News and views on visual communications from the writers of Creative Review

Inside The Street Artist’s Sketchbook

Gavin 18/10/07, 15:46

Sketch by Parisian artist Turbo. See below for the finished piece…

All the creative greats throughout time have used a sketchbook: Leonardo da Vinci, Michealangelo, Rolf Harris… Anyone who is visually creative will have a book or a pad they scribble ideas on or work out visual compositions – and it’s no different for the graffiti artist. A new book by Tristan Manco explores the sketchbooks of over 65 street artists from around the world including Banksy (shown in the book is Banksy’s original sketch for his Old Street stencil of Samuel L Jackson and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction hitmen guise holding yellow bananas instead of guns - an artwork that’s tragically been painted over), Ekta from Gothenburg in Sweden, Eroné from Lille in France, Andy Rementer from New Jersey but based in Treviso in Italy, to name but a few…

Here are some images from the book which show ideas in development – including (below) another example of how closely Parisian graffiti writer Turbo’s sketches inform his wall paintings:

A spread from Italian artist Blu’s sketchbook

Drawing from Swedish artist Ekta’s sketchbook

A hairy-legged creature sketched by US artist A. J. Purdy

Street Sketchbook by Tristan Manco is published by Thames & Hudson, £19.95

There will be a book launch event in London’s Rough Trade East store, Dray Walk, London E1 6QL – at which artists from the book will be present to doodle on copies of the book, as well as creating new works, scribbling on the walls in a paper lined area at the back of the shop.

Artists confirmed for the launch are

Wet Shame Crew: Paris (Bristol), Eco (Stroud), Mudwig (Stroud)
David Earl Dixon (Colchester)
Duncan Jago (Bristol)
Guy McKinley (Manchester)
Showchicken (London)

The event is free and anyone is welcome to join in!

Posted in Graphic Design Illustration Type Art Books

(2 comments)

When I first saw Street Sketch I was drawn to it for some reason. I’ve never really drew consistanly before, but when I took a look into this book it made me want to pick up the pencil and paper. I was instantly inspired by the pieces Tristan Manco was able to bring together in this one book. I don’t even have a favorite, all of these artist are inovative in their own way and every time I turn the page it’s like I’m opening it for the first time. I’m originally from Bronx, NY now residing in Allentown, PA. Are there any plans in the making of having an event in the U.S.? Much respect to every one who had a hand in makin the Street Sketch Book possible.

Posted by Haneef Muttaqi on 02/01/08, 5:04 pm

Dear Creative Review,

Why don’t you create a “graffiti” or “street art” tag?

I realise that you may not have enough articles to merit such tags, at the moment, but it would still help those who are interested in those categories to search for existing articles on your blog.

Thanks.

Posted by Darryl M on 12/02/08, 7:24 pm

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