In 2008 U.K. based artist/designer Daniel Eatock did an interesting experiment with markers and paper. Using upside-down drinking glasses arranged in tight rows he stood individual markers on end allowing the ink to fully drain and soak into the stack of paper. The description from his website:
Over the course of the 39 days of the exhibition (September 18 through October 26, 2008), the paper absorbed the ink from the pens. The sheets at the top of each stack absorbed more ink than the sheets farther away from the tips of the pens. The result is an edition of organically related prints, each unique.
Check his website for images of the project and the unique print editions.
Last year Graphic Designer Jessica Helfand released a “Scrapbooks, An American History“. National Scrapbooking day was back in May (5.03) and we didn’t have a blog at the time so I had no place to point this out. She wrote a short essay on the subject at her blog Design Observer. In the clip above she describes her book and the process of her work. The book is available at Amazon and on that page you will also find some other short clips that walk the viewer through some of her favorites she examined during her research.
I personally find it interesting, as part of the art industry and one that supplies scrapbooking enthusiasts, how much has changed and how much is similar. Motives for making them remain, but the execution largely has been affected by the industry that has developed around them. There are those that love the latest tools and embellishments and create a polished look and those who want the aesthetic qualities of old journals and scrapbooks and strive to achieve the same weathered affect.
Hopefully the history of these books can shed some light on the contemporary activity itself, personally and artistically.
If you haven’t heard about the 1000 Journals Project then you really should check out their site. I’ve had this book sitting on my desk for months and pick it up all the time for inspiration or just a quick visual break. It is a great reminder of the flexible nature of visual communication. Everyone has their own approach to mark making, drawing or doodling. There is a great deal of mixed media/ collage work in here as well. Makes me want to get up from the computer and go to my drawing table with nothing but a pile of old magazines, a glue stick and my favorite drawing tool.
From their about page;
The 1000 Journals Project is an ongoing collaborative experiment attempting to follow 1000 journals throughout their travels. The goal is to provide a method for interaction and shared creativity among friends and strangers.
How it Works:
Those who find the journals add something to them. A story, drawing, photograph, anything really. Then they pass the journal along, to a friend or stranger, and the adventure continues.
It has become pretty popular and so it may be difficult to get a hold of a journal to add to. Nevertheless, their FAQ page provides insight on how to be a part of it. Or you can get involved in the 1001 project, an extention which aims to provide more people with a chance to make art with others.
Found this artist today. He has some great conceptual, pen and ink stuff. I love this kind of quick sketch. Check out the rest of Nicholas Stohlman’s work.
Our Product Specialist Marianne Walker sent me a link this morning to Illustrator Trev Murphy’s website. He does some great Copic based illustrations. Plus he has some great tutorial videos on his marker illlustration process. Great stuff.
The Imagi Studios booth was just down the way from us this year and they were showing the newGatchaman trailer. This is a fan video but you get a sense of what is going on. The script was written by Paul Dini of Batman the Animated Series fame.
The first day we had in LA was a set-up day. It takes 12 people and 6 hours to get our space ready for the show. Here are some shots of the booth construction.
