cbr15bingo North America: Canada is in North America
Who is Maud Lewis? I had no idea until I found A Tulip in Winter: A Story about Folk Artist Maud Lewis. Kathy Stinson’s picture book (currently available) is a love story to a woman who overcame times of prejudices, and a debilitating case of rheumatoid arthritis. As a young woman, her parents death and brother selling their home meant she had to move in with an aunt. But she was being treated as a child. Through a chance encounter, she learned a man was looking for a live-in housekeeper. For the rest of her life, Lewis would live with this man, painting when she could. Selling when she could. And years after her death, the home would be disassembled and reassembled in a museum in Canada.
The art of Lauren Soloy is fantastic. It is in the folk style, and brings to life in bursting colors and unique details the feeling of the place, times and artist. And while I really enjoyed the story, it is the art that captures things for me. And even though it is a real person, it is a delightful story of overcoming disabilities and as one young fan would say, “Painting what she saw, but made it better.” It is just a great, inspiring and delightful story.
An afterwards, and other extras (including a note from the author and illustrator) are included. And while I know I will not be able to afford a real Maud Lewis (even though her paintings sold for $10 in her life, they are fetching the $30,000 ranges now), I will be looking into finding a poster, or even a little postcard. (Read via online reader copy).
