Tag Archives: Illustration

Picturing Maps

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

I have long been intrigued by old school pictoral maps. The exmples above and below are from the  University of Michigan’s Clark Library Maps collection, each shows the United States through a different cultural lens, covering everything from literary giants … Continue reading →

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Summer Island

Posted on September 13, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I haven’t paid much attention to the deluge of content that has been generated lately by AI machines, but something about the Summer Island project captured my attention. Summer Island is a comic, with all the artwork generated by  Midjourney AI. To … Continue reading →

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Illustration Chronicles

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I recently discovered the amazing website Illustration Chronicles: which explores a history of illustration through the images, illustrators and events of the past 175 years. Periodically the editors select a topic to explore. These concepts, such as music, satire, war, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Books, Maps, Music, Writing | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Real Art, Fictional Museum

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Foundation Kebbi is an imaginary museum created by Paris-based artist and illustrator Yann Kebbi. The fake cultural attraction is populated by the usual crowd of museum goers, tourists, lovers, and time wasters. However, if you look closely, you can also … Continue reading →

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A view of nature in ascending regions

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

These illustrations are from Levi Walter Yaggy’s Geograpahical Portfolio – Comprising Physical, Political, Geological, and Astronomical Geography. Published by Western Publishing House of Chicago in 1887, the book features large educational geographical charts. Using chromolithography, Yaggy created stunning colors and contrasts in his … Continue reading →

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Bibliophile Miscellany

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

If like me you frequent book blogs, it’s likely that you have seen the charming, book-celebratory art work and illustrations by Hawaii-based artist and bibliophile Jane Mount. Now she has a delightful new book titled Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany coming out next … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Art, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Libraries, USA, Writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

How the dead communicate with us

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Last year, British cartoonist, artist, and children’s book writer Chris Riddell published this wonderful series of sketches that illustrate comments by the great Neil Gaiman on a variety of book related topics.

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Maps Telling Stories

Posted on April 12, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

I have always believed that every map tells a story. When it come to exploring a geographic narrative, there are no better vehicles than 20th century illustrated maps. In the second of our series of guest posts from Dutch author … Continue reading →

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Not Quite The New Yorker

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The Not Yorker is an unofficial, unaffiliated site that collects and curates rejected New Yorker magazine cover illustrations. The project is the work of three Brooklyn-based illustrators still aiming for their own covers.

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Spooky Stories & Inconceivable Tales

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Inspired by pulp periodicals and pop culture, Massachusetts-based illustrator Stephen Andrade creates brilliant retro-style magazine covers for imagined publications. Andrade cleverly incorporates contemporary television, cinema, and literary references in his 40s and 50s style cover art.

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