Freehand: The Art of Stanley Mouse

by Stanley Mouse

inscribed on 1st page to Tara by Stanley Mouse. 12" tall; 118 pages; glossy paper; color ils & plates; dark blue cover with color il on front, gilt il on back; stiff wraps fold inwar to form flaps

Genres: Art

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1992

Reviews

[Jaimie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I like much of Stanley Mouse's artistic aesthetic I found this book a bit underwhelming. I am less a fan of his early hot rod stylings, though I appreciate seeing them as a piece of the path to developing his unique style, but even once we get into his work in hte music scene (album artwork and posters especially) there doesn't seem to be enough content to really make a case. We're shown some familiar pieces from the Greatful Dead era and a lovely selection of posters, yet somehow I'm left wanting more. The introduction makes no claims that the book is a comprehensive showing of his work, but it's almost expected considering how widely spread his artwork is. I was also less than impressed with the chronology that was tacked onto the end of the book. It presents itself like a story of Mouse's life, but the presentation and language are choppy, disjointed, and peppered with facts that do little to create a cohesive narrative. I would be tempted to keep this book for the artwork that I do like, but I can get that from the internet at this point...