Book By Its Cover » Sketchbooks

Sketchbook Series: Frank Viva

julia — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:16:46 +0000

You may have noticed a new advertiser on our little sidebar called Whigby. If you click on their ad you will find a myriad of fun paper products including witty cards, adorable gift wrap, art posters and other goodies. The company was started by Frank Viva and Todd Temporale who also run a design agency in Toronto called Viva & Co. Frank happens to be an exceptional illustrator, and recently did a very sweet cover for The New Yorker. I asked Frank if he would share his sketchbooks, so we could get a taste of his process of working on such prestigious projects. Besides keeping regular sketchbooks and moleskins, Frank has just made himself a new sketchbook for planning more covers for The New Yorker. He printed a blank New Yorker cover, complete with the logo, at half size on bunch of sketch paper and Cerlox bound the pages into a book at Kinkos. This way he can make little mock covers and easily sketch to fit into their format. Below he’s shared two rejected comps for covers about the Oscars. Besides working on editorial projects, Frank is working on his first children’s book called Along a Long Road which will be coming out later this year from HarperCollins. Big thanks to Frank for participating in our series. We’ll be keeping up with his work here in the future.

Sketchbook Series: Lars Henkel

julia — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:03:33 +0000

German illustrator Lars Henkel wrote me wondering if I’d be interested in sharing his sketchbook. I am more than thrilled when an incredible artist such as Lars even has heard about the site, let alone wants to contribute to it. Lars work is interesting and impressive in every way. From realistically drawn elements to very stylized figures, I am most intrigued when he mixes his drawings with collage and creates layers of imagery for your eyes to get lost in. Check out more of his work here and keep up with him on his blog here. Now for the images- I couldn’t narrow down my favorites so i just decided to show everything he sent!
Remember you can click on the images to see them bigger!

Sketchbook Series: Mia Christopher

julia — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:03:48 +0000

Big thanks to Sian Keegan for introducing me to the sweet and quirky work of Mia Christopher. Mia’s drawings and paintings are so simple but there is such nice humor to them. Plus her color taste is very sophisticated making what could look like drawings for children, much more mature. I asked Mia to tell me a little about what she’s been up to with her work. Here’s what she had to say: “As far as what I’ve been up to, I’ve been keeping busy finishing pieces for two upcoming group shows. I have ten pieces in Anno Domini’s Fresh Produce show in San Jose on December 4th, and two pieces in Together Gallery’s upcoming group show Family Quilt on December 5th. I am also going to be a part of a yet to be titled exhibition at Flatcolor Gallery in Seattle that is opening February 4th, 2010. I went back to school this semester to finish my BFA. I’m at California College of the Arts majoring in painting and drawing, I have about a year and a half left. I really love it and it’s been pushing me and my work which is something I really treasure. I have lots of plans for the coming year- print editions, a book, maybe two, many more group shows, collaborations with other artists, etc.” Thanks so much to Mia for sharing I hope to feature more of her work in the future.

Sketchbook Series: Will Bryant

Chad Kouri — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:14:55 +0000

What can I say that hasn’t already been said about Will Bryant. I’ve never been so tempted to move to a city just to hang out with one person all the time. Will’s name has been drifting across the internet with nothing but good words attached for quiet some time now… well, except that one time. But we fixed that. With equal doses humor and hand styling, WIll’s work never fails to impress and entertain. When I grow up, I want to be Will “Mr. Fancy Pants” Bryant.

Sketchbook Series: Will Miller

Chad Kouri — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:51:36 +0000

Will Miller really throws down when it comes to custom typography. He’s got an eye for type anatomy like no one else I’ve seen. And the way he takes it into the third dimension so flawlessly… holy crap. Gotta love it. When I first met him, Will explained (and correct me in the comments if I’m wrong) that after school he really wasn’t set in any one direction so he spent over 2 years just studying type. Written language to lead type to digital and beyond. And boy does it show. This was very exciting to me because I can’t seem to spend more than a couple hours on one thing. For the past couple years he has spent his time as Art Director of Firebelly Design. Check out their work if you are not aware of it. They do some very inspiring stuff. Enjoy!

ps. don’t forget: you can now click on the images to see them bigger.

Sketchbook Series: Eric Ellis

Chad Kouri — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:54:02 +0000

When I asked Eric Ellis to send me some photos of his sketchbook I was surprised to hear that he doesn’t keep one anymore. He has instead been keeping a folder of letter sized copier paper at his desk that houses all his little drawing experiments. He explained that drawing in a sketchbook is too much pressure and doesn’t make for the most freedom of exploration when drawing. Funny thing is that I just started the same practice as well! Regardless, he must be doing something right because every time I get a peek at what Eric is up to I freak out… in a good way of course. See for yourself.

Sketchbook Series: Ben Finer

julia — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:58:03 +0000

These insane pages are the sketchbooks of Ben Finer. These pages have gotten thick from his pasting and painting. There are layers upon layers of drawings, stamping, collaged images, paper scraps, and much much more. You can look at these pages for hours, there’s so much going on. Most pages seem like a psychedelic nightmare with technicolor attacking hippos or angry cartoon characters. A couple are more quiet and peaceful, full of interesting detailed architecture or a polite bathroom. Either way the drawings always have a ton of details. Little tiny patterns cover over any one color surface giving it more dimension. Comic book parts are embellished with hypercolor designs. Ben went to RISD with me and came over for dinner so I could shoot these books which he said he thinks of less as “sketch” books and more as pieces themselves. He has just finished a Masters program at Parsons. See more of his work on his site here.

Sketchbook Series: Ana Botezatu

julia — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:14:19 +0000

Ana Botezatu, a Romanian illustrator, wrote me because she had sketchbooks she wanted to share. It’s rare for me to get a random email from someone whose work I fall in love with immediately, but it happened this time. I love the accordion book at the bottom (can this really count as a “sketch”book?) where she has mixed collage with her drawings and made these long panoramic surreal images. Her use of texture is incredible. Even with just black ink she creates scratchy surfaces and also soft shading. I was also excited that she is from a part of the world we haven’t really seen much work from- hopefully more in the future. Thanks Ana for finding me and sharing! More about her here and her studio here.

Sketchbook Series: Chris Kyung

julia — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:20:59 +0000

Anything I write about Chris Kyung will be biased because he is one of my favorite people and one of my best friends. But I think it’s safe to say he is a totally incredible artist. His works make you think, are often beautiful to look at and always perfectly crafted- and I mean perfectionist material. His set of “countries“, sculptures cut from layers of wood, have always been a favorite of mine and most anyone else who gets a chance to see them in person. His drawings of intricate twisting organic shapes that seem to come from some surreal futuristic place have made their way onto all of Chris’s clothing via embroidery. He’s also made series of sweatshirts for friends, each design personal to the recipient whether it integrates some text or some pattern they like. Chris has not cut his hair for years now he wears it in one very long braid which flies behind him as he rides his bike everywhere. He designed all of his tattoos except for the one on his arm- a replica of a gyro sign from Chicago. At RISD, where we met, most people knew him as “Naked Chris” because he, well, he got naked a lot. He received his diploma from the president of the school in only a short fur coat. Chris lives in Brooklyn and works at a letterpress studio. I am hoping one day he’ll start a clothing line with all his unique designs. Here is what Chris had to say about his sketchbook: My sketchbooks afford me the invaluable opportunity to fearlessly explore the aesthetic possibilities that beer spills have to offer. And so here I present his sketchbooks, but be sure to check out his other work here. (xo to Chris for sharing!)

Sketchbook Series: Renata Liwska

julia — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:00:44 +0000

Hope everyone had a great July 4th! Luckily it was a sunny day in NYC for once. Today I am sharing the adorable, soft sketches of Renata Liwska, illustrator of numerous beautiful children’s books. This is what Renata had to say about her sketchbook (plus additional commentary below between images): These are all from the small size Moleskine sketchbooks (4×6). I like to use them when I need to travel light. Most of my sketches are from my imagination and are done while having morning coffee. A few are done on location. Check out more of Renata’s work on her site here. She also has a blog that keeps you updated with her new work and some of her creation process. I’ll be sharing some peeks into Renata’s books later. Thanks Renata!

below left: Drawn at the National Gallery in Ottawa, Canada

below left: Drawn at a beautiful botanical garden in Montreal – I added the panda.

below left: This one was drawn, until they kicked us out, at a church in Montreal where some musicians were practicing.

below left: This actually happened. After leaving Quebec we stayed at a house in a Toronto suburb.
I noticed the flag outside the house moving in a strange way, up close I saw it was a squirrel pulling on the Canadian flag – funny!