In in the Art (Article)

It is in the Art

When reading there’s so much more involved other than the act itself; it is more of a combination of that, emotions and lots of imagination. For adult readers, it is easier to construct the world of the story by just reading the words and paying attention to the details, hence the lack of pictures. However, kids are a whole different story; for them, it is about the storyline, the action itself, without minding the details of the world they are submerged in. Thus, it is important for authors to pay careful attention to the art they will be including in their picture books in order to fully transmit their story. Art on picture books are more than just mere paintings or drawing, they are what will set the whole mood; they’re an indispensable part of the experience.

In his book ‘My Father's Arms are a Boat’, author Stein Erik Lunde, in collaboration with the artist Øyvind Torseter, has done an outstanding job portraying two of the most difficult emotions someone could go through at a young age: grief and loss. It is a story about a boy who loses his mother and finds himself far from the world that once was filled with colors and happiness. It was in his father’s arms that he was reassured that the colorless walls were soon coming back to life and “everything will be alright.”

It is important to mention that the illustrations of this book are done by combining paper cuts and illustrations to create a 2 dimensioned 3D art. This technique gives the book a mysterious set of lights and shadows that will enhance the message of the story and will set the mood. 

First, let’s begin by talking about the cover, where the experience begins. When one reads the title of the book and sees the illustration portrayed on it, one is left confused as to what connects the two. A wolf? A father’s arms being a boat? Strange. Well, that’s why they say to not judge a book by its cover; and it’s in this mystery were the bittersweetness of it all begins.

In the first few pages, we are met with dark images that transmit a world that has had its life sucked almost completely out of it. I say almost because, even with all the darkness, a single-colored object appears in every page conveying a deeper meaning, giving the impression that at the end everything will be okay.

One would think that with the images being mostly horizontal, and wide, a sentiment of tranquility will be transmitted, but in this case, it is quite the opposite. All the black that is added to the visuals makes all the vast space seem frightening and lonely. And since the story is told from a child’s perspective, one can, therefore, say that maybe that is how every child’s world feels after losing a parent: dark and scary.

Also, one of the most bittersweet and breathtaking visuals in the book is the page where the father is seen holding his boy’s body as if literally he were a boat protecting him; and all the mess in the surroundings make it seem as if they are at sea trying to survive a thunderstorm. (See pages 7 and 8) What makes it even sweeter is that in the previous pages it is shown how the dad is being miserable for his wife’s loss. When seeing that one might think that the dad will be neglecting the child and focusing on his own hurt. But no he doesn’t; he ignores his grief and invites his boy into his arms to assure him that he will be safe there. Visuals like these add to the characterization of the father and give us an idea of the type of person he is. It also gives us some kind of hope that indeed they will be alright at the end because with a father figure like that one can survive anything.

Furthermore, even though we are not explicitly told at the beginning of the story that the mother is dead, it is assumed by the scenario created that it is in her loss that their world has become pitch black. Hence we can say that in this book the visuals do a great job at expanding the plot and giving much more information than just what’s written.

As for symbolism and hidden messages, this story is full of that; and it is not only laying in the art but also in the words itself. For instance, when it is said that “granny says that red birds are dead people” one finally understands why the boy is so worried for the birds and the bread he left outside for them. We might assume that the boy ends up believing that even though his mom will be sleeping forever, she might appear as one of those red birds he sees every day, which can be seen as a source of hope. 

However, the most prominent symbolism of this picture book lies in the fact that even if what’s seen the most is black and darkness, there is always a source of light, of color. For example, in the first few pages, we get a visual of the boy’s room and how it is all dark and scary, but still, we see a bright yellow pillow in his bed. As we all know yellow is the color of light, which in this scenario gives us a sense of optimism that that little boy will survive.

In addition, we can also see a red swing, red birds and a red fox, which can make us assume that the color red has a very significant meaning. Maybe it is conveying that even if it all seems black and white and your world is falling down love will always conquer all and give us hope. There is also the fact that the kid created a connection between the color red and his mother; she was all that and she will remain to be all that love is about; maybe that’s what the color red is about.

Indeed, while reading this story, one feels it all, but it is at the end of the book that a turn of events lights up the darkness and gets you out of the mood of grief and loss. For at the last pages of the book we see how the boy and his father embrace in what seems a room coming back to life with all the black turning into colors and the red, represented through-out the book, being the whole source for that. It is sitting in front of the RED fireplace that the father and son found solace.  Red, they found hope in red.

This might seem like a sad book not worthy of kids reading it. Why would you want to put a child through that? But the reality of this life is that children need books like this the most. Losing someone is difficult enough for adults, let alone children. It will never be easy to lose a parent, especially not at a very young age. This book with its words and art satisfy every single psychological need of a child. The whole aesthetic of the book covers the process of healing so beautifully, which makes it difficult not to submerge oneself in it; reading it feels like walking on the path of healing and kids need that sometimes.