Book By Its Cover

4.10.07
Sketchbook Series: Isaac Tobin
Isaac Tobin

Sketchbook Week
Designer Isaac Tobin keeps such beautiful sketchbooks. I asked him if I could borrow some of them to photograph for the blog as inspiration. The books are filled with so much texture and dimension. Paper and found scraps are collaged and sewn creating layers upon layers. He sometimes draws or paints on top or under these layers. Other times he makes folded paper sculptures held together by string that change as you turn the page, like a pop-up book. I want to frame each spread and hang them on my wall. Isaac currently works as a book designer at University of Chicago Press. This past year one of his book covers was picked for AIGAs 50 Books/50 Covers. Not only does he design books, he also has designed a few good-looking typefaces which he sells from his site. I have posted a bunch of his sketchbook pages below(it was so hard to choose) but he has some other pages featured on his site too if you haven’t seen enough. I know I haven’t. Everytime I look, I notice something I missed.

isaac2isaac6
isaac10isaac9
isaac3isaac8
isaac7isaac5

 
11 Comments
04/10/07  3:03am
Claire wrote

Thanks for sharing these photos, I love peeking in the sketchbooks and journals of others . These pages are scrumptious.
04/10/07  12:40pm
julie wrote

these pages are so inspiring!! Fantastic!!!
04/10/07  3:51pm
laura wrote

thankyou for letting us have an insight to someones thoughts. Its truely inspirating.
04/13/07  9:06am
Cindy wrote

thanks for this series, I love sketchbooks! I’m especially glad for the introduction to this artist, some very beautiful pages.

loving your website, thanks for the headsup on so many good books!
04/14/07  4:38am
cruststation wrote

Amazing, I love sketchbooks!
04/24/07  8:44am
Sara wrote

I just love these, like all off the books you post, so inspirational and beautifull.

I see books like these and then I go and buy nice notebooks to myself that I want to fill with beautifull things, but…as always, it turns out that I really don’t have the gift for keeping it up! Oh well, luckely there are people like Isaac here that share thiers for us to enjoy! :)

Thank you! I just love these, like all off the books you post, so inspirational and beautiful.

I see books like these and then I go and buy nice notebooks to myself that I want to fill with beautiful things, but…as always, it turns out that I really don’t have the gift for keeping it up! Oh well, luckily there are people like Isaac here that share theirs for us to enjoy! :)

Thank you!
04/24/07  8:45am
Sara wrote

sorry, came twice, the last one spell checked! :)

//sara bad spelling swede
08/26/07  3:41pm
Anna wrote

There’s a really great book called “The True and the Questions - A Journal” by Sabrina Ward Harrison. There’s some quotes and poems in there, but it’s really ment to act like a journal. Each page is unique and beautiful, and it makes journal writing special without having to create a mess yourself!
11/3/07  8:32am
Denise wrote

This is the first time I’ve ever seen journal books as art. I am coming back to my artistic roots after 26 years of focused motherhood, the children are adults now and I’m trying to reconnect with my creative side. I have begun journaling, doodling, and viewing the books/journals you’ve presented is inspiring. Thank you.
12/23/07  10:51pm
Doxiadis wrote

Cool.
10/10/08  12:43pm
Chad Kouri wrote

Holy crap! amazing

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