An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers by Danny Gregory

An Illustrated Life: Drawing Inspiration from the Private Sketchbooks of Artists, Illustrators and Designers Reviews

• 
  Dave Schaafsma

  Danny Gregory curated this collection of excerpts from various artists’ journals, artists from all over the world. We got insights into the artists as they share their art, their sketches, their works in progress, their thinking on the page in visual form. So everyone does it differently, of course. It’s mixed media, it’s collage, it’s visual playground. Oh, and it’s from these artists on the road, too, done while traveling, so it’s a view of places, too, on how to convery their experience of places. This is based on an exhibition at the Brooklyn Art Library. Gorgeous and inspirational. I used it for my comics class, and they loved it.
• 
  Splendy

  If I were smart, I would start a business making spiral-bound sketchbooks with high-quality paper for artists. A frequent complaint among artists in this book is that it’s impossible to find really good, useful sketchbooks. Many make their own by selecting paper and having them custom bound. There’s goldmine here, but I’m just too lazy to dig it.
  
  The sketchbooks in An Illustrated Life are gorgeous, inviting, varied and worthwhile. The interviews, however, are not entirely impressive. They definitely take a backseat in comparison to the visual content. Most of the stories focus on the use of sketchbooks in artists personal and professional lives, and how each artist got started in drawing. The problem is, they all pretty much say the same thing. And each artist shares their favorite tools: namedropping pens, sketchbooks and paper manufacturers is borderline advertising and takes the focus away from the beauty and inspiration of creative work. Just because you own a fancy pen doesn't mean you're able to create anything interesting.
  
  Some of my favorite artists in the book are Christoph Mueller, Maha Shivarathri, and Gay Kraeger. More famous artist like R. Crumb and Stefan Sagmeister are featured too.
  
  Once in a while, artists offer advice, but the real inspiration is in the images. And even though there is room for improvement in the book’s content, it didn’t stop me from renewing it twice and then returning it late to the library! Give yourself some time to pour over the hundreds of illustrations in these amazing sketchbooks.
  
• 
  Rachel Kopel

  I am a great fan of Danny Gregory, but I was somewhat disappointed by this eagerly awaited book. While there are some really lovely examples, such as those of Jane LaFazio and Gay Kreger, and a few others, mostly women, I found that too many of the sketchbooks were simply ugly juvenile cartoons, mostly by men. I had the desire to use sticky notes and calculate how many were illustrations and how many these cartoons and how many by men and how many by women. And I decided I really didnt want to spend the time. It wont change the content of the book. I will go back and tag the ones I want to find easily again, but for now the book is on the shelf and not the coffee table.
• 
  Douglas Gorney

  Hard to really ever say you've "Read" this kind of book, as it's the sort of thing you keep picking up, leafing through and finding new things in.
  
  Maybe it has something to do with the coming of age of the graphic novel, maybe it's that it's a tactile, analog antidote to our digital moment, but the sketchbook has graduated from a preparatory medium to finished art object. There's even a museum devoted to them (the Sketchbook Project collection in the Brooklyn Art Library).
  
  If like me you are enough of an artist or doodler to have a sketchbook, you might also be excited by he possibilities opened up by this graphic renaissance. While my sketchbooks are working tableaux for studies, paint color tests and warmups, I've always wanted them to be something more: journals, records of a place and time, maybe even narratives. Danny Gregory has done a great service by giving you a peek inside the, ah, Private Sketchbooks Of Artists, Illustrators And Designers to show you the many ways, well, some of the ways, anyways, that you can make your sketchbook into something special—something greater than the sum of its parts.
  
  Gregory got artists from around the country to give him not only images from their sketchbooks, but carefully considered thoughts on how they approach their sketchbooks and illustrated journals. Massively mixed media, notation and journaling, collage, panel framing are just a few of the spaces in which they've showed you can play.
  
  I also recommend "An Illustrated Journey: Inspiration From the Private Art Journals of Traveling Artists, Illustrators and Designers," which takes the sketchbook on the road. A real inspiration to keep a journal while traveling, and train the eye to see new places in a whole new way. "The Sketchbook Project World Tour," assembled from above-mentioned collection at the Brooklyn Art Library, has a more international (and non-professional-artist) focus, with amazing submissions from every continent except Antartica.
  
  
  
  
• 
  Mel

  It is always interesting to me to see how other artist's think and work and there is no better way to do that than to be allowed to peer into their sketch journals. This book is an invitation to do that. I just wish the artists that were chosen were a little more interesting. That being said, there are some real gems in here, like James Jean, Bryce Wymer and of course, Robert Crumb. I actually bought this and I almost wish I would have just gotten it from the library. It was definitely worth a peruse though and there really is not much reading involved but more looking. I am sure I will look through this again when I am feeling like I need some motivation and inspiration.
• 
  M

  I wonderful little book about the sketchbooks of artists and writers many of us love. It's fatal flaw however is the lack of humility it gives the subject matter as the author treats each subject as if they sketchbooks are sacred texts. The reality that most won't admit is that these works were created to show people, and those that weren't won't be seen. Artists are fickle and vain and very strategic in the way they let people view their work especially their notebooks. Where this book succeeds it also fails perpetuating the myth that artists only ever produce good work.
• 
  Chris

  3.5 stars. Good look at the journals/sketchbooks of 50 different artistically minded people, including (in their own words) how long they've been keeping a journal, why they keep up the habit, and their preferred materials.
• 
  Karen

  I’ve started creating illustrated journals and find Danny Gregory’s various books quite inspiring. This one wasn’t quite as good as An Illustrated Journey. The interviews weren’t as interesting, and many of the sketchbooks used a raw cartooning, doodling style that I didn’t find at all appealing. Nevertheless, it’s always interesting to view someone’s creative work and read about their process and favourite materials.
• 
  Danielle Borg-James

  So inspired with every single page in this book. Everyone should read this!!! It makes you want to pick up a pen and draw draw draw - absolutely loved it
• 
  Melinda

  Really enjoyed taking small dips into this book of illustrated journals. What a bargain for a buck! The art is incredibly varied, although most of it is the work of professional artists and designers. Don't let that discourage you, however. I am intrigued by the idea of keeping an illustrated journal, also by the idea that the practice of daily drawing can grow and enhance your creative powers -- something I've allowed to go dormant for far too long. I took my time with this one, reading all the descriptions and looking at the sketchbooks. Enjoyed it so much I sought out Gregory's other book like this, An Illustrated Journey, about keeping a travel sketchbook. Good stuff.
• 
  R.M.

  I bought An Illustrated Life initially thinking I was going to plow right through. To me, it's much better in small doses. With as many varying personalities, ideas and "art," it was a little daunting to continually read for longer than 15 minutes. The more I read at one sitting the more the people in the book would blend into one another. I guess I have a really short attention span. Either that, or can't handle the idea of being jolted from one artist to the next. Once I started to get into an artist, it was over.
  
  The features ranged from anyhwere to somewhat boring to downright amusing. Robert Crumb's was great with his unabashed straight-up honesty (at least I think he was being honest). The nice thing about featuring so many artists is that if you didn't like one you could move right onto the next.
  
  I wish the format was a little larger so the images and text could be easier to view and read. Having said this I still think it's pretty well executed and presents the artists in a very attractive manner. I think it's a great coffee table book to pick up every now and again. It would certainly make a great gift to aspiring artists or to anyone who enjoys art or its process.
• 
  Will Simpson

  This book is great. The reason I rated it a 4 rather then a 5 is because it seemed full of professional designers who were in a ways showing off. All the jounalers seemed to responding to a questionnaire in the text which got old and predictable. A couple of nuggets I got were, alternative styles of drawing are from reality and from imagination. One requires drawing in public, in the wild and the other is more private and is usually done in the studio. Cartooning or telling a story in frames is an technique to explore. How a page is filled effects the work. Some fill the entire page with a single drawing and some leave lots of white space. A couple of people used the simplest of ballpoint pens, pens swiped from the bank or doctors office and 2H pencils.
  
  I guess I should have known that this book was full of professionals by the subtitle "Drawing Inspiration From The Private Sketchbooks Of Artists, Illustrators And Designers".
• 
  Sherry (sethurner)

  I'm a big fan of Danny Gregory, a real cheerleader encouraging people to stop being so hard on themselves and get out there and sketch. His previous books, Creative License and Everyday Matters have inspired hundreds of folks. This book is different. It's a collection of sketchbooks from illustrators, everyone from R. Crumb to a French teacher in New Jersey. There is an interview and a selection of pages from that person's sketch books. It's a beautiful and inspiring collection. My only gripe is that some of the reproduced pages are very small, so small that I couldn't read the entries even with a magnifying glass. Luckily he provides web addresses for each artist, and on my computer screen I can see them all.
• 
  Raychel

  This book is very inspiring. It is true that it is not purely a Danny Gregory book, but as long as you don't go into the book thinking it is going to be purely Danny, it's a wonderful read. I loved having a book full of all these artists and pages of their sketchbooks. I also like that we get to read the artists' thoughts and ideas about their own art and sketchbooks.
  
  I like to flip through this book and read in small sections. I did read the whole thing though, but in small segments so I could focus on just one artist and their work at a time.
  
  I loved reading this, especially while I was in a drawing class. It helped keep me focused sometimes and it helped me remember that not every drawing is going to be amazing.
• 
  kimberly

  Not a book to pick up and read, but more for perusing, to read an interview at a time. A good source of inspiration, especially for those who like to peek into the more secret lives of artists.
  
  A bit of a downer in a sense that almost all of these sketchbooks are amazing on their own - seems that many artists suffer from a perfectionist predilection for making everything look good all the time. It was refreshing to see the few sketchbooks that were kind of crappy (LIKE MINE).
• 
  Redshirt Knitting

  If you like looking through other artists' sketchbooks, then this is the book for you. 266 pages, 50 artists, sketches and text - wonderful!
  
  I'm actually still working my way through it, because I can only pore over two or three artists at a time before I have to set the book down and think over it for a while.
• 
  Adriana

  It’s interesting to see how each artist views the sketchbook as a medium. The texts are explanations by each artist of how they work and why they keep a sketchbook. Some aren’t that interesting, but it works as a glimpse into a wide array of creative minds.
  It made me want to start my own sketchbook.
  
• 
  Michelle

  I love seeing people's illustrated journals! My favorites are the ink sketches of cityscapes with splashes of watercolor. Also the ones that look like they're from children's picture books. Wish I could draw like that...
• 
  S. Kay

  I've been listening to Danny's podcast, in which he interviews different artists featured in this book. It's got me very excited for the book's publication.
• 
  Enid

  A great collection of pages from artiists' sketchbooks. it was interesting to not only see some pages but to read about how and where they use their sketchbook. very nice!
• 
  Becca

  It's a relief that even many of these very talented artists are afraid of a blank page!
• 
  Spike

  Before these compediums of artists sketch journals came about, this one was one of the pioneers. I like the thought processes behind each feat artist as well. Like one guy who only uses crappy pens to make certain kinds of drawings. Little gems like that I find compelling.
• 
  Kayla Cassivi

  Inspirational for the sketchbook artist; this is one of those go-to books when I want to get started on a blank page and I can't make those first marks.
  
  Highly recommend Danny Gregory's "Everyday Matters" for a glimpse into how great his mind is.
• 
  Tony

  Love this book: examples of sketchbooks and sketch journals kept by a wide range of artists and illustrators. If you're a wannabe sketchbooker they may depress you because they're so much better than your efforts, but mostly they will inspire you and give you ideas. The way to improve is to begin, and to do it, and to carry on. Draw, draw, draw.
• 
  Parka

  
  
  (More pictures at
  parkablogs.com)
  
  When I was searching for information about the book, I found a lot of positive reviews. And I really mean A LOT. It's one thing that a book is well liked. It's another when it's so well liked people are actually talking about it.
  
  An Illustrated Life is a compilation of sketchbook pages from 50 illustrators all over the world. Each journal is packed with sketches, captions and a narrative as the artist talks about his sketchbook. At 266 pages, some of the scans are a little small if you want to read the writings. One reader I found bought a magnifying glass just to make sure every detail isn't missed.
  
  Every page is a surprise, every page is a discovery, a glimpse of what the artists is thinking, seeing and feeling. It's the perfect book to go to when you're looking inspiration and motivation.
  
  Most artists have their websites listed. It's another avenue for exploration. Jjust to name some, they are R. Crumb, Christoph Niemann, James Jean, Peter Ankle, Cathy Johnson, James Kochalka, Brody Neuenschwander, Chris Ware, Stefan Sagmeister etc.
  
  
  
  
  Danny Gregory has published a truly wonderful book. I really love it. It's well worth every single cent.
  
  This review was first published on
  parkablogs.com. There are more pictures and videos on my blog.
• 
  Swenja Camphausen

  I bought „An Illustrated Life“ because of the cover and I wasn't disappointed!
  It can be used as workbook, for inspiration or just to make yourself happy while flipping through.
  It’s not a book you read in one piece , but to have a look in it, if you get stuck in your creative progress.
  The quality of the prints is first-class. I really enjoy just watching them and see the differences between the artists!
  Every artist starts with a short biography.
  You get a glimpse to the creative imaginations of 50 top illustrators. You can see some of their working places, and the way the artists developed ideas in their journals. The sketches and captions are very interesting to compare. Some are mind- doodling, some are very precisely worked out.
  
  I recommend this book to all who are interested in drawing and modern artists.
• 
  Susan

  Yum, the sort of book to savor - a Christmas gift that I had broadly hinted at and was so pleased to unwrap. If you are a scribbler and noodler, you will recognize yourself in these pages, if you are an artist wannabe, this will serve as nonthreatening inspiration. There's a lot of generosity and guidance in these pages.