Outside Art

Outside Art, written and illustrated by Madeline Kloepper, is a refreshingly original and playful philosophical picture book that explores creativity, nature and the definition and meaning of art, cleverly housed within 48 colourful, palette-pleasing pages.

Inquisitive and wise Pine Marten loves watching Human in its cozy “log nest” in the forest doing all sorts of unique activities. Some days, the frizzy-haired Human is making pottery, some days it’s playing guitar, and some days Human is using a sewing machine to make colourful things. But today, Pine Marten notices that Human is doing something completely new and unique: “putting colours on a board using a furry stick.” Then Pine Marten asks an age-old question: “Why?”

Pine Marten quickly learns from Chickadee (who learned from Human yesterday) that Human is “The Artist” and is quite busy “Making Art!” And so begins the woodland animals’ playfully curious quest to discover what art is and if they can make their own. Every nearby forest animal, from Hare who wonders if art is a warning that danger is nearby and to run for cover, to Mouse who squeaks that maybe the Artist is gathering food on the board to help in weathering the long winter, to one of Coyote’s pups who thinks “Art is playing”, takes their turn in suggesting answers to the oft-pondered question. Pine Marten listens intently but draws the line when Grouse squaws that “There is no meaning!” Pine Marten insists there “has to be some kind of meaning.” And with that, all the animals who are piled up outside Human’s picture window and eagerly peeking in hear an irritated reply from the other side of the glass. Cat, Human’s pet, who declares itself an “expert on the matter” of art, smugly states: “The Artist is trying to create a dialogue between its everyday life and the current political climate through combining both representational and abstract imagery while incorporating soft colors with aggressive brushstrokes.”

This bold statement thoroughly confuses the animals, and a heated discussion ensues, with each creature, from Moose to Chickadee to Fawn, loudly defending their personal definition and position on the meaning of it all. The ever-astute and now-enlightened Pine Marten solves the riddle and saves the day, suggesting its own paw prints in the snow are a form of art. Each animal then follows suit, creating their own version of art in the snow, with Human looking on in awe (and Cat looking thoroughly nonplussed) through the large picture window at all of their original works of art.

Up-and-coming author-illustrator Madeline Kloepper, a resident of Prince George, British Columbia, and a graduate of Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, has succeeded in deftly crafting an inviting and whimsical tale sure to charm and delight readers of all ages. A pleasing mix of both single- and double-page spreads, Kloepper’s simple yet lively gouache and coloured-pencil illustrations in soothing muted, earthy tones expertly depict and celebrate the subtle beauty of nature in winter. And her effective use of white space further enhances the storyline, bringing each quirky, wide-eyed woodland character, their vivid personality and their keen observations and actions to life.

Outside Art, with its astute outside-to-the-inside perspective, is sure to ignite much stimulating conversation and ideas on this enduring philosophical question, making it a valuable and much-read addition to any home, public and school library.