Sketches from a Nameless Land: The Art of the Arrival

by Shaun Tan

The Arrival has become one of the most critically acclaimed books of recent years, a wordless masterpiece that describes a world beyond any familiar time or place. How did it come to be created, and what inspired its unique and captivating story?

In Sketches from a Nameless Land, author Shaun Tan explains the origins of his ideas, using examples from early research and concept sketches through to finished artwork. In tracing this evolution, he sheds light on the silent language of images, the spirit of the migrant experience and the artist's creative journey.

Genres: Art, Graphic Novels, Picture Books, Comics, Nonfiction, Childrens, Graphic Novels Comics

48 pages, Hardcover

First published November 25, 2010

About the author

Shaun Tan (born 1974) is the illustrator and author of award-winning children's books. After freelancing for some years from a studio at Mt. Lawley, Tan relocated to Melbourne, Victoria, in 2007. Tan was the Illustrator in Residence at the University of Melbourne's Department of Language Literacy and Arts Education for two weeks through an annual Fellowship offered by the May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust. 2009 World Fantasy Award for Best Artist. In 2011, he won his first Oscar in the category Best Short Animated Film for his work The Lost Thing.

Reviews

[Liz Murray]

I never cease to be amazed by the work of Shaun Tan. I feel my life is richer for having his books in it.

[Ümit Mutlu]

Efsanevi Uzak'ın yaratım sürecini anlatan, en az onun kadar güzel bir kitap.

[Metin Yılmaz]

Uzak nasıl oldu? Sorusuna cevap olarak yazarı tarafından hazırlanmış, pazarlama materyali tadında eskiz kitabı.

[Ariadna Sanz]

Álbum de bocetos y material que permite entender el largo proceso de creación de Emigrantes. A su vez, es una reflexión muy personal sobre el proceso de la migración y el viaje a lo desconocido.

[angel]

As an artist this book came in handy, it shows a lot of sketched of the artist and introduces how he tells story and how he creates his work. Definitely will miss looking through this book and the memories I had when I first looked through it all.

[Fact100]

Shaun Tan'in "Uzak" adlı eserini, nasıl bir süreç ve çalışmalar sonucunda ortaya çıkardığını gösteren bu eseri, çizim yapan veya yapma arzusu olan sanatçılara öneririm.

[İrem Hira Yuca Vurucu]

Uzak’ta vurulduğum sahnelerin, çizimlerin yaratıcısının kafasının içine girmek gibi bir his; sanatçı kasını gıdıklayan ve hemen bir şeyler üretme isteği oluşturan harika bir ilham kitap…

[D.K. Mok]

A gorgeous companion piece to Shaun Tan's masterpiece, The Arrival. It gives a fantastic insight into the research that went into the book, the inspiration for various locations/creatures/story elements, and an entertaining look at the processes behind creating some of the scenes. And lots of cute sketches, of course.

[Rina]

I loved the Bird King, and I just adored The Arrival, so I was destined to love this book too.
This book presents the art work like Bird King does, but this time Tan also writes about his other sources of inspiration and his own takes on what it means to migrate, to belong, and more about the mysterious city in The Arrival.
Shaun Tan's works amaze me every single time, and I cannot get enough of his creative ideas.
AFTER you've read The Arrival, you should track down this book.

[Miray]

This book has lots of imagination and thoughts. We can follow the thought processes and everyone can find a close story in their life like in this book. Actually it is a book that is talk about the author's another book, original named "arrival". I did not read original one but I thought buy original one.

[tereegeaf]

Me ha gustado la historia aún que hay que ver mucho más lo subjetivo porque es muy lioso.
Pero muy bien

[Jessica]

An incredible insight into a phenomenal book

[Ely]

Just like every other book Shaun Tan has put out, this is absolutely gorgeous and I loved it. I love the way Tan talks about his art and writing process, I always end up feeling inspired.

[Marcela Pichaud]

IM PRE SIO NANTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Barbara Macauley]

Sketches from a Nameless Land : The Art of the Arrival 2012 published

[Sean Benson]

This is amazing. For a book with no word it says so much.
You really get a sense of how they are feeling with the otherworldly creatures, buildings and objects and strange lettering. You feel their confusion and sense of loss but you also feel their relief and wonder as they explore their environment more and get help and explanations and eventually help others who are as lost as they were

[Christina]

Shuan Tan's _The Arrival_ is one of my favorite books. Reading through his sketches and notes made me appreciate the thoughtfulness and care with which he planned _The Arrival_ all the more. It was affirming and impressive to see how well he accomplished his goals, since so much of his intentions were matched with the impact each image had on my reading experiences. I'm so happy to own both.

[Ted Lake]

I really enjoyed looking at the engineering behind the character, the world and the animals as well as the inspiration the artist was able to draw from his muses. I would truly love to visit this Nameless land one day.

[Carlos Piélago Rojo]

Soy muy aficionado a los libros de bocetos de los ilustradores, y los de Shaun Tan son de los mejores, además en este tienes el extra de que Tan cuanta el proceso que realizó durante el libro.

[Kit]

Shaun Tan can say more with one image than anyone should be able to.

[Shirley]

The Arrival truly is a "wordless masterpiece." I simply loved it.