Prior to the emergence and popularity of image libraries and stock photo agencies, The Fairburn System of Visual References was considered the holy grail of visual reference material for artists of the day. Produced in 3 volume sets of human figures, faces and heads, figures and hands, they were an indispensible resource for the art director and commercial artist who relied on the photo references to hand render people—usually with Magic Markers—for conceptual storyboards and ad campaigns. Just like rubber cement and presstype, the Fairburn System was considered an essential tool for "pitching" clients throughout the 1970s and 80s, and most every...
Mr. Socks Reads a Book
An absorbing cat tale?
Looking at Books and Things with Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, the former supreme leader of North Korea liked looking at things. Here he is seen looking at books under the watchful eyes of his military staff and entourage. Kim Jong-il looks at food in an undisclosed location. See Kim look at many more things at Kim Jong-il Looking at Things. Most definitely worth looking!
Literary Cupcakes
Devour these nourishing little books at your next reading club gathering. These are not fictional! Literary cupcakes from Victoria's Kitchen in Chiswick, West London. Hmmm...cupcakes. ::Via Out of Print
The Sketchbook of Oliver Jeffers and Friends
In 2004, NY artist Oliver Jeffers, would exchange a sketchbook with 3 other artists and follow one another's lead with a weekly illustration. Over the course of 36 weeks, each would respond to the previous artwork which proceeded them and then forward it onto the next in line. Once completed, the sketchbook had travelled over 60,000 miles, and crossed the Atlantic on numerous occasions. So I wonder who was the lucky person who got to keep this wonderful sketchbook in the end?The finished sketchbook with decorative duct tape binding. Jeffers is also the writer and illustrator of one of my favorite contemporary...