When I met Gary Panter at MoCCA, we chatted (ok it was only like thirty seconds but still..) about his new gigantic book that I had just ordered. This book now gets the award for the thickest book on my shelf-just under 3 inches. It may also get the award for one of the nicest. The book is actually a box that holds two gorgeous hardcover cloth bound books. One of the two books is full of his crazy messy colorful art, where cartoon characters from your past show up drawn all wonky, and a naked lady sits on fields of painted pattern. Let me remind you, Gary Panter was the genius behind my favorite kid’s show’s production design Pee-Wee’s Playhouse (he won three Emmys for it too!). The second book is Some Sketchbooks 1971-2002. The design of this book is genius. It’s as if you are holding each of his sketchbooks. The whole sketchbook is centered on the page- and your book and the sketchbook share the same gutter. It gives you the sensation you are turning his sketchbook pages. To have such a retrospective of his art, enough work to fill two enormous books, makes you recognize what a substantial artist he is to our generation. You can get a copy of this book here.

If you haven’t noticed the friday sketchbook series is taking a short pause while I gather a new groups of artists who are willing to share. It should be back in another week or two.

© Julia Rothman 2007