Janice Hechter is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book The Power of Her Paintbrush: The Story of Theresa Bernstein. Hechter's other books include Where Are the Women?.
Q: What inspired you to create a children’s picture book biography about the artist Theresa Bernstein (1890-2002)?
A: I had a lot of time to think during the pandemic. One thing that occurred to me was that while studying art, I never learned about women artists in history. I wondered, were there any successful female artists from the early 20th century?
I did some research and discovered the art of Theresa Bernstein. I was immediately taken by Bernstein’s ability to capture the energy of a moment in time. Her paintings of gatherings of people exuded a vitality and excitement that pulled me in. I was especially drawn to Bernstein’s night scenes, in which brilliant flickers of light defined people mingling against backdrops of darkness.
Q: How did you research her life, and what did you learn that especially surprised you?
A: I started by reading a biography about Theresa Bernstein. Then I investigated online and found out that Bernstein had a great-nephew, Keith. I searched for his email, wrote to Keith, and then interviewed him. He had been very close to Theresa and he supplied me with a wealth of information.
Keith told me about a website which had not only Bernstein’s scrapbook, but videos of her working, along with numerous newspaper articles and interviews. There were also videos of other relatives and friends who spoke about the Theresa Bernstein they knew. I contacted and interviewed several of those people.
Keith also told me about Bernstein’s autobiography, which was extremely helpful. It allowed me to get firsthand information from the artist herself.
From reading that book I did learn something that surprised me. Theresa had a photographic memory, which came in very handy for her art. When she discovered a scene that moved her, she would make a quick sketch and then go back to her home or studio and paint it from memory. I found Bernstein’s ability to retain all that visual information from just a glance absolutely fascinating!
Q: What was it like to illustrate a book about an artist? Did you try to emulate her style?
A: I loved illustrating a book about an artist. It had been one of my goals. I am also a painter, and have many years of experience painting in oils and acrylics, as well as displaying my work in museums and galleries.
Like Theresa Bernstein, I have enjoyed painting and drawing people since I was a young child. My paint strokes have always been robust, like Theresa’s, so I didn’t have to stray from the way I naturally paint. My previous illustrations have often been described as painterly, probably due to all my years of painting, so my illustration style was the perfect fit for this project.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?
A: I hope that readers delve deeper into Theresa Bernstein’s art. Her work is now on display at major museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Brooklyn Museum, the Phillips Collection, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Cape Ann Museum, and many other museums and galleries.
Despite the many obstacles thrown in her way, Bernstein persevered. Readers should come away with the realization that talented women artists have not only existed, but have made remarkable contributions to art throughout the centuries. They have simply been left out of the canons of history.
Within the past few years, museums and galleries have slowly started to reveal that hidden history and give these artists proper exposure and acknowledgement.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am finishing up another picture book biography, this time about an inventor from history.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I will be having a book launch on March 14, 2026, 2:00 p.m., at the Lincoln Glenn gallery, 17 East 67th Street, Suite 1A, New York, NY 10065. I will be also be signing books at 3:00 p.m. on March 15, 2026, at Books of Wonder, at 42 West 17th St. New York NY 10011.
I invite anyone in the New York City area to attend one or both of these events. There will be plenty of Theresa Bernstein paintings at the book launch for viewers to enjoy.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Janice Hechter.
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