Publisher's Synopsis
The new Art Encounters series was created as a platform for young readers to develop an appreciation for the work of the great masters. Each book is a piece of historical fiction based on a single painting from one of the great masters and set at the time in which that work was painted. This series gives readers an inside look at the artist, their techniques, style and inspiration. The first title, The Spirit Catchers, is based on Georgia O'Keeffe's "Deer Skull with Pedernal". History and fiction merge in this uplifting novel about a boy whose artistic talent awaits a great mind to uncover it.;A child of the depression, Parker begins his relationship with Georgia O'Keeffe by stealing her property, notably a camera. She is prepared to let him rot in jail when she develops the photos he has taken with the stolen camera and recognizes the boy's raw ability. Set against the backdrop of New Mexico's stark beauty, Parker's struggle to find his artistic vision clashes with O'Keeffe's fierce independence and private nature. Parker tries to connect with his surroundings through the use of a camera, while O'Keefe uses it as an aid for finding points of view otherwise difficult to obtain. This book is a literary interpretation of O'Keeffe's painting, "Deer Skull with Pedernal," as well as an intimate look at the artist's fame, her relationship with Alfred Stieglitz, and her creative process.
