Dahlov Ipcar facts for kids

Dahlov Ipcar was an amazing American artist. She was a painter, illustrator, and author. Born Dahlov Zorach, she lived from 1917 to 2017. Dahlov was famous for her bright, colorful paintings. These paintings often showed animals. She painted animals from farms and wild animals from places like Africa. Her art had a unique, almost kaleidoscope-like style.

Life and Work

Dahlov Ipcar was born on November 12, 1917. Her birthplace was Windsor, Vermont. She was the younger of two children. Her parents were artists William and Marguerite Zorach. Dahlov grew up in Greenwich Village, New York City. She went to the City and Country School. This was a famous school started by Caroline Pratt. Dahlov was always surrounded by artistic people. Her parents encouraged her to paint from a very young age.

She briefly went to Oberlin College. But she left after just one semester. Dahlov felt that school rules limited her artistic freedom. In 1936, when she was 19, Dahlov married Adolph Ipcar. He was a young man who tutored her in math. They lived in New York City for a year. Adolph tutored, and Dahlov taught art.

The next winter, they moved to Georgetown, Maine. They lived in a farmhouse on her parents' land. They started their own farm. They grew their own food and raised animals. They also had two sons. They sold eggs and milk to earn extra money. Dahlov kept painting throughout her life. It was both a hobby and a way to earn money.

Besides painting, she wrote four fantasy novels. She also wrote or illustrated many children's books. She even made three-dimensional cloth sculptures. Her marriage to Adolph lasted a long time. He passed away in 2003 at 98 years old. Dahlov herself died on February 10, 2017. She was 99 years old.

Career as an Artist

In 1939, Dahlov had her first art show. She was only 21 years old. The show was at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It was called "Creative Growth." She was the first woman and the youngest artist to have a solo show there. This was the first of many shows over the next 40 years.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Dahlov's art changed. It was influenced by a style called Social Realism. This style showed everyday life and workers. Her paintings from this time showed farm workers. They often included their strong draft horses and farm animals.

In 1945, she illustrated her first children's book. It was called The Little Fisherman. A famous author, Margaret Wise Brown, wrote the story. This book is still popular today. After that, Dahlov wrote and illustrated 30 of her own children's books. She also wrote four fantasy novels for older kids. She even wrote a book of short stories for adults. Many of her children's books are being printed again. This means new kids can enjoy them.

By the 1960s and 1970s, her art changed again. Her new style included detailed patterns and geometric shapes. These designs became her special artistic mark. She always created art in her own way. She did not follow popular art trends.

Murals

Dahlov Ipcar also painted large murals. Murals are big paintings on walls. She completed ten murals for public buildings. Two of them were for U.S. Post Offices. These are in La Follette, Tennessee and Yukon, Oklahoma.

Other murals can be seen in Maine. One is in the children's room at the Patten Free Library in Bath. Another is a very long painting. It is 106 feet long! It shows Maine animals. You can see it at the Narragansett Elementary School in Gorham, Maine.

A 21-foot mural called "Golden Savanna" is also famous. It shows African wildlife. You can find it at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield, Massachusetts. Many of her artworks are also at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, Maine.

Collected Works

Dahlov's art is in many important museums. These include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Her work is also in top art museums in Maine. Many companies and private collectors own her art too.

Honorary Degrees

Dahlov received special honors from colleges. These are called honorary degrees. She got them from the University of Maine, Colby College, and Bates College. In April 1998, the University of Minnesota gave her an award. It was called The Kerlan Award for Children's Literature.