Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe

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Figure 1. Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat book cover (2019).

Evaluation of Book

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe tells the story of Jean-Michel Basquiant. From an early age, he knew he wanted to be famous artist. His mother sat with him and encouraged him to draw. And while his work was not traditional, it told a story and shared emotions. By age 17, he knew he needed to get his work seen if he wanted to be famous. He used graffiti as a medium to share his work with the world. People wanted to know him and see more. And he gave them more.

Javaka Steptoe drew a line in the sand for the reader by stating this story is about a young artist. Therefore, the reader knew Jean-Michel Basquiat would make it as an artist. Steptoe goes on to share how Jean-Michel began to draw before he was seven years old, already a serious artist that wanted everything just right. The reader also learns how his father and mother impacted his art by supporting him. They gave him encouragement plus supplies to make sure it could happen. And by the end of the book, Jean-Michel is a famous artist according to the world and his mother.

Javaka Steptoe’s illustrations established the mood for different parts of the story. One example is when Jean-Michel’s mother became mentally sick to the point she needed to move to a new home. The sorrow that he felt from the loss of his mother changed his art. He used different shades of blue to represent his feelings. Another time occurred after he survived a car accident. His mother gave him a book about the body and his artwork began to focus on bones, drawn in shades of black and white. Therefore, the art created by Jean-Michel expressed his mood.

Another great aspect of the art was how it extended the plot. The drawings are messy and vibrant. They tell a story all by themselves while also adding to the story. The early art of a red dinosaur pops from the page. It is not perfect, but it expresses emotion and supports the texts idea that Jean-Michel did not need his art to be perfect. Another picture of Jean-Michel dealing with his mother’s mind not working shows him looking out a window, a realistic human heart painted on his sleeve. There is no better representation of how a child would feel upon seeing his mother leaving the home.

Response

While reading Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, I related to the story being told. Jean-Michel’s mother got down on the floor and worked with him, wanting to support his dream. I too do this with my son. Whether it is reading a book or doing an art activity, I want my son to express himself in his work. It does not need to be perfect. This also agrees with my view of the world. Parents need to help their children achieve their dreams, even when the goals change over time. To sum up, this book sparked my interest in Jean-Michel’s work. I looked online to find real examples of his art because I enjoy the raw feelings of neo-expressionism. My hope is to find some of his work in museums so I can see it in person.

Conclusion

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe is a great book for all ages. Its messy art and courageous story will appeal to those that like realistic fiction. Out of four stars, I give this book all four.

Citation

Steptoe, J. (2016). Radiant child: the story of young artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Willis, C. (2019). Radiant child: the story of young artist Jean-Michel Basquiat book cover (photo). Retrieved April 28, 2019 from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LP5KnUn2FsIWHurJl17wuY1pbe7urdZt/view?usp=sharing