Forensics Meets Literary Criticism

Brian Joseph Davis uses law enforcement composite sketch software to create images of literary characters.

Dolores “Lolita” Hayes/Mrs. Richard F. Schiller, Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov

After emails from teachers and librarians, asking for images to use in lessons and programming, Davis has provided a zip file with a non-commercial Creative Commons license for download here.

See Davis’ Tumbler here and read more about it at Mental Floss.

Brian Dettmer: Allowing the Book to Become Something New

I’ve always been a fan of Brian Dettmer and really appreciated hearing him talk about his work.

Embraced by Words

Embraced by Words by Robbert van der Steeg
on Flickr

Grades 7-12 Inspired by Comic Books Presentation

Last Friday I had the pleasure of hosting three visitors from Happy Harbor Comics in Edmonton. Store owner Jay Bardala, along with two very talented comic book artists inspired and enlightened our junior and senior high students through four sessions.

Jay Bardala from Happy Harbor Comics with artists Tracey Risser and Dan Schneider

Jay’s extensive knowledge of the comic book industry and entertaining style kept us all captivated as he described the complex process of comic book production. I for one had never imagined that after a writer has written the script and planned all the panels, there are at least three artists involved in the drawings.

The penciller does the initial drawings after whihch the inker defines the light, shadow and emphasis with black lines and shapes. The colourer then, after determining the mood of the story adds colour, usually digitally. Then there’s the letterer, the editor, printer, distributor, retailer and others. It was all quite fascinating to discover the impressive collaboration that goes into the production and distribution of a $3.00 comic book.

Artist Tracey Risser draws the students’ choices of superheroes.

While Jay spoke, artists Tracey Risser and Dan Schneider drew superheroes in action from student requests. Tracey is a professional graphic artist and works on comics in his spare time. Dan works full time illustrating comic books. Jay writes scripts for comic books some of which Dan has illustrated, but he just does it for fun and doesn’t market them. That’s love.

Two of the drawings the artists left with us. Tracey’s is on the left and Dan’s on the right.

The 8 amazing drawings, 2 from each artist at each session, will be displayed in the school for a while, then offered to the students as contest prizes.

Artist Dan Schneider shares tips with a talented student, while other students and artist Tracey Risser look on.

After the sessions, Dan and Tracey offered to share their expertise with any students who brought artwork to share. It was amazing to see some of the work our students were producing and they appreciated the artists’ advice. I’m hoping to see a few students fleshing out some of those brilliant ideas percolating within, as scripts or drawings.

See also:

Happy Harbor Comics services for schools and libraries
Dan Schneider’s Website
Dan Schneider Artist in Residence interview (2011)
Tracey Risser at Harper PR

Terry Border’s “Wiry Limbs, Paper Backs” Series

Terry Border ‘The Odyssey’ from his Wiry Limbs, Paper Backs Series

Terry Border ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ from his Wiry Limbs, Paper Backs Series

Terry Border ‘On Dreams’ from his Wiry Limbs, Paper Backs Series

Terry Border

Via 22 Words

1902 Sunday Comic: The Dictionary Illustrated

Origins of the Sunday Comics

Now That’s Great Eye Make-up!

Rudolph

Anne Frank

The Princess and the Pea

By Tal Peleg

More examples with the stories behind each at : Environmental Graffiti: Incredible Makeup Art Turns Eyelids into Storybook Scenes

Teacher Creates Book as Visual Aid to Getting a Grasp on the Numbers

The final product:

And Every Single One Was Someone by Phil Chernofsky. Gefen Publishing House

“That Jew could be you. Next to him is your brother. Oh, look, your uncles and aunts and cousins and your whole extended family. A row, a line, those are your classmates. Now you get lost in a kind of meditative state where you look at one word, ‘Jew,’ you look at one Jew, you focus on it and then your mind starts to go because who is he, where did he live, what did he want to do when he grew up?” Phil Chernofsky

Read: New York Times: Holocaust Told in One Word, 6 Million Times

And (Via): Book Patrol

Yusuke Oono Uses Digital Technology to Create New Stories Inside Old Books

Using 3D CAD architectural design software, Yasuke Oono designs elaborate works, which are then laser cut. “[E]veryone who opens the book can enjoy it and is surprised by the dramatic transformation”.

Yasuke Oono

Via 22 Words

The Books Are Alive!

The Bookhive by Rusty Squid
Via Bookporn