Georgia Rises: A Day in the Life of Georgia O'Keeffe

by Kathryn Lasky, Ora Eitan (Illustrator)

Inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s own descriptive letters, awardwinning author Kathryn Lasky imagines a day in the life of this legendary artist at her Abiquiu, New Mexico, home. Before the first shades of lavender color the morning sky, Georgia rises – eager to walk the rust red hills and discover images that she will later paint: a bone glowing white, the black wings of a raven against the gray sky, a slice of silver moon.

This fresh, imaginative approach, combined with Ora Eitan’s spare, evocative paintings, invites readers into Georgia’s world, revealing how this artist’s creative process is affected by the natural world and small moments of daily life. A biographical overview of O’Keeffe’s life, along with a reproduction of one of her paintings, extends this most unusual portrait of a beloved American artist.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Childrens, Biography, Nonfiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 26, 2005

About the author

Kathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kathryn Lasky's picture book biography of Georgia O'Keefe. Lanky creates a work of historical fiction, imagining a day in the life of O'Keefe as an older woman living in her home in Abiquiu, New Mexico. She bases her story on letters O'Keefe wrote that emphasize the time she spent outdoors observing her habitat, with a focus on color, such as the first shades of lavender color in the morning sky, or the black wings of a raven against the gray sky.

I liked it, and found the approach interesting and unique, and the budding middle school artist thought it was okay, but as an introduction to O'Keefe's work for children, I am not sure it is the best way in. I appreciated it more as an adult, knowing her work pretty well. I had to supplement the reading for L with a big book of O'Keefe paintings I owned, which she liked a lot.

Sort of in keeping with the historical fiction approach of Lasky, Ora Eitan does the paintings of Georgia's world, helping us to see/imagine some of O'Keefe's creative process, especially her observation of the natural Southwest. Eltan's work is very good, not really in the manner of O'Keefe, but lovely. A couple pages of actual biography append the story. I guess I thought this was about a 3-3.5 for me. Made L want to read more of her, which I guess is one point of a short picture book.

PS: We read this in part because of some personal O'Keefe connections. L is classmate with some of O'Keefe's great grand-nephews and nieces (O'Keefe had no children) here where we live in Oak Park. O'Keefe studied for a time at the Chicago Art Institute, which houses some of her work, which we have seen many times. We own some O'Keefe art books. I used to live in Madison, Wisconsin around the corner from O'Keefe Middle School, which features many exterior murals, across from a house where O'Keefe once lived. Someone told me a point of the murals facing her house is to have her spirit--should her spirit choose to visit her old house in Madison--enjoy the children's tribute to her artistic spirit. O'Keefe grew up in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, outside of Madison.

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now although I have found Kathryn Lansky's narrative, her printed words poetically evocative, and as such a delicately woven nuanced verbally drawn portrait of both artistic inspiration and indeed also very much the desert landscapes and times of the day that obviously always inspired Georgia O'Keeffe's imagination, personally, I cannot really consider Georgia Rises: A Day in the Life of Georgia O'Keeffe as all that much a biography or even a general introduction to Georgia O'Keeffe as artist and person. For truly (and in my humble opinion) while what Kathryn Lansky writes does most definitely have the ring and scope of truth to it and albeit that her text therefore most certainly both touches and aesthetically enchants me, Georgia Rises: A Day in the Life of Georgia O'Keeffe is actually more about artistic inspiration in general and indeed thus features scenarios that are part and parcel to and for many artists and their daily routines, their life and work styles, inspiring perhaps, knowledge inducing even, but not at least to and for me something that is all that specific and particular to and for Georgia O'Keeffe herself, but more about how many if not most artists tend to see and approach their surroundings, their environments, life in general. And while I have definitely found Georgia Rises: A Day in the Life of Georgia O'Keeffe a lyrically and aesthetically stimulating (generally pleasing) reading experience (even if personally, I would have much preferred seeing O'Keeffe's own pictures and paintings used as accompanying images, whilst still appreciating and much liking Ora Eitan's moody atmospheric renderings) as an actual book on the artist, on Georgia O'Keeffe herself, Georgia Rises: A Day in the Life of Georgia O'Keeffe is at least in my humble opinion a bit of a failure (although I do very much love that Kathryn Lansky has included both a short but detailed biography, one actual Georgia O'Keeffe painting and appreciatively also a selected bibliography).

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seems to be in that slippery slope between fantasy and reality. The author documents where her ideas come from and admits that this is a work of fiction. I think that the book needs to be carefully introduced that way because it would be so easy for children to think that all of the work on so many different paintings happened all in one day. Yet, the book is good in that it tries to explain the artistic process and how Georgia O'Keeffe and her vision was unique. A good resource for art teachers.

[Virginia Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evocative language and illustrations capture a day in the life of the elderly Georgia O'Keefe as she rises early to capture the lavender sky over her desert home and spends the day walking and appreciating that stunning, stark landscape. This is a picture book for anyone who has looked at the natural world differently after seeing O'Keefe's paintings.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author calls this book historical fiction and I do understand that but this book on Georgia O'Keeffe really does not really present the woman or her artwork. I found the concept of a day in the life of an elderly Georgia O'Keeffe to be boring and lonely. While it might be okay for a child who has already been introduced to this artist, I would not recommend it as a introduction.

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An imaginative introduction to Georgia O'Keeffe and the creative process. The illustrations are a homage to O'Keeffe's style and the "day in the life of" story suggests how O'Keeffe was inspired by the landscape and objects of the southwest to create her magnificent paintings.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book bio of sorts, but more about the artist's process and inspiration than a factual account of her life. Provides a beautifully-illustrated glimpse at a day in the life of...

[Jean-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good picture book about Georgia O'Keeffe. Make sure you have photographs of her artwork on hand to show the result of her inspiration.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not particularly inspiring. There are better ways to introduce O'Keeffe's art to children.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathryn Lasky is a creative talented writer and this was my first knowledge that she also wrote picture books. I was intrigued by the fact it was about Georgia O’Keefe who as any artist was fascinated with capturing light and looking at the light of New Mexico for many years. This historical fiction picture book focuses on just one day and depicts O’Keefe as she views light in the changing sky during that day.
While I feel this title will have little appeal to the picture book set, it will be of interest to older children who may know something of O’Keefe’s art works. I would even use it with adults who might be studying o’Keefe’s life and work.
Included in this title is a two pages of information about o’Keefe’s life and a bibliography.

[Cassidy Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Georgia O'Keeffe, an artist, has her day set out before her. This book gives insight into the thoughts of Georgia that influenced her art. Readers learn about Georgia's art and her life in this book. This would be good to use when talking about art.

[Jessie Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

We LOVED it! Highly recommend and am going to buy a copy.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

My child was bored with this one. Not a biography, but a "historical fiction" about artist Georgia O'Keefe. It doesn't actually have much information about the artist or her work in this tale.

[Misbah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A day imagined from the point of view of the famous artist, Georgia O'Keeffe.

I love the vibrant colors she used in her paintings. I wish there was a little more of that in these illustrations.

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the author describes it, this is an imaginative view of how O’Keeffe painted and thought.

[Beth Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used it in my classroom and it was great for both descriptive and figurative language.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book does contain a biographical sketch of O'Keefe's life at the end, the real power of the book is the compelling examination of a single day in her life wherein Lasky portrays how O'Keefe percieves her surroundings searching out inspiration for her next painting. Though she took inspiration from the real world, the abstraction of her process was distinct and interesting. Lasky explains her motivators using exceptionally simple language, meaning that I wasn't lost in complication as I tried to see where O'Keefe was coming from. This was a well written piece of historical fiction intended to compress her O'Keefe's process into a single, understandable day with a biograhy thrown in at the end. I enjoyed it.

[Amelia Halgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good starting point for a discussion on how color changes with lighting and how the tone of light changes through the day. The story does not actually contain any biographic information about Georgia O'Keeffe (for that you have to read the blurb at the back) but, as advertised, it is simply "a day in the life of Georgia O'Keeffe." Although the illustrations are nice and one can see a nod to the way Georgia used blocks of vibrant color, I do wish the book illustrations were more in Georgia's style or maybe even included some reproductions other than a single print that wasn't very representative of the body of her work. To introduce her art to my kids after reading this book we had to jump online. It seems like the book is incomplete.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melanie Kroupa Books
2009
K. Lasky
Ora Eitan
32 pages
Historical Fiction/Picture Book

The author of this book (Lasky) has a very detailed and descriptive way to write. It was easy to visualize the pictures of the story without even seeing the illustrations. By the end of the book, I felt that I had a good understanding of what Georgia O'Keeffe did during a typical day. I enjoyed the way the book began with Georgia wanting to be up before the sunrise. She wanted to capture that perfect purple color in a painting that can be seen at sunrise. She had goals; she was driven. I liked the way the book then ended with her going to bed but thinking of the lavender sky she would see in the morning.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Guardians of Ga'Lahoule (spelling?) sucked, and this one does too. Just because you decide to write a book about someone who hasn't been written much about in children's literature doesn't mean it's automatically going to be interesting. I was really looking forward to this, and was thoroughly disappointed.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great kids book about Georgia O'Keefe in her later years. I love the way that the author paints a 'day in the life' of the artist and how she can't wait for the next time of day and the colors that it will inspire. My dd is a budding artist and I think it was inspiring for her to read about the typical day of a 'real' artist.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Historical fiction... Lasky imagines a day for Georgia O'Keeffe in her later years. Information about the artist and Lasky's sources for the story and quotes are included in the back matter. An important artist to know a little more about.

[Beth Thames · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I did not think I would like, but I was mistaken. The student reader does not have to have any idea who O'Keefe is to enjoy spending this day with her on her land in New Mexico.

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artist Georgia O'Keeffe spends the day transforming the materials, colors, and landscape of her desert home into paintings. www.hcpl.net

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book that teaches reflection, probably better for a child older than my 3 year old.

[Noor Wazwaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled with vivid sensory detail. I really enjoyed the poetic style and how it shows the everyday life of Georgia's life in the southwestern desert.

[Beka · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could be helpful in sparking a child's interest in the life of Georgia O'Keeffe.

[Jody Kyburz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, informative, and has a great afterward/author's note.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book because it is about a woman artist. In the school I go to, we are doing a women’s history month.

[Danielle]

I really liked the different approach here. A meditation, a daily routine, an artist at work.