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Drawn in: A Peek Into the Inspiring Sketchbooks of 44 Fine Artists, Illustrators, Graphic Designers, and Carto
This book shares large full-color images and profiles each of the high-profile, amazingly talented artists that discuss their sketchbooks and how they use them. People are fascinated by artist's sketchbooks. They offer a glimpse into private pages where artists brainstorm, doodle, develop and work on ideas, and keep track of their musings. Artists use these journals to document their daily lives, produce their initial ideas for bigger projects, and practice their skills. Using a variety of media from paint to pencil to collage, these pages can become works of art themselves. They often feel fresh and alive because they are first thoughts and often not reworked. These pages capture the artist's personalities along with glimpses of their process of working and inspirations.
193 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2011
15 people are currently reading
1711 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 16, 2017
I really liked this collection of sketchbook entries from 44 artists collected by Rothman. It's really generative, I think, giving you ideas about what you could do with a sketchbook (or a journal, if you are a writer). When we think of books or poems or paintings or sculpture or basically anything creative, it is important to recall (even if you are an artist) that it is a process, with lots of "failure" or experimentation or just messing around that goes into the final product.
This is a fascinating look into various artists's brains. Rothman asks her fellow artists questions, too: What is the main function of your sketchbook? How do the sketchbooks work in conjunction with actual products/books/"finished" illustrations? What is the relationship between your daily life and work? How did you come to do the kind of work you do? That approaches enriches the sketchbook entries, and I almost always found the responses interesting.
As a young writer I always liked The Paris Review interviews with writers about their processes, and still do like reading about process for writers and artists. I like the appendices to comic nook series that feature drafts and early sketches. This book is all sketches, which is just fine for me.
The last sketchbook-type collection I read is Jillian Tamanki's Boundless, and I liked it a lot. Important to see the "edges" of art. With some of these artists, like comics guy Anders Nilsen, it is interesting how he keeps his "finished project" "rough" and sketchy, like an actual sketchbook, to help us get a feel for the process in the final product, a "keeping' it real" feel.
This is a fascinating look into various artists's brains. Rothman asks her fellow artists questions, too: What is the main function of your sketchbook? How do the sketchbooks work in conjunction with actual products/books/"finished" illustrations? What is the relationship between your daily life and work? How did you come to do the kind of work you do? That approaches enriches the sketchbook entries, and I almost always found the responses interesting.
As a young writer I always liked The Paris Review interviews with writers about their processes, and still do like reading about process for writers and artists. I like the appendices to comic nook series that feature drafts and early sketches. This book is all sketches, which is just fine for me.
The last sketchbook-type collection I read is Jillian Tamanki's Boundless, and I liked it a lot. Important to see the "edges" of art. With some of these artists, like comics guy Anders Nilsen, it is interesting how he keeps his "finished project" "rough" and sketchy, like an actual sketchbook, to help us get a feel for the process in the final product, a "keeping' it real" feel.
December 5, 2012
There is nothing like looking at the interior of a sketchbook to get your creative, artistic juices flowing. Especially someone else's! And especially when that person makes their living from their art. For me, it's mind blowing. When you look at your own, there's a bit of you that has a huge satisfaction at the work that's been put on the pages - and inevitably there's surprise too. Sometimes you really make some wonderful stuff, or catch a moment or expression and it's such a treat to see it!! When it's art in the raw form, it's pretty cool to see - knowing it will lead to something fantastic. The creative process is one of those things that never ceases to amaze me actually.
This book - a spin off of the successful blog site Book By It's Cover - covers some great and successful artists. It covers all sorts of artistic focus and there's an artistic type for everyone's tastes that will be sure to make you drool. I especially liked how it's been formatted and the questions that she asked of the artists about using sketchbooks, their influences and styles. All thought provoking! It's an artist's treasure trove to be sure! Well worth the read and probably would be a good one to have on the shelf when you need that bit of push to get going.
This book - a spin off of the successful blog site Book By It's Cover - covers some great and successful artists. It covers all sorts of artistic focus and there's an artistic type for everyone's tastes that will be sure to make you drool. I especially liked how it's been formatted and the questions that she asked of the artists about using sketchbooks, their influences and styles. All thought provoking! It's an artist's treasure trove to be sure! Well worth the read and probably would be a good one to have on the shelf when you need that bit of push to get going.
September 25, 2025
احب الألوان المنثورة على الورق
احب كل شيء ماله معنى محدد هنا
ما قريت الكلام.. استمتعت بالجمال فقط
احب كل شيء ماله معنى محدد هنا
ما قريت الكلام.. استمتعت بالجمال فقط
January 29, 2018
As someone who has kept a sketchbook, on and off, for many years, I've always been drawn to other people's sketchbooks -- what do they use them for? How do they interact with the pages? Do they have the same anxiety I do about that first, blank page? Do they ever tear pages out? This lovely volume asks these sorts of questions of 44 artists and reproduces images from their sketchbooks. It's a gorgeous book, and pawing through the pages, reading all about how these artists feel about their sketchbooks is a delightful treat. This is one I'll keep returning to and enjoying for ages.
June 24, 2021
The problem with saying yes to every book that sounds sort-of interesting is that you are going to run into plenty of good books for which you are simply the wrong reader. And that is the problem with Drawn In, I think. It's a fun premise--a glance into the sketchbooks of a couple dozen artists, accompanied by little excerpts of interviews. But ultimately, it's not the sort of thing that keeps my interest. I need to be interested in the art to be interested in the artist, and there were only a handful of sketchbook pages that made me want to take a second look. This is, assuredly, a problem with me and my lack of artistic sensibility than with the book itself.
February 28, 2022
There's nothing that brings me more joy than looking at sketchbooks .. others as well as my own. So this was just that , full of joy.
The author includes interviews with artists ranging from generic sketchbook user questions that can be applied multiple times to well researched and personal questions . I also thought the layouts were complimentary to the artist's style.
I could have googled each one of them and compared their finished work to their sketchbooks for better understanding but I didn't. Oops for me
Overall I liked the variety it had .
The author includes interviews with artists ranging from generic sketchbook user questions that can be applied multiple times to well researched and personal questions . I also thought the layouts were complimentary to the artist's style.
I could have googled each one of them and compared their finished work to their sketchbooks for better understanding but I didn't. Oops for me
Overall I liked the variety it had .
September 8, 2017
A interesting look at the process of several types and styles of artists.
November 10, 2019
Is there anything more inspiring than someone else's sketchbook?
January 12, 2024
Amazing collection of glimpses into very diffent visual artists’ minds
January 30, 2024
Loved. Super cool book.
June 18, 2024
Inspiring!
August 6, 2013
I love looking at the sketches and unfinished work of accomplished artists for three reasons:
First, it helps to know that these people are human - not everything they do is a finished masterpiece. Second, it helps me understand how they create their art. A finished, polished artwork is an impenetrable to a beginner, I think, as seeing the exterior of a building. What's inside? How did it come to be? By seeing preliminary work, we can see how it was constructed and that's immensely valuable to understanding how to make something like it. Third, I believe it's the easiest way to see the artist's raw talent and practiced ability. Anyone can fiddle with a line long enough until it becomes the right shape. But someone who can clearly put that same perfect line down in one fluid stroke on the first try: that's a person with serious ability. I admire that person. I aspire to be that person.
Seeing the sketchbooks of artists is even better than just seeing in-progress art intended to be a 'finished' work: not only are we seeing the raw, unpolished artwork itself, we're also witnessing the germination of the ideas themselves at the very font of creativity.
I've been carrying a small notebook around with me for over a year now and I've come to treasure my little notes and thumbnail sketches. When I'm facing a blank screen or blank piece of paper and I need an idea, I no longer have to dream something up from thin air. Now I can just look at my previous half-formed ideas and let one of those tickle my fancy. It doesn't matter that an idea comes to me in the car or when I'm getting out of bed in the morning: I can capture it then and do it later. Sometimes much later. Before, I was just letting all of those ideas and images disappear, quickly forgetting them forever. What a waste that was.
In reading the interviews with these artists, I get the impression many of them use their sketchbooks for this purpose as well.In addition, many of them have kept sketchbooks as a discipline for so long that it has sharply honed their creative abilities as well as their artistic skill. So what we're really seeing is pure, powerful creative gold, freshly dug, still in the ore, from people who have been doing that sort of thing for a long time. I'm grateful to be able to see it.
There is a pretty good mix of art styles represented in Drawn In. Some of it I liked very, very much. All of it I appreciated.
The unexpected benefit of reading the interviews was getting the broad range of purpose the various artists had for keeping a sketchbook. Many of their uses I'd never thought about before, like the sketchbook itself being a handcrafted piece of bookbinding art in its own right. It was very inspiring.
Tags: art, artists, drawing, notes, books-as-art, panda bears, typography, creativity, raw talent
First, it helps to know that these people are human - not everything they do is a finished masterpiece. Second, it helps me understand how they create their art. A finished, polished artwork is an impenetrable to a beginner, I think, as seeing the exterior of a building. What's inside? How did it come to be? By seeing preliminary work, we can see how it was constructed and that's immensely valuable to understanding how to make something like it. Third, I believe it's the easiest way to see the artist's raw talent and practiced ability. Anyone can fiddle with a line long enough until it becomes the right shape. But someone who can clearly put that same perfect line down in one fluid stroke on the first try: that's a person with serious ability. I admire that person. I aspire to be that person.
Seeing the sketchbooks of artists is even better than just seeing in-progress art intended to be a 'finished' work: not only are we seeing the raw, unpolished artwork itself, we're also witnessing the germination of the ideas themselves at the very font of creativity.
I've been carrying a small notebook around with me for over a year now and I've come to treasure my little notes and thumbnail sketches. When I'm facing a blank screen or blank piece of paper and I need an idea, I no longer have to dream something up from thin air. Now I can just look at my previous half-formed ideas and let one of those tickle my fancy. It doesn't matter that an idea comes to me in the car or when I'm getting out of bed in the morning: I can capture it then and do it later. Sometimes much later. Before, I was just letting all of those ideas and images disappear, quickly forgetting them forever. What a waste that was.
In reading the interviews with these artists, I get the impression many of them use their sketchbooks for this purpose as well.In addition, many of them have kept sketchbooks as a discipline for so long that it has sharply honed their creative abilities as well as their artistic skill. So what we're really seeing is pure, powerful creative gold, freshly dug, still in the ore, from people who have been doing that sort of thing for a long time. I'm grateful to be able to see it.
There is a pretty good mix of art styles represented in Drawn In. Some of it I liked very, very much. All of it I appreciated.
The unexpected benefit of reading the interviews was getting the broad range of purpose the various artists had for keeping a sketchbook. Many of their uses I'd never thought about before, like the sketchbook itself being a handcrafted piece of bookbinding art in its own right. It was very inspiring.
Tags: art, artists, drawing, notes, books-as-art, panda bears, typography, creativity, raw talent
December 5, 2012
(More pictures at parkablogs.com)
I got to know of this book from Book By Its Cover, which is the blog of the author Julia Rothman. I visit her blog regularly to check out lesser known art books. She does a great job featuring artists and their books.
Drawn In seems like an extension of the blog in a book format.
There are 44 artists featured in this book. Each comes with a profile, an interview and pages from their sketchbooks. There's a nice variety of wildly differing styles, all very unique and raw.
Most are doodles of imagination, some simple, some intricate, there are pages drawn with pencils and others created from mixed media.
It's interesting to see what these artists fill in their sketchbooks because you can never guess what's inside. Katy Horan draws dark spooky women, Rob Dunlavey seems to like to draw castles, Chad Kouri creates lettering, Ted McGrath's book is well worn with the many things pasted onto the pages.
I like the interviews that talk about how they use their sketchbooks, their various inspiration, and you can learn more about their personalities. With the exception of the author, the rest of the artists are all new to me.
Delightful book. More for those who like doodle-like imaginative drawings.
March 18, 2016
I thought this book was just alright. I enjoyed getting a peek into sketchbooks of various artists. The written content wasn't that great though. I enjoyed the interviews in the beginning, since they were informative. I actually read about the themes in their work and what inspires them. However, these were the exceptions as I soon found. The answers of the later artists were less informative and some were just run of the mill quirkiness. I say run of the mill because it seemed common, when they were probably trying to be different. I recommend it for the visual content but the answers in the interview portion dropped in quality. I actually don't know if I should fault the questions or the answers. Either way, the interview portion excelled in the beginning and it was a slog to read later on.
April 30, 2012
This is a great book as is her blog-although I wish she would update the blog more. I love looking into the minds and sketchbooks of other amazing artists-seeing what people create is intense!This book is not for you if you are looking for instructional art materials or how to draw it is more like spying into artists heads and seeing what goes on there-do it fall down the rabbit hole-you will not regret it!
August 8, 2013
This book is fantastic in that it not only provides the sketches of the artist, but also imbues the sketches with meaning through simple yet poignant interviews with the artists who drew them. If you are a person who loves learning about people's processes, pick up this book!
The only complaint I have is that it doesn't have more artists in it! I hope that this will become the first in a series of Drawn In books.
The only complaint I have is that it doesn't have more artists in it! I hope that this will become the first in a series of Drawn In books.
July 29, 2016
It's fun to look through other people's sketchbooks, especially if you admire their finished art. It's a nice reminder that the sketchbook isn't supposed to be a little bound art gallery: it's a place for experimentation and expression and practice. There will be beauty in there, to be sure, but it doesn't have to be polished. A good browse if you're looking for inspiration or just want to see how other folks fill their pages.
August 31, 2016
Gorgeous peeking, and an exciting range, despite the fact that Chicago and Brooklyn artists predominate. The presentation and selection are stellar.
I did grow tired of the interview questions (especially, ug, the ones about "childhood memories," and wondered if it would have been more interesting to let the artists make up and then answer their own.
I did grow tired of the interview questions (especially, ug, the ones about "childhood memories," and wondered if it would have been more interesting to let the artists make up and then answer their own.
July 25, 2012
So inspiring! I loved looking into the sketchbooks of so many of today's artists and designers, and the interviews were just as helpful to get to know thought processes, motivations, and working methods. It really helped me see what a sketchbook is supposed to be: to not worry about the result, but just concentrate on the process and the ideas. I'm grateful I picked this one up!
June 13, 2012
I love sketches and sketchbooks, they're generally more lively and thought provoking than finished pieces, and by their incompleteness engage and involve the viewer more fully. A few of the artists featured in this book were familiar to me, it was interesting to see their process (actually I'd love to see a whole series of books, just on artists' process alone!).
March 30, 2012
Sketchbooks in themselves can approach if not exceed the quality of a finished work. This book is proof of that.
June 13, 2012
super inspiring. Went out and bought a huge new sketchbook.
August 9, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. The sketchbooks paired with the short interviews is a great way to "peek" into the artists' worlds.
January 11, 2013
I LLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEEE TTHHHHIIISSSSS BOOOOOK!!!! :)
April 18, 2013
Brilliant
June 6, 2014
A really nice varied book featuring a lot of artists with different styles! A wealth of information for research. Definitely on my to buy list!
July 28, 2014
This book gave me lots of ideas!
Want to read
August 23, 2015an internet review
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.ph...
http://www.brainpickings.org/index.ph...
January 16, 2015
loved it - inspirational
August 5, 2016
I loved this book! So inspiring, and filled with such diverse styles and personalities.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews