Monday, June 3rd. It had been a rough day.But as I stood in line at the post office, and was handed a textbook-shaped box with an sumi-ink illustration of koi fish in the corner, I knew my day was to rapidly improve. For in that box was Doug TenNapel's Sketchbook Archives--a kick-starter funded collection of his sketches gathered over the years and compiled in a beautifully crafted, leather-bound book. And that is only the outside.
But first, a note about sketch books.The sketch book is an artist's best friend. It's a place where one can go and simply draw--without worrying about perfection or what people will think. It's a place to explore ideas and enables the freedom of creation without restraint. It's essentially a place where you can be you and express yourself.For me, my sketch book is a place where I can pour out my heart and be myself. And as I do enjoy allowing people to thumb through my sketches, it's also a place where I feel the most vulnerable--like people are looking through a tiny window into my soul. The images on the page are raw and unrefined--some sketches I consider successful, while others probably deserve to be fed to the paper shredder. And burned.So with that said, it is a great honor and privilege that I receive Doug's Sketchbook Archives. It's a downright fantastic collection of sketches, ideas, thoughts, and imagination.
Process art for the graphic novel, Gear.
More art for Gear.
Remember this guy?
Klaymen from The Neverhood.
It is chock full of storyboards, characters sketches, beautifully crafted worlds, and so much more. From carefully rendered pieces to quick, silly sketches--it is a book that I know I will be thumbing through and enjoying over and over again.
So thank you Mr. TenNapel, the TenNapel family, and friends who put in the hard work to make this project a success. And thank you for planting the seed of imagination into so many hearts--inspiring and encouraging a whole new generation to put that pencil to paper and CREATE!
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So, how might you acquire one? Well, since it was a Kickstarter project, I am afraid that that window of opportunity has passed. Yet, perhaps if you kindly ask Mr. TenNapel himself (and bribe him with cake), then you MIGHT be able to acquire one. However, if you feel bummed that you missed out on this opportunity--you're in luck! Because Mr. TenNapel is currently pitching another Kickstarter project called ARMIKROG.
If you're a fan of The Neverhood, or Earthworm Jim, this is a MUST for you. It is going to be a claymation point & click side scroller computer game (whew! that's a mouthful!) So, think Neverhood style--but a whole new universe, story, and characters. Check it out and donate to it's cause--it's going to be a great game, so let's help the team make it happen! :)