“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Monday, May 28, 2012

The Happy Rabbit by Patricia Barton

Enjoying the last few weeks of spring? That is exactly what I am doing. Spending time outside in my garden and when it's raining, I go through my book stash. I just had to pull out a few images from this darling book and share with you. These are from the book The Happy Rabbit, written and illustrated by Patricia Barton.




Patricia Barton started painting at the age of 36. She had no true academic training and thus her work is sometimes called "Modern Primitive".  She moved from the United States to France at the age of twenty five. Her time in the French countryside brought a change in her perceptions and she became highly aware of the relationships of plants and animals in their changing environment.  A friend suggested she take up painting as a way to express her new found emotions. Here wondrous and whimsical artwork was noticed by area art critics and her new career was born. For more about Patricia visit this site.






"I am sure there was always some hidden creativity in me which was screaming to manifest itself. But also I am profoundly moved by the beauty of the changing seasons and, indeed, by all of nature. This magical beauty is certainly the most important force which opened the world of painting to me."
                                                                                     Patricia Barton






I love how the border changes from winter to fall.





How cute is this bunny!



Look at this darling little hedgehog!




The birds are beautiful. 
I love the delicate water color of these images.











These winter paintings are just so sweet. I could move into that cute little house! I love the image below with the gorgeous snow covered trees and that precious little bird singing its heart out.




The Happy Rabbit is A Big Golden Book. Pictures and story by Patricia Barton. Book is in very good condition with some edge wear and soil on cover, interior is in very good condition. New York - Golden Press Book, 1968, 2nd Printing. Hardcover measures 9.5"x12.5".

This darling book follows a Happy Rabbit through the four seasons.This beautiful book is very large and is perfectly nice for reading. The artwork is gorgeous and would be beautiful framed as well. 

If you are interested in purchasing this book it is available in my Etsy store Crave Cute.




13 comments:

  1. Oh, how cute! I love that last picture.

    Kristin

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh this is lovely! I love the first picture with the birds and nest. That would make a lovely wall covering.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! It would make a lovely fabric for curtains or table linen too!

      Delete
  3. Adorable. I love the picture with the rabbit in the snow. So cute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love her fun exaggeration of the animals features... cartoon-like but with lots of realism mixed in.

      Delete
  4. oh my...what a sweet and lovely book..the art is just gorgeous and enchanting! Wonderful!Thanks for sharing this gem!
    Wishing you a most dazzling day!!
    Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear Crave Cute - the book is a delight - just love the sweet pictures - thanks for sharing. Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, it's hard to believe such amazing talent laid dormant for so long... I guess that means there's still hope left for the rest of us! I've always said I'll be a late bloomer :) Personally I don't put a lot of stock in formal training for artists or writers - yes it can hone your talent - but either it's there or not and you can also learn on your own with hard work & lots of trial and error.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane, I totally agree with you. You either have it or you don't! Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson) started painting at age 76!

      Delete
  7. Nice drawings, I wish I could paint like that.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a perfectly sweet little book. Growing up in the UK I missed out on a lot of the Little Golden Books. I did have a book of prayers from the series but none of the other’s so it’s lovely finding out more about this one.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, it is a precious little book. The rabbit can't help but make one smile. I like to think that's the sign of a special artist too - one who can make another smile. Oh how fun. Another book like this that I love is The Pokey Little Puppy. Do you have that one? We have it up in a guest room that I walk into often. It reminds me of our 100 lb Greater Swiss Mountain dog who is a pokey little puppy at three years old!

    Happy seeing beautiful!
    http://seeabeautifulworld.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete

ATTENTION SPAMMERS! COMMENT MODERATION IS TURNED ON. ONLY AUTHORIZED COMMENTS WILL APPEAR.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.