As an artist, I was interested in this book because it gained my attention and Cole never gave up his dreams as a true artist. Being an artist takes time and it's difficult, however, if you want to be discovered it would be best to travel and display your artwork. I always wanted to go on a journey to learn from different artists to become better in art. I love to draw something different and new just like Cole. Your imagination will lead you to so many beautiful images of art. It was interesting when Cole's imagination was about America in dark times. I love how Cole decorated his house full of inspiration paintings of Italy. All his paintings were fascinating and beautiful in the public eyes because of the color, design, and texture. I can tell he was into visual arts because his artwork explains emotion and a positive message. It was amazing that he expressed his artwork as an American, however, he wants to change that by doing different series of paintings as a human. As a true artist, you have to be very determined and organized. When you imagine and think about what your painting will be like is mind-blowing. ( )

The story of Thomas Cole and his creation of what will become known as the first true American art movement begins by describing Cole's love for drawing as a young boy. He drew anything he could find in the English countryside near his home but was always fascinated by the wilderness described in America. When the Industrial Revolution swept through England, Cole's family moved to America, where he later met a traveling painter he was enchanted by. Cole walked across Pennsylvania in search of painting jobs until he decided to follow his family as they moved to New York City. There, Cole's perseverance paid off, as he found his first patron. Cole felt he was called to paint the American landscape and to capture it as purely as possible. His work became very popular and made people proud of their beautiful landscape. Cole ventured to Europe for three years to learn more, and he fell in love with Italy. He was saddened by how much of the wilderness was gone upon his return to the Catskills, so Cole created a series of paintings that were inspired by what he saw in Rome depicting the rise and fall of an empire's effect on the landscape. His most famous work depicted a man's journey through what he deemed the four stages of life: childhood, youth, manhood, and old age. It is a profound piece that became his most famous work. Cole's depictions of the landscape inspired the Hudson River school of art, which is the first true American art movement, and reminded people of the importance of preserving the environment before it is destroyed by industry. The illustrations are inspired by Cole's paintings and are very landscape heavy, which goes well with the text. This is a very interesting book about an art movement that is not discussed as much as other European movements, and I think that it would be a great story about perseverance, creativity, and the environment to share with students. ( )