I
really wish more people here in the United States would pick up and look at the
wonderful Sketchbooks published by Comix Buro.
They
feature some of the best artwork by cartoonists and illustrators Europe has to
offer.
The
books come stuffed with illustration of not only completed work by each artist
represented but their sketch work also.
I find that especially interesting and enlightening. As an artist myself I know what it takes to
come u with a completed illustration. I often
tell my drawing students that the finished drawing you see is the results of
sometimes dozens of sketches and compositions drawn before.
In
this go around artists Varanda, Marta and Reynes are spotlighted. Each has their
unique style: Varanda’s style tends to more sketchy and detailed with deep
shadows and stark lighting.
Mara is much more whimsical reminiscent of classic
cartoons from the 1940’s and 1950s with their slick minimalistic rendering and
Reynes art is modern and sophisticated with hints of digital manipulation
present.
What
I find especially interesting about each artist is that all of them tackle American
superheroes in one fashion or another.
Superheroes from the major comic book publishers are represented along
with the occasional small press character.
I
wish the American comic book industry would take notice of the Sketchbook
artists’ work. The industry could use a
good shot in the arm creatively and the Sketchbook artists are just the ones to
administer it.