Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring

The major retrospective book on the artist claims that when you see a Keith Haring painting you know instinctively that it’s his work. Unfortunately for his imitators (as in this book) this adage proves true again and again. Artist Josh Cochran attempts to infuse his compositions with a Haring-like feel, and while his pictures are fun and illustrate the artist’s life decently, they never quite reach the easy joy that Haring is known for. The biographical details and narrative crafted by Matthew Burgess are actually far more interesting than the illustrations, in my opinion, as they explore Keith’s life with accuracy while keeping it appropriate for young audiences. Considering that much of Haring’s work was beloved by children show more (and made specifically for them, in some cases), it’s a shame that the publisher felt the need to imitate his art rather than have an artist draw around the work that Keith has already done to make a more innovative book. show less

Keith Haring is my favorite artist of all time so, this book felt like an easy choice to read. This is a very well-done biography for a slightly older demographic. Keith Haring’s life was definitely fascinating and seeing how someone has adapted it for a younger audience was very interesting. I also enjoyed how it touched on the ways art can move people and affect their lives and how it affected Keith’s life as well. The use of color throughout the book was also very inspiring and creative. I think this is a very well-done biography of a figure that many children are probably not aware of.

This was a fantastic book. This book is a biography of Matthew Burgess in the form of a picture book. Hence, "drawing" on walls. Although this is a children's book, Matthew does not hide important details of his life that some may consider not talking about. He talks about being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as his journey with AIDS. He highlights that he does not let this hold him back, and he continues pursuing his passion in art. I would recommend this book for anyone, but especially children who need to be exposed to things like this matter. This book is simple and inspiring.