Monday, March 20, 2006
The Power of Illustration
Last year my partner wrote a beautiful book about design, which meant that he got to assemble his dream list of logos, beautifully packaged products and illustrations. He has a really keen eye for design, in part, I think, because his father is an artist. Naturally his obsessions influence me and I like to think I've become more aware of the visual world than I was before; certainly I pay momre attention to advertising than I used to.
Last Christmas, he gave me a gorgeous book called New York Owners. It is written and illustrated by Yooco Tanimoto, a talented Japanese illustrator. The book profiles a number of interesting shops in Manhattan, and gives a biographical sketch of the people who run each business. One store, for example, sells handmade shoes to dancers, and is run by an ex-dancer who decided that performers needed a wider range of danceable and attractive shoes than whas was on the market at the time.
Tanimoto celebrates this kind of individual spirit by providing a gorgeous illustration for each shop. The end result is that you get a really sense of what she sees in each business, which is a far more personal vision than if she had taken photographs.
Then, earlier this year, I was in Kinokuniya frantically trying to find some presents to take to Japan. I stumbled on another gorgeous book written and illustrated by another talented Japanese illustrator, Reiko Aoki. This particular book is called "Reikosan's New York Sketchbook" and is a tour of New York City through the eye's of Aoki. My favorite chapters include illustrations and profiles of the 5 kinds of Manhattan couples:
1. Gay
2. Lesbian
3. Student
4. Artists
5. Yuppie
She then goes on to describe the kinds of jobs that each couple has, how they wear their hair, where they go on vacation, how old they are, what they wear, etc. In another section, she describes the virtues of Central Park, and draws a picture of a pregnant woman with her belly sticking out: Aoki writes, "This kind of appearance is ok!" And of course, in New York, it is.
You can learn a lot about your own surroundings through the eyes of somoene who isn't necessarily a native to your country. Aoki is a keen and sensitive observer, and I bought every copy of her book I could find to give to friends to convince them to visit me in NYC. I will go back and order more.
I wish I could link to a place where you can buy her book, but I haven't found a place online yet. The best thing to do if you are interested is to contact Kinokuniya and tell them you want to order a copy of "Reikosan's New York Sketchbook."
I was starting to get the point where I thought these kinds of travel illustrations were only a trend for Japanese looking at New York, but then this past week while in Barnes and Noble with a writer friend, I stumbled on Kate T. Williamson's gorgeously illustrated book Year in Japan. Once again, here is a talented illustrator and writer with a keen eye, sensitively observing and portraying the world around her. I love this book and the illustrations of things like natto, the difference between a maiko and geiko and how the Japanese celebrate the new year, or oshoogatsu.
In thinking about these books, I remembered 19th century novels where a young woman's accomplishments included dancing, music, manners and, of course, drawing. I remember, for example, at the end of Little Women, we learn that Amy has become quite the artist. Jane, in Jane Eyre, draws a little and Mr. Rochester teases her about this. Elizabeth is smart in Pride and Prejudice and her bookreading captures the eye of Mr. Darcy; her inability to play the piano well or draw well earns her a scolding from Lady Catherine.
I take my dance classes, I read my books, I write my stories but . . . I'm afraid I'm more like Elizabeth than Amy. I suppose it is all very well to be able to read and to like words, but after seeing these books, I really wish I could draw. Let me say that again. I really, really wish I could draw!
Last Christmas, he gave me a gorgeous book called New York Owners. It is written and illustrated by Yooco Tanimoto, a talented Japanese illustrator. The book profiles a number of interesting shops in Manhattan, and gives a biographical sketch of the people who run each business. One store, for example, sells handmade shoes to dancers, and is run by an ex-dancer who decided that performers needed a wider range of danceable and attractive shoes than whas was on the market at the time.
Tanimoto celebrates this kind of individual spirit by providing a gorgeous illustration for each shop. The end result is that you get a really sense of what she sees in each business, which is a far more personal vision than if she had taken photographs.
Then, earlier this year, I was in Kinokuniya frantically trying to find some presents to take to Japan. I stumbled on another gorgeous book written and illustrated by another talented Japanese illustrator, Reiko Aoki. This particular book is called "Reikosan's New York Sketchbook" and is a tour of New York City through the eye's of Aoki. My favorite chapters include illustrations and profiles of the 5 kinds of Manhattan couples:
1. Gay
2. Lesbian
3. Student
4. Artists
5. Yuppie
She then goes on to describe the kinds of jobs that each couple has, how they wear their hair, where they go on vacation, how old they are, what they wear, etc. In another section, she describes the virtues of Central Park, and draws a picture of a pregnant woman with her belly sticking out: Aoki writes, "This kind of appearance is ok!" And of course, in New York, it is.
You can learn a lot about your own surroundings through the eyes of somoene who isn't necessarily a native to your country. Aoki is a keen and sensitive observer, and I bought every copy of her book I could find to give to friends to convince them to visit me in NYC. I will go back and order more.
I wish I could link to a place where you can buy her book, but I haven't found a place online yet. The best thing to do if you are interested is to contact Kinokuniya and tell them you want to order a copy of "Reikosan's New York Sketchbook."
I was starting to get the point where I thought these kinds of travel illustrations were only a trend for Japanese looking at New York, but then this past week while in Barnes and Noble with a writer friend, I stumbled on Kate T. Williamson's gorgeously illustrated book Year in Japan. Once again, here is a talented illustrator and writer with a keen eye, sensitively observing and portraying the world around her. I love this book and the illustrations of things like natto, the difference between a maiko and geiko and how the Japanese celebrate the new year, or oshoogatsu.
In thinking about these books, I remembered 19th century novels where a young woman's accomplishments included dancing, music, manners and, of course, drawing. I remember, for example, at the end of Little Women, we learn that Amy has become quite the artist. Jane, in Jane Eyre, draws a little and Mr. Rochester teases her about this. Elizabeth is smart in Pride and Prejudice and her bookreading captures the eye of Mr. Darcy; her inability to play the piano well or draw well earns her a scolding from Lady Catherine.
I take my dance classes, I read my books, I write my stories but . . . I'm afraid I'm more like Elizabeth than Amy. I suppose it is all very well to be able to read and to like words, but after seeing these books, I really wish I could draw. Let me say that again. I really, really wish I could draw!
