Street Sketchbook: Inside the Journals of International Street and Graffiti Artists

by Tristan Manco

With interest in graffiti and street art at a record high, the time is ripe for the first-ever volume to reveal the working methods and private fixations of more than 60 leading international street artists through their personal sketchbooks. Artists' sketchbooks offer exclusive access into the creative processtheir dog-eared, paint-splattered, sometimes crumbling pages have an intimate and visceral appeal. Street Sketchbook includes never-before-seen works by new and acclaimed figures such as Banksy (UK), Alexander Purdy (US), and more, as well as sketches that have formed the basis of large public works. Ingenious throughout, these sketchbooks epitomize the audacious originality of vision that defines the street art scene today.

Genres: Art, Graffiti, Nonfiction, Design, Creative, Street Art, Art Design

272 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2007

Reviews

[Chelly here · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book i LOVE IT because it just defines who i wanna be when i grow up to a fantastic successful woman . so that way i can be just like my sister a successful woman who pays their own bills and rent i want to be just like that she doesn't need a man to pay any thing for her or do things for her when she can be as manly as a man to and do things the way she wants without criticism. this book has a powerful connection to me n my wonderful sister who i want to be like in the future so my sister is my future me.

[Parka · Rating 5 out of 5]

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)

Street Sketchbook takes a peek into the creative minds of over 60 street artists. These are not the street art you see on the walls, these are their doobles and ideas.

Each artist has a short introduction where they talk about their inspiration, how they started out and why they create art. With 60 artists, there are some pretty interesting stories, like how Elph wanted to be a bank robber in 1989 but took up graffiti instead.

On the scanned pages, we have pencil sketches, ink, highlighters, watercolour, collage. Additionally, there are also a couple of photos of the graffiti wall art. Anything goes in this book.

It's a great sketchbook for anyone looking for a bit of inspiration.

[Christian M. T · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a book I have owned for almost 2 decades!... It's a book I enjoy coming back to every now and again just for that spark of inspiration.

Inside are some artworks and artists that influenced me greatly as an art student, and they continue to do so now years later when I begin to dabble in some art from time to time. Artists like Guy McKinley, Bo130, Duncan Jago, and Will Baras are just some of the standout artists that I admired.

A peak into the sketch books is like being allowed into a secret treasure trove that provides eternal fascination where pen meets paper that captures a thought before it is lost.

A must-read for anyone with an ounce of interest in the art world, especially street art.

[Zinzi Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book. It's a great source of inspiration for artists suffering from creative block and offers a lesser seen look into the sketchbook pieces behind finished street art. I used to pick it up and flip through it every time I saw it in a book shop and recently finally got my own copy.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very visual book, excellent if you need any inspiration to help you pick up your own sketchbook.

[AllieNine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meraviglioso

[Phillip Goodman]

i cannot believe that i have had this book for over 4 months it is fantastic and i'm finally making a big inroad into it, and its a fantastic book too, stunning art, well written, though the full pages of writing are daunting, they're the equivalent of 4 pages, all in one go, which is of course the reason why its taken me so long, i can read 4 pages easily, but when they're all on the same page it's a slightly different beast, however that is the only bad thing i can say about this wonderful book.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dem - Italy
Ekta - Sweden
Ericailcane - Italy
Erosie - Netherlands
Hello Monsters - Belgium
Hitnes - Italy: "Fine as a leaf, smooth as a squid, heavy as darkness, still as a stone."
Joska - Germany
Microbo - Italy
Zetka - Belgium
Zosen - Barcelona

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of the copy I bought was different but I'm assuming it's the same book. Really cool stuff! Ugh... I can add art books, right?

[Jamil · Rating 2 out of 5]

i think maybe i think i like graffiti style art more than i actually do.

[Chris S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring. I bought a sketchbook and pencils and begun to draw again as a result of reading this book.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time. Must own for any illustrator. Many, many kinds of artworks.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is where the real art is. I open this one every few months for ideas and inspiration. The artwork by almost all of the people in this book is amazing. Truly inspired.

[Athena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun and inspiring book to look through! Street Sketchbook holds a diverse collection of street artists, whom all display raw, unique styles of arting.

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great source of I aspiration, though most of the artists herald from n. Europe. Would've liked to see a more diverse range of people from Americas and Asia.

[Bert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book, interesting insights and biographies and wonderful work! Looking through these amazing sketchbooks just makes you want to draw, draw, draw draw!

[Darrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful source of inspiration ^_^

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous drawings... interesting information. Beautiful book to keep around for inspiration.