Kaori Wakamatsu Art Book

Kaori Wakamatsu is a Japanese Illustrator whose work spans from design goods to magazines, to advertising work. I came across her work a number of years ago in the form of postcards sold in stationary stores, and I'm happy to report she now has an art book dedicated to her work. 

What is instantly recognizable about Wakamatsu's work is her absolutely stunning use of pattern. Her patterns tend to be very flat and graphic, and are contrasted with form and layering that makes the shapes appear more dimensional. This is most notable in the fabrics of her character's costumes.

This one is particularly lovely, as she uses the pattern to create a dream-like atmosphere.

Wakamatsu is also fantastic at creating series, and in fact, most of her work is part of one series or another. Sometimes joined together by a common theme, such as card suits or days of the week, these series usually have similar palettes, motifs, and/or patterns in each image that makes them instantly recognizable as a set. 

Wakamatsu tends to be very clever about her use of black. A strong color, she still manages to make all of her images light and airy feeling, with a tinge of nostalgia. 

Similar to Hyung Tae Kim, her character's faces have little dissimilarity between each other. Instead, everything is expressed in the color palette and some fantastic costume design. 

The end of the book also contains a couple of pages of sketches of the final work presented throughout the rest of the book. Sketches of this nature tend to be very common, especially among artists who work predominately in Illustrator.

If you look under the book jacket, you get to see a sketch of the image on the cover. 

Pros: This is a sturdy book, with great binding. The paper is matte and thick, and a little textured, which suits Wakamatsu's more subdued palate. There is also a lot of work, and no text.

Cons: The import cost makes it expensive. Still, I would say it's totally worth it. 

How to Buy: I bought mine directly at a Kinokuniya Bookstore, but this book can be found at a number of websites such as Otaku.com Because this book is being imported from Japan, it is a little more expensive, but it's popularity is also making it cheaper!

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Naive: Modernism and Folklore in Contemporary Graphic Design

Naive is a collection of work by contemporary artists whose work, as it says in the subtitle, has a modernism folklore aesthetic. Containing the work of over 60 artists and companies, Naive is a surprisingly cohesive body of work. In fact, sometimes it can be a little difficult to tell where one artist ends and another begins. That being said, the entire book is very impressive, and I can safely say there was not a single page or artist that I didn't appreciate and enjoy. Showcasing some recognizable pieces, such as band posters, ads, and t-shirt prints, Naive shows a good representation of the stylistic trends of the day.

Naive provides a nice amount of variety while still staying true to the theme of the book. In fact, I find it's collection a lot more cohesive and delightful than a number of other collection books with fewer individuals involved. 

Pros: Beautiful paper quality, no writing just work, and a very large selection of artists and exposure. It is really a great resource not only for inspiration, but also as a recording of current trends and aesthetics. I love it! 

Cons: It is a paper back, and the binding, while fine, will not hold up to extreme battle damage. Not a great coffee table book, but perfect to sit on a shelf and be loved from time to time. 

How To Buy: Amazon

If you buy the book using this link, it will help tell me which books you like me to review, and will assist me towards purchasing more


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Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life

Charley Harper was a prolific illustrator that past away in 2007. His iconic work has become closely associated with his peak era, and was found in biology books, Betty Crocker books, magazines, and even National Park posters. 

Included are a few process shots

The book includes a few nice initial sketch proposals alongside finished work. 

While my favorite works of Harper's are his animals, the book also covers a lot of his human subject based work. 

Harper asks, why draw each feather when you can draw the shape of the wing and get the same understanding? I believe this mantra is beautiful.

I love how he articulates movement!

Pros: It is a huge, well bound book. The paper is good quality, and there is A LOT of work. the book is 420 pages, and includes a small interview in the beginning. The back of the book has all the work shown again in miniature with details of production for easy browsing. 

Cons: Nothing to say, it's really lovely

How to Buy: This is tricky. NOTE: THERE ARE 3 VERSIONS IN EXISTENCE

As far as I can tell, each version prints exactly the same work in exactly the same fashion, the only difference is the size of the book. The largest (19.2" x 13.2" x 2.5") is the most expensive, and can be bought on Amazon

The middle size is no longer in print, and is the size I have. (8.7" x 12.2" x 1.5") I was able to obtain mine in a overstock bookstore for about $25, though I think the original price was $60

The smallest size is also the cheapest (8.6 x 6.1 x 1.5) I can't tell you the quality of this one, but I have heard good reviews, and trust the publisher Ammo. It can also be bought on Amazon

If you buy the book using this link, it will help tell me which books you like me to review, and will assist me towards purchasing more. 


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