MY NAME IS GEORGIA is a beautiful account of American artist Georgia O’Keefe’s life in first person narrative. Right from the start, Winter invokes intimacy between reader and narrator. Winter’s choice to present the text as though through Georgia’s voice pulls the reader into the artist’s life from childhood on. It is revealed in Winter’s book that Georgia had always wanted to be an artist. She shows the little ways in which Georgia was different from others, even at a young age. The reader follows her through school and out to the plains.

Throughout the pages, Winter seamlessly integrates direct quotes from O’Keefe, noting them with italics. For example, “I went to the Texas plains, the Wild West of my childhood books. …you have never seen SKY - it is wonderful.” These quotes are all referenced. Winter’s artistic style in the book is risky but rewarding. Publishers Weekly says, “Visually, she pays homage to the artist with enough details to suggest the famous flower, skull and sky paintings, but wisely adheres to her own signature style to convey O’Keefe and her environs.” As Georgia paints back in New York City, she says “I wanted everyone to see flowers the way I saw them”. Here, Winter paints red blooms in a style that points to O’Keefe’s actual work. Winter still manages to keep the work her own while expressing Georgia’s passion.

On one page that takes place in New York, Georgia says, “But sometimes, what I saw from my window was the faraway, calling me.” Georgia is pictured with her back to the reader, looking out the window with brush in hand. To her side is a painting of city buildings with smoke belching from their stacks. But, as Georgia gazes at the setting sun, pink clouds seem to drift right into her window and indeed out of the square frame of the picture. This is a technique Winter uses throughout the book. It seems to work to represent the kind of artist the Georgia O’Keefe was: visionary, unique, passionate.

Torrie Hodgson writes for School Library Journal, “Rather than spouting off facts about O’Keefe’s personal life, it explores the motivations, growth, and drive that powered one of this century’s most famous painters.” This book makes the reader feel as if they know and care for Georgia, a great way to introduce her art and possibly Southwestern literature. Putting down this book, readers may find themselves lying in their backyards, looking at the clouds in a different way.

1998. Review of My Name is Georgia in Publishers Weekly.

Hodgson, Torrie. 1998. Review of My Name is Georgia in School Library Journal.