Painting in the Dark, Rachelle Burk
Painting in the Dark, Rachelle Burk
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Painting in the Dark
Esref Armagan, Blind Artist

Author: Rachelle Burk

Narrator: Bronson Pinchot, Katherine Kellgren

Unabridged: 44 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 12/06/2016

Synopsis

In 1953, Esref Armagan was born completely blind to a poor family in Istanbul, Turkey. He received no formal education and spent his childhood days in his father’s shop, where he developed the curiosity to create and draw. He experienced the world through touch and learned to visually reproduce his surroundings, including color, shadows, and perspective, with his hands.This blind artist’s story will be an inspiration to young artists of all abilities.This audiobook won the 2017 Wilbur Award for Best Youth/Children Audiobook. It was also a finalist for the 2017 New York Festivals International Radio Program’s awards for Best Nonfiction Audiobook as well as for Best Solo Narration.

About Rachelle Burk

Rachelle Burk writes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and has been a contributing writer for Scholastic Science World classroom magazine.

About Bronson Pinchot

Bronson Pinchot began talking at 9 months of age. Today, half a century later, he talks into a microphone in a soundproof booth for a living. In between, he attended Yale University as well as the acting programs at Shakespeare & Co. and Circle-in-the-Square, logged in well over 200 episodes of television, starred or costarred in a bouquet of films, plays, musicals, and Shakespeare on Broadway and in London, and developed a passion for Greek revival architecture.

About Katherine Kellgren

Katherine Kellgren has recorded more than 100 audiobooks, including winners of the Audie Award, the American Library Association’s Odyssey Honor, the Earphones Award, the Publishers Weekly Listen Up Award, and ForeWord Magazine’s Audiobook of the Year. She was named one of AudioFile Magazine’s Best Voices of the Year for 2008 and 2009, and in 2009 received the Audie Award for Best Solo Narration–Female. She has appeared onstage in London and New York City. Kellgren is a graduate of The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Fern on June 14, 2020

Fascinating......more

Goodreads review by Carmen on October 18, 2016

Written for a young audience but informative to an older audience as well, Painting in the Dark is a picture book and biographical story of Esref Armagan, an artist who is blind from birth. The book features beautiful full page colorful illustrations by Gadotti including paintings of Armagan. Using......more

Goodreads review by Rhoda on September 04, 2019

We all are born with different talents & how you would use that talent is your way of thanks back to God. It's either you can inspire others with your work, make room for suggestions/improvements & apply perseverance that no excuse should be made to every actions you want to implement.......more

Goodreads review by Kim on July 21, 2016

I'm kind of obsessed with brain science, so I loved learning about this remarkable man whose story is as inspiring for budding young scientists as for budding young artists -- not to mention anyone who struggles with obstacles. And who among us couldn't use inspiration for leaping our own hurdles? T......more

Quotes

“A thoughtful biography that celebrates diversity and perseverance. Recommended.” School Library Journal

“The author’s particular focus on the artist’s development—his discoveries of shadows and of perspective, for instance—and specific techniques for preparing canvases with modeling clay or glued-down string offers real insight into how obstacles raised by physical disabilities can be overcome with motivation and ingenuity…Informative as well as inspiring.” Kirkus Reviews

“Bronson Pinchot’s measured, reverent voice is a great match for this account of Esref Armagan…Pinchot uses subtle changes in his tone to capture the young boy’s interactions with his father, who mentored him, and the author’s own thoughts and revelations about the artist. While Pinchot’s voice is light and cheerful for Armagan’s successes, it turns somber at the many challenges he faced. In a well-modulated voice often accompanied by soft reflective music, Kellgren delivers the author’s explanations of Armagan’s painting techniques, referencing certain pages in the book. Children with access to the print book will enjoy reading along while listening.” AudioFile

“A story of talent, perseverance, and refusal to accept limitations.” Deborah Stein Kent, National Federation of the Blind

“The author is to be commended for sharing the story of this largely unknown painter in this well-written, entertaining, and inspiring book.” Stephanie Kieszak-Holloway, president of the Georgia Organization of Parents of Blind Children

“May Painting in the Dark break down our misconceptions and encourage us all to find our internal vision, to follow our heart’s desires, and never pre-judge our neighbor’s abilities.” Barbara Oswald, blind artist, photographer, gallery owner

Awards

  • Wilbur Award
  • NY Festivals International Radio Program Award
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