An insightful picture book portrait of artist Hockney begins with two elements of his childhood that informed aspects of his life and career. The first is his fascination with creating art; as a boy he would draw on everything from newspapers to chore lists to the linoleum floors. (“His mother finally said Enough! and got David a blackboard …”) The other is his childhood trips to the movies, where he fell in love with bright, sun-drenched California, so different from his dull hometown in Yorkshire, England. He was also still a boy when he got his first crush on another boy. Drawing taught young David how to look, and throughout his development as an artist, he continued to challenge himself to see more and see differently. Following art school in London, he pursued his California dream. “As he stepped off the plane, the sun seemed so much brighter … the spaces and the ocean felt infinite … Everything seemed to pulse with color and excitement.” Hockney strove to capture it all on canvas and continued to do so for decades—to growing attention and accolades—always seeking new perspectives and new ways of seeing the world and capturing his vision on canvas. An intimate author’s note is among the welcome resources provide at volume’s end. (Ages 8–11

From award-winning creator Evan Turk, a stirring picture book biography of world-famous artist David Hockney that celebrates seeing beauty everywhere

“It’s the very process of looking at something that makes it beautiful.” —David Hockney

Growing up under the gray skies of England during World War II, David Hockney used art to brighten his world. He discovered that the more he looked and drew, the more he could see beneath the surface to find beauty, possibility, and new perspectives. In the most ordinary things, whether a splash of water, a changing landscape, or the face of a friend, David always found something to love, uniquely capturing the vibrancy and life of his subjects.

Lyrically written with breathtaking, full-color illustrations by Evan Turk, To See Clearly tells the inspiring story of a groundbreaking artist who has shown the world a new way to see.