I really love these images Austin sent over of his sketchbook. His work usually attracts me by its bright color but seeing it monotone, it’s even nicer. It draws your attention to the really interesting shapes he uses to define his characters. Sometimes they are simple and bold thick lines, other times filled with thin lined pattern. I love his use of perspective which is never correct- you know things are far away but are totally at the wrong angles to exist in a real world. Austin seems unafraid of getting messy and smudged lines or scribbles for shading add depth and texture to these images. I’m most impressed with the pages that are completely filled where my eyes jump around trying to take it all in. I can see someone publishing this sketchbook just as a beautiful little art book (hint hint anyone- I would be the first to buy it.) Austin’s comics are favorites too but when there’s something to read I am more focused on that and getting to the next readable part to continue the story. Here without text I can dwell on all the pretty rectangle eyelashes, irregular tiled floors, and the different subtle marks that fill the spaces. You can see more of Austin’s work here.

© Julia Rothman 2007