In Blue Mountains: An Artist’s Return to America’s First Wilderness

by Thomas Locker, illustrated by Thomas Locker

Hardcover, 11″ x 9″, 36 pages, 13 full-color reproductions

ISBN: 978-0880104715          $18.00

 “This special book is visually rich, quietly moving, and intensely personal—a multilayered experience.” School Library Journal

 Set in America’s “first wilderness”—Kaaterskill Clove in the Catskill Mountains—made world-famous by the 19^th-century Hudson River School of landscape painters, many of whose pictures are reflected in this book, Thomas Locker’s In Blue Mountains is a personal, deeply moving testament to the power of beauty and art to nurture our children’s natural love of the world. A delight for children and adults, the book features 13 full-color reproductions of Locker’s luminous paintings.

 Reviews

“A painter whose striking Hudson River School-style landscapes have been celebrating nature’s beauty and grandeur since Where the River Begins (1984) returns to New York’s Kaaterskill Clove, the site of his original inspiration. … In this picture book for older readers, he links the paintings to a series of artistic epiphanies, describing a painter’s efforts to capture the light, color, or essence of each scene. … Mixing technical discoveries (“light coming through the leaves changes the color of everything”) with universal insights, this [is a] loving, solemn tribute to nature and its power to spark the creative impulse. Booklist

 “Locker … redefining his perceptions and his Hudson River School art style, presents the resulting emotionally charged paintings and a detailed account of his artistic growth and development. Each verso contains a paragraph of text accompanied by a thumbnail sketch of the artist in a different spot; opposite is the resulting painting rendered in oils on canvas. … This is a lyrical piece for artists unsure of their vision, a trip planner for those wishing to visit the area (maps provided on the endpapers), and a sensitive look at a painter's maturation.” School Library Journal

About the Author/Artist

Thomas Locker (1937–March 9, 2012) was an American author and painter. He was born in New York City and died in Albany, New York. He wrote and illustrated many popular books for children, young adults, and adults, including: Water Dance; Cloud Dance; Where the River Begins; Mountain Dance; John Muir: America’s Naturalist; Home: A Journey through America; and Walking with Henry: Based on the Life and Works of Henry Thoreau. He also illustrated books for other popular writers such as Jean Craighead George. Prior to taking up art and writing full-time, Locker taught at Franklin College and later at Shimer College.