Sunday Sketching: The Creativity of Christoph Niemann

by Christoph Niemann

From award-winning artist and author Christoph Niemann comes a collection of witty illustrations and....

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Design, Graphic Novels, Biography Memoir, Art Design, Comics

272 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2016

Reviews

[Anna P (whatIreallyRead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this little book in one sitting. It consisted of:

- a lot of sketches and pictures the illustrator made. Enjoyed these! So many of them were clever and funny.
- the author's thoughts on inspiration, mastery, mediocrity, hard work, burnout, creativity, etc. Also loved that!
- some background/history about the major series of sketches
- significant events of the author's professional life

Overall, it's a cross between the illustrator's memoir, masterclass, and exhibition of his works. It's a nice and pleasant read. Gives you a desire to get to work and try something new.

However, if you just take out the text of the book and put it together without the pictures, it would probably be just a few pages long. So don't expect too much of an in-depth philosophical discussion here or too many details on anything. It could have been an article, really.

Anyway, a good one.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pure delight.
Niemann uses parts of visual columns and projects he's produced for social media to tell the story of his work life and creative process -- all the good bad, ups and downs and certainties associated with a creative life.
Even for those who don't know a whole lot about art or graphic design, this is a good read. Anyone who's ever had to produce creative work for pay on deadline will identify with his renderings.
In addition to "Sunday Sketching," Niemann has also produced other collections for adults, including "Abstract City," and several children's picture books. Readers and art fans might know him best for his New Yorker covers -- a few are included in "Sunday Sketching."
The pictures made me laugh out loud at times and pause to to enjoy the pleasure of looking his his sketches, drawings and graphic works. I first became aware of his work on "Abstract: The Art of Design," a new docu-series on Netflix, which profiles several artists. I highly recommend checking out this book as a companion piece to the program about him.

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book with a month or a day of the week in the title

Beautiful book filled with mixed media art, and poignant observations about life as an artist. A journey through the mind of an artist, interesting and encouraging. I love that it reads like a snapshot autobiography with images. It's encouraging.

I especially enjoy that this artist makes his art accessible. At the beginning, he writes directly about his own perceived lack of talent. It's so subjective, but I think most creative people come up against this idea of not being able to actualise the amazing thing they have in their brain; the talent bit doesn't live up to the imagined work. It's possible that for some people that goes away and they find themselves able to create their internal vision to a T, but I've met this idea in many forms, the idea that you will always struggle to execute the thing you want to make when first you endeavour to walk down the path of creativity. Until you get good, and then, sometimes, you'll achieve it. But not always. There is always the limit of your ability, and the limitlessness of your imagination that bumps up against it.

"The gateway drug is not creating art, but experiencing art; seeing a painting, reading a book, or listening to music that expresses something that you always knew, but were never aware of."

Insightful, funny, and wonderful.

"In this blinding ocean of smooth two-second HAHAs we have to remind ourselves that the art that really moves us is often slow, strange and nagging."

This is a book to revisit for the images and the insights that you cannot hold in your brain all at once if they are all new to you.

I love this book in its entirety.

[Edrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got this book and I meant to read it over a few days. But I felt curious to know what it would be about so I started flipping through the pages. It was such a delightful experience that I finished it in one sitting! Throughout the book, Christoph describes his thoughts and journey as an artist accentuated by his sketches. Although I don’t create visual art, it was very relatable to me and I think it will be relevant to anyone who strives to produce great work!

[Misha · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRILLIANT.

[Laila Amrani Nejjar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an exhibition of clever sketches of Christoph Niemann + insights into his journey as an artist.
Delightful and inspirationnal read.

[Çetineus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real modernart.

[Maria Eduarda · Rating 5 out of 5]

funny and witty. i had fun reading this

[Ashish Manik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I came across Christoph Niemann on Instagram, when I saw the portrait of Trump he'd created for the New Yorker magazine, back in Aug '16, when a Trump presidency seemed far-fetched. Then again another splendid piece of art on Women's Day! I was like, "Man! I wonder if he has a book full of such creative paintings!" and googled him up and voila!

Next, like a bat out of hell I got this book issued from my library. Even though the due date was 4 months hence, in spite of exams and assignments looming due next week, I couldn't keep my hands off this book!

IT'S AMAZING! Not only does Christoph have a unique perception of things of everyday life, his writing also is so inspiring! My praises would be too less to give this book a just review. I'd say, go to his Instagram account or his website: Christoph Niemann and you'll know he's.. well, go figure (out)!

I'm hopping on to another of his books now: Abstract City :D

[Chavelli Sulikowska · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is simply astounding how imaginative and creative some people are! This is the perfect book to read through in one sitting for some comic relief and brilliant artistry. Also looks great on my coffee table, and I love being able to pick it up randomly and open to a page of such originality and wit. Niemann's very personal pictorial account of his vocation is touchingly honest and humorous but perfectly encapsulates the very real pitfalls and pains as well as emotional exertion that comes with his profession. Just brilliant.

[Brittany Wilmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christoph Niemann is one of my favorite minds working today, and this book totally delivers, both visually and in terms of original and creative thought. He offers a whimsical, low-stakes approach to creating art on a regular, steady basis. His method can be applied to any form of craft or art. This book is a beautiful coffee-table staple and a fun read.

[Piotr Buczek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite universal, inspiring and beautifully published book. Plenty of great illustrations in Niemann's lightweight style. But it's the story that he tells throughout the book that sucks you in and makes you think more deeply not only about what you're seeing, but also on decisions you might want to make. It can deeply affect your professional and private life.

[Ava Butzu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant visual, emotional, and philosophical indulgence. Worth every cent of the price tag.

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christoph Niemann was featured on a Netflix documentary called Abstract: The Art of Design, which is where I fell in love with his work and philosophy. If you are literate, you've probably run across his work; he's illustrated many New Yorker covers; you may not read the New Yorker, but you might recognize some of them, as they have become somewhat iconic. The documentary was good; his book is great. It's partly a coffee table art book of his quirky, vivid, and mind blowing art work (some of which appeared on his rad Instagram), but this book is also a biography of his life, and manifesto on how to be an artist - no, not to "be" and artist, but how to survive and maybe even thrive as someone who creates. He divides his journey into what he calls "three grand themes" : 1. I'm not good enough. 2. My work is irrelevant and soon I'll be broke. 3. I'm out of ideas. He then goes on to explore each of these through stories of his life and much extraordinary art. If you only look at the illustrations and skip the text, you are still in for a treat. But be sure and read the book too. I think you will come away inspired; he has much to say to artists, but also much to say to art appreciators and non-artists as well.

[Martin Jost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Niemanns Aufstieg zu einem Popstar der Illustratoren belegt nicht zuletzt Folge 1 der Netflix-Dokuserie «Abstract! The Art of Design», die sich ganz ihm und seiner Arbeit widmet. In «Sunday Sketching» vermischt Niemann eine Retrospektive seiner bekanntesten Einsätze der letzten Zeit (als Illustrator verschiedener «New Yorker»-Titelbilder, seine beim Laufen live gezeichnete Reportage vom New York Marathon und seine visuelle «New York Times»-Kolumne über Gummibärchen u. a.) mit Gedanken über seine Rolle als Künstler. Niemann, dessen visuelle Ideen wie archetypische Beispiele für eine Definition von Kreativität wirken, ist, wie sich heraus stellt, ein Sterblicher. Er stellt der allgemeinen Erwartung, dass ein Künstler kreativ geboren wird und sich vor genialen Einfällen kaum retten kann, Einblicke in seine harte Arbeit gegenüber. Und er zeichnet nach (diese Metapher passt nie so gut wie hier), wie er seine größten Ängste in Schach hält: Dass er nicht gut genug sei, dass seine Arbeit nutzlos sei und dass ihm die Ideen ausgehen könnten.

[Becki Iverson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something about this time of year always sparks me to do a refresh of my creativity and habits. This book was just the spark I needed to think differently and focus on the importance of repeated creative exercise. Anyone working on art knows that it is the process of diligence that makes anything exceptional, and this was a great example of the amazing results of focusing strongly on that process. Niemann was a new-t0-me artist but I will certainly be looking into his art more closely, especially on his Instagram. I particularly enjoyed the way he incorporated otherwise banal everyday objects into totally re-imagined and different art pieces. Brains made out of pencil shavings, rulers converted into flamingos, and even more all gave me whimsical delight. This is a great book to flip through to jolt yourself into new creative ways of thinking.

[Airs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is in fact filled with great wisdom on how to tackle the reality of life and work with one’s own expectations and ideals. Peppered with lots of amazing art of cos!

I’m not really in the creative industry but I found his insights applicable to actually any kind of work that requires you to perform and produce (and what kind of job nowadays doesn’t, right?)

Have been following Christoph on Insta for awhile now. The fresh and innovative perspectives on his artworks often makes me utter an unconscious “wow”.

I wish he’d do more art that tackles social and ethical issues. his non-threatening and bright style, coupled with his experience and wise insights, would be perfect for such heavier topics. Saw a couple of that examples in this book - would definitely be on the lookout for more.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as inspiring and fun to read as Austin Kleon's "Steal Like An Artist" and Paul Arden's "It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be."

If you have a Netflix account, check out the documentary series Abstract. The first episode focuses on Christoph Niemann, whose illustrations you might recognize from covers of Wired and The New Yorker. The documentary is very good, as is his Instagram account, @abstractsunday. But this book (as much a coffee table decoration as a treatise on his creative process) is the real gem. It can be read cover to cover for insights and inspiration (which I did in one sitting), or casually browsed. It was a joy to hear my daughters laughing out loud as they leafed through the pages.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect to need this as much as I did. And I love love how bold the book design is: this is the picture book for adults I've dreamed of. I am sure they had to make difficult decisions about what to leave out, but that is not what I experienced here. I experienced visual extravagance. Which is not to say overabundance or indulgence in the least.

The pushing forward advice was spot on. He's in a different spot, because he's working for commercial gigs as an artist -- which is slightly different than, say, making an artistic documentary. But the essential questions and strategies for staying fresh and real are the same.

[Elco Van staveren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik heb het werk van Christoph Niemann onlangs ontdekt via de docu 'Abstract: the art of design' op Netflix. Die aflevering is een aanrader en geeft een mooie kijk in het leven en werk van Niemann. Omdat ik zelf werk als ontwerper / visualizer, vond ik deze documentaire erg inspirerend. Ik heb de volgende dag twee boeken van Niemann besteld. Dit meest recente boek heb ik in een paar uur uit gelezen. Fantastische creatieve ideeën, mooi uitgevoerd en toegelicht met korte teksten vol humor en zelfreflectie. En ook nog leerzame tips voor vakgenoten. Ik kreeg na het lezen direct zin om aan de slag te gaan met nieuwe ideeën. Absolute aanrader.

[Dewi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tidak melulu berisi sketsa-sketsa unik, Niemann menyelipkan sekelumit kisah hidup, keragu-raguan terhadap apa yang dikerjakan dan apa yang membuatnya bertahan. Niemann mengajak pembaca untuk banyak tersenyum & sedikit merenung, bahwa objek sederhana pun bisa jadi begitu memukau atau menggelitik dan bisa mengejutkan.

“Being busy is a great excuse for not asking yourself where you are going.”

“All I can do is focus on my craft, ensure a decent environment, and take time to think and experiment. Everything else is luck.”

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book full of Niemann's trademark graphic design and illustrations. The essays are predominantly about his creative process and how he manages to balance economic need with creative innovation and deal with creative imposter syndrome. There are also a couple of brilliant standalone essays, including his live drawing of his progress in the New York Marathon, his method of eating sweets and his trip to the Venice Biennale. His work is witty, clever and inspiring. One of my books of 2020.

[Lisa Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute delight!

The art work presented in the book was just pure genius to me. The author did touch on hard work, practise and process of art.

I think the first page of words said it all, and we all know it, just work persistently, it will come.

I would recommend the book to those who are interested to see the process of art and clear out those hanging questions while trying to create.

Also great as a gift book, as the art work in it was just out of this world, I have to scratch my head and ask how did he do it?

Love it!

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with _Abstract City_ Niemann’s musings and reflections about his work as artist/designer really applies to all of us at work. The problem is most of us are not afforded the time to think about the what, how, and why of what we do.

In this sense, a book like _Sunday Sketching_ is a godsend. Niemann has done the thinking for us (even though he was really trying to think for himself).

The oddness and the perspectives alone make this a wonderful read.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a warm snuggly cup of tea on a cold winter day. Niemann captures the universal struggle of the fears and challenges that artists face. It’s a testament to his art that he can convey multitudes using the simple medium of pen/watercolor and paper.

One of the best things about Niemann is that he is critically aware of his prejudices as a white middle aged male; he know that he represents the media, and what he creates is a reflection of how his experiences have shaped his life. Thus, he actively overrides them as best he can. You can tell that from his art.

Reading this book and entering Niemann’s mind is a delightful new way to see the world.

[Pt Bunch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the honesty and vulnerability. I looked through it, admiring the imaginative sketches and enjoying the humor. Then I read it as a story and found a whole different book: a story of struggle, success, settling, discomfort, failure, struggle, and growth. What I love most is Christoph's honest self assessment and struggle to continue getting better while accepting that a brilliant creation involves luck. A fun and inspiring book.

[Jyv · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was amongst a bundle of art ebooks I bought online. Most of the other ebooks were instructional or guidebooks. When I opened this one, I wondered what the hell it was (as the subtitle was not included in the file name). I have never heard of the author or his art. To be brutally honest, I disliked his art style intensely and closed the book. If it was a physical book, I would never have picked it up.

[Jeff Lewonczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Christoph Neimann's work, but I could do with just a bit less self-flagellation when it comes to discussing his process and formidable talent. Also, as with Abstract City, I feel like his work is most effective and delightful out in the wild than packaged all together to be viewed at once. That said, the work IS effective and delightful, and I'm always happy to see it.

[Ethan Linder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best art makes us approach everyday things with a new lens. Neimann does just that. Beautiful art, helpful stories, and hard-earned insight into the creative life flow from this book. It’ll enrich your life. Plus you can keep it on your coffee table and actually want to re-open it because it has value beyond the ornamental!

[Marcus Bergquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Se episoden om Neumann i serien Abstract på Netflix. Kunsten hans er nesten barnslig, men den har samtidig et veldig relaterbart budskap på metanivå om det å skape noe. Det er treffende uavhengig om man maler, skriver litteratur, bygger et selskap eller gjør noe annet som handler om å skape noe som enda ikke eksisterer.