The Coloring Book of American Modernist Artists

In the early decades of the 20th century, the United States underwent a period of rapid change. The pace of life accelerated as the machine age took hold, and the landscape was transformed by increasing urbanization. Artists responded in a variety of visual styles, but what they had in common was a desire to reflect modern society and to challenge the conventions of art with a bold, energetic approach to color and composition. The Coloring Book of American Modernist Artists showcases the exciting, bold works of some of the best-known American artists in this style. The book presents 30 works of the period, ready for users to explore—whether by reproducing the original artists’ vibrant palettes or experimenting with their own.

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Follow Marsden Hartley and Andrew Dasburg in finding spiritual inspiration in the wide open spaces of the American West, or immerse yourself in atmospheric city streets as painted with the sleek lines and hard-edged forms of such Precisionists as George Copeland Ault. Max Weber’s expressive still lifes reveal primitive influences and an interest in native cultures, while Jan Matulka’s arrangement is more stylized and geometric.

Interior view of he Coloring Book of American Modernist Artists

If your mood lends itself to something more abstract, be stimulated by the daring color combinations of the Cubist-inspired work of Oscar Bluemner, or relax in the mindful contemplation of the swirl of multicolored forms in Morgan Russell’s and Stanton Macdonald-Wright’s Synchromist paintings.

A new coloring book showcasing the exciting, bold works of some of the best-known American modernist artists
With 30 drawings for you to bring to life in color, either by copying the dazzling palettes of the original artworks or by giving free rein to your own creativity
Featured artists include Oscar Bluemner, Andrew Dasburg, Marsden Hartley, Morgan Russell and Max Weber

Example color page from the coloring book of American Modernist Artists.

“These American Modernist paintings from the Vilcek Collection provide an outstanding, hands-on introduction to some of the greatest American art of the early 20th century,” says Vilcek Foundation President Rick Kinsel in the book’s introduction. “Our hope is that, through the images in this book, you will experience firsthand the joyful and innovative use of color for which the American Modernist movement is best known.”

The Coloring Book of American Modernist Artists is available now from Merrell Publishers, and everywhere books are sold.