dyslexia and face blindness he has struggled with since childhood, as well as a collapsed spinal artery that left him nearly paralyzed at the age of 48. An engaging feature of the book is a mix-and-match Chuck Close self-portrait section. This hands-on component encourages the reader to create new and interesting combinations of Close's techniques and images. The book also includes an illustrated chronology of Close's life, a list of museums where his work can be seen, and an index.
Shelf Awareness Awards: WINNER - 2012 Boston Globe Horn Book Nonfiction Award New York Public Library's Children's Books 2012: 100 Books for Reading and Sharing list Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2012 list: Children's Nonfiction Capitol Choices 2013 - Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens Orbis Pictus Recommended Book 2013 Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices 2013 list - The Arts 2013 ALA/ALSC Notable Book.
Subjects
Close, Chuck, 1940- -- Juvenile literature.
Artists -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature
Note: Juv Nonfiction 759.13 Clo
May 21, 2015
How many of you like art? If you said yes to this question then this book is for you. It's a very good nonfiction book. I hope you like this book review. So let's review.
It's about this person and someone asked him questions. This person is very famous and a good artist. These questions reveal what he really thought through his life and what he did during those events. Many questions involved big points of his life. And what he thought, did, and painted during those times.
It was all in different places at different times. Many of those questions involved his childhood, the event, and his paintings. He kind of had a conflict in his life between him and the event. The event is when his hips down stopped functioning he thought he might never paint again and guess what he was wrong. He soon realized that he could not lay down and feel sorry for him self.
He needed a way to feed his wife and daughters so he kept going. By he kept going I mean he kept painting. At first he needed a way to reach the top of the canvas since he normally work with a big canvas. At first he had a machine name " big Joe " but he needed to lower all the way down if he wanted to go left or right. So now his studio Has a floor with motorized tracks.
In conclusion this book is a great tale of chuck close's life. That's why I gave it five stars. I recommend this book to anyone Chuck close. I hope you enjoyed this book review. And I will see you all in another year. Bye. Squids and cake.
It's about this person and someone asked him questions. This person is very famous and a good artist. These questions reveal what he really thought through his life and what he did during those events. Many questions involved big points of his life. And what he thought, did, and painted during those times.
It was all in different places at different times. Many of those questions involved his childhood, the event, and his paintings. He kind of had a conflict in his life between him and the event. The event is when his hips down stopped functioning he thought he might never paint again and guess what he was wrong. He soon realized that he could not lay down and feel sorry for him self.
He needed a way to feed his wife and daughters so he kept going. By he kept going I mean he kept painting. At first he needed a way to reach the top of the canvas since he normally work with a big canvas. At first he had a machine name " big Joe " but he needed to lower all the way down if he wanted to go left or right. So now his studio Has a floor with motorized tracks.
In conclusion this book is a great tale of chuck close's life. That's why I gave it five stars. I recommend this book to anyone Chuck close. I hope you enjoyed this book review. And I will see you all in another year. Bye. Squids and cake.
December 20, 2012
Wow. An close up look (pun intended) at an amazing person. Chuck Close is one of those kids who could so easily have slipped through the cracks (I seem to keep come across stories like this -- hearing Gary Paulsen & Gary Schmidt talk about their childhoods earlier this year.) Dyslexic, at a time that it wasn't recognized. And with an inability to recognize faces (prosopagnosia - face blindness) -- so he "could meet the same people over and over and not remember them." Not a good thing in school. (And how is it that his one subject, throughout his career, is faces??!!)
But he had parents that believed in him, that encouraged his artistic talent. It was his artistic ability that gave him some sense of self-worth and saw him through. Though he could never (and can't still) do math, he was able to get into junior college and succeed enough for college. And then Yale and then a Fulbright. And if that isn't amazing enough already, he fought back from an injury at age 48 which left him a parapalegic. Close was determined to paint again, even if he had to "spit the paint onto the canvas." (4) Just an incredible story -- and here he tells it himself. Very straightforwardly. With great descriptions of the processes and techniques he uses.
But he had parents that believed in him, that encouraged his artistic talent. It was his artistic ability that gave him some sense of self-worth and saw him through. Though he could never (and can't still) do math, he was able to get into junior college and succeed enough for college. And then Yale and then a Fulbright. And if that isn't amazing enough already, he fought back from an injury at age 48 which left him a parapalegic. Close was determined to paint again, even if he had to "spit the paint onto the canvas." (4) Just an incredible story -- and here he tells it himself. Very straightforwardly. With great descriptions of the processes and techniques he uses.
May 3, 2013
Chuck Close is known for his meticulous large scale painting and wasn't the first artist that came to mind when I was told that there was a new book in which kids asks questions to an artist.
The result however, is inspirational. Close opens up about his dyslexia and "face blindness." He shares his struggles with art and his long recovery after he was paralyzed from the chest down after an artery collapsed in his spine.
The layout for the question and answer portion of the book is colorful and appealing and is sprinkled with photographs from Close's life. The center section of the book is interactive. It has 6 double sided full color pages of portraits painted by Close. The sections can be flipped to create different looks. Because each painting represents a different technique, color or form of painting besides being fun, it is also educational!
Kids will relate the in-depth paintings, will learn that painting doesn't come easy, even for very talented artists and will see that even if they have disabilities if they are willing to put in the hours they can succeed as a artist.
"Painting is the most magical of mediums- all you are doing is rubbing colored dirt over some canvas that is wrapped around wooden bars, using a stick with hairs glued on the end of it."
The result however, is inspirational. Close opens up about his dyslexia and "face blindness." He shares his struggles with art and his long recovery after he was paralyzed from the chest down after an artery collapsed in his spine.
The layout for the question and answer portion of the book is colorful and appealing and is sprinkled with photographs from Close's life. The center section of the book is interactive. It has 6 double sided full color pages of portraits painted by Close. The sections can be flipped to create different looks. Because each painting represents a different technique, color or form of painting besides being fun, it is also educational!
Kids will relate the in-depth paintings, will learn that painting doesn't come easy, even for very talented artists and will see that even if they have disabilities if they are willing to put in the hours they can succeed as a artist.
"Painting is the most magical of mediums- all you are doing is rubbing colored dirt over some canvas that is wrapped around wooden bars, using a stick with hairs glued on the end of it."
May 12, 2015
Chuck Close: Facebook; written and illustrated by Chuck Close; copyright 2012, 55 pgs.
*2015 Rebecca Caudill Nominee*
Facebook was a fantastic book. It explains the background of the phenomenal artist Chuck Close in an interesting and positive manner. While traveling through the hardships and events that shape Close into the artist that he is, we see his creativity and passion shine through everything he does.
Throughout the book, there are many supportive illustrations for the text; however this is not the only supportive feature offered in the book. Vocabulary words are dispersed throughout and there is an interactive page flipping to mix-and-match different styles of paintings, which was one of my favorite features. There is a timeline of Close's life in the end of the book which highlights those times, events, and feelings that helped shape Close's artistic abilities and personality. This book is kid-friendly as well, with the questions asked being asked by children themselves. If a student is wondering a certain thing about the artist Chuck Close or about art in general, they can look for that question in the book, and all of the information is in one spot. Because of this, I believe this inspiring and positive story of Chuck Close is a good read for all ages.
*2015 Rebecca Caudill Nominee*
Facebook was a fantastic book. It explains the background of the phenomenal artist Chuck Close in an interesting and positive manner. While traveling through the hardships and events that shape Close into the artist that he is, we see his creativity and passion shine through everything he does.
Throughout the book, there are many supportive illustrations for the text; however this is not the only supportive feature offered in the book. Vocabulary words are dispersed throughout and there is an interactive page flipping to mix-and-match different styles of paintings, which was one of my favorite features. There is a timeline of Close's life in the end of the book which highlights those times, events, and feelings that helped shape Close's artistic abilities and personality. This book is kid-friendly as well, with the questions asked being asked by children themselves. If a student is wondering a certain thing about the artist Chuck Close or about art in general, they can look for that question in the book, and all of the information is in one spot. Because of this, I believe this inspiring and positive story of Chuck Close is a good read for all ages.
October 30, 2012
Unique and kid-friendly bio -- inspiring story, great info about art, artists, overcoming adversity. Possible Sibert contender. Caldecott? Maybe.
3 starred reviews (PW, SLJ, Kirkus) + ALSC Notables discussion (summer)
2012 Boston Globe - Horn Book Nonfiction Award Winner
"...At the book's brilliant center is the irresistible opportunity to "mix 'n' match" various eyes, noses and mouths among 14 of the artist's arresting self-portraits..."--Kirkus
"...it’s clear that he considers these setbacks of little significance compared to the shaping of his identity as an artist and the excitement of creating paintings. The high quality printing and lush colors of the reproductions make it easy for readers to share that excitement. A nifty mix-and-match section lets readers compare the methods used in 14 of the artist’s self-portraits, but Close’s examination of his own work provides more than enough gratification on its own..."--PW
3 starred reviews (PW, SLJ, Kirkus) + ALSC Notables discussion (summer)
2012 Boston Globe - Horn Book Nonfiction Award Winner
"...At the book's brilliant center is the irresistible opportunity to "mix 'n' match" various eyes, noses and mouths among 14 of the artist's arresting self-portraits..."--Kirkus
"...it’s clear that he considers these setbacks of little significance compared to the shaping of his identity as an artist and the excitement of creating paintings. The high quality printing and lush colors of the reproductions make it easy for readers to share that excitement. A nifty mix-and-match section lets readers compare the methods used in 14 of the artist’s self-portraits, but Close’s examination of his own work provides more than enough gratification on its own..."--PW
November 3, 2016
I was unfamiliar with the work of Chuck Close prior to reading this book. I found his art work very interesting, especially the fact that he changes his mediums all the time, but not the subjects of his work. He almost exclusively does art that focuses on a face. Many of these will be huge sized paintings. I was most intrigued by his picture of an older woman that was amazing & made just using his finger prints! Also interesting about him is that he cannot remember a face. Maybe that is why he has focused on that for his artwork. In the book, he is very honest about the fact that he was a very poor student & had a physical ailment that didn't allow him to do sports. Art was the one area he felt he could excel. When he was older, he had an artery in his spine collapse causing him to be paralyzed. Months of physical therapy were needed before he could paint again. He needs to use both hands now to paint, but his work is just as amazing as it always was. I think this is a good story for kids showing how you can overcome any difficulties & do amazing things if you really want to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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