Grandma Moses: Painter of Rural America

by Zibby Oneal

Presents the simple, down-home life of the witty and acclaimed artist from the time she began her career in her eighties to her vital last year at age 101.

Genres: Biography, Art

Paperback

First published September 15, 1986

About the author

Zibby Oneal was born on March 17, 1934, in Omaha, Nebraska. "My mother loved books, both for their content and because they are beautiful objects. Our house was full of them. She read aloud to us a great deal. I can remember finding it miraculous that she could look at the strange black marks on a page and see a story there. I planned to fill pages with black marks of my own as soon as I learned how to make them. Wanting to write goes back that far anyway."

"[Our] house ... was full of paintings as well, and though I am no artist, I think in terms of color and composition. All my books have begun with a picture in mind--a character and a place visualized. When I can see these things clearly--almost as if they were a painting on a wall--then I can begin to write about them."

Reviews

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grandma Moses: Painter of Rural America by Zibby Oneal, Hindi language translation by Arvind Gupta- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- the book narrates the story of Grandma Moses Anna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 – December 13, 1961), or Grandma Moses, was an American folk artist. She began painting in earnest at the age of 78 and is a prominent example of a newly successful art career at an advanced age. Her works have been shown and sold worldwide, including in museums, and have been merchandised such as on greeting cards. Sugaring Off was sold. She was a live-in housekeeper for a total of 15 years, starting at age 12. An employer noticed her appreciation for their prints made by Currier and Ives, and they supplied her with drawing materials. Moses and her husband began their married life in Virginia, where they worked on farms. In 1905, they returned to the Northeastern United States and settled in Eagle Bridge, New York. They had ten children, five of whom survived infancy. She embroidered pictures with yarn, until disabled by arthritis. During a visit to Hoosick Falls in 1938, Louis J. Caldor, an art collector who worked as an engineer in the state of New York, saw paintings made by Moses in the window of a drug store. He bought their supply and ten more from her Eagle Bridge house for $3 or $5 each. The next year, three Grandma Moses paintings were included in New York's Museum of Modern Art exhibition titled "Contemporary Unknown American Painters". Message from the book is that children should dream and work to complete it. Coloured illustrations help the reader to relate to the story. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandma Moses, painter of rural America by Zibby Oneal
Interesting audio book about the painter. Starts out when she was just a girl and didn't realize a lot of things, like birthdays.
Liked memories of my past as well, times outside with friends and family during winter months, on the lake, skating and sledding.
Liked hearing of how she painted the walls in her house when she had no money for house paint.
Loved hearing of how she played with dolls, dressing them and knitting.

[Megan Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elliana enjoyed this biography.

[WSL Library]

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