6 Books That Inspire My Work

Bronte
Mar 26, 2018
4 min read

I really love a good comic book.

There's something striking about certain illustration styles that make stories come alive and a pleasure to read (I don't tend to read at all these days - not books, anyway). When I find a new artist whose work I really love, it gets me SO motivated to better my game and produce more work. I've decided to share 6 books that I own that really motivate and encourage my work, in hopes that you'll find them as much a joy as I do.

NoBrow Press:

Book One - 101 Movies to Watch Before You Die by Ricardo Cavolo

I found this book in a comic/merch shop/nerd gold mine in York and I fell in love with the idea of it straight away. I instantly recognised Cavalo's work as he illustrated one of Neck Deep's album covers and I adore his quirky, out-there style. There's really no artist similar, at all.

Each of Cavalo's 101 recommended films comes with a full page illustration, drawn in fine liner and felt-tip pen. The rough and ready aesthetic really appeals to me, as in this digitally saturated world we live in, it brings drawing right back to the basics and leaves every accidental blotch and splash untouched. It almost makes the images feel honest and vulnerable.

The idea of a book that's basically a list also appealed to me. It's something so simple and easy that can help any new illustrators, like myself, quickly develop a portfolio that they enjoy making.

I've included an image of the Pulp Fiction page spread as it's one of my FAVE movies, by a truly weird director, whose work I treasure.

Book Two - Pantheon by Hamish Steele

This is a truly strange book. It's crude and outrageous, and definitely not to be taken as fact - despite what the cover may promise. That said, I absolutely love it. It's HILARIOUS. Steele takes stories of the Egyptian Gods, and re-tells them with modern humour and beautiful colour schemes. I can only imagine how long this book took to produce - it looks like it would have taken years. The illustrations are so detailed and just all-round gorgeous, and the scent of the thick pages only adds to it's charm. 100% would recommend reading this.

Kristyna Baczynski:

Book Three - Vessel

I've been a big fan of Baczynski's ever since she gave a lecture at uni in my first year. I remember getting excited that came from a town only a few miles away from where I lived, and that she'd also started out by making greetings cards, similar to me. And to top it all off she has an INSANE talent for illustration. I promised myself I'd collect as much of her work as I could. Whilst still working out of my bedroom as a poor student, I've managed to collect 2 comics, a concertina book and a pin badge, but when I move out into an actual studio dedicated to illustration, I expect that collection to expand FAST.

The first book I'd like to introduce you to is Vessel. It's a short, thought-provoking story, which s charming in it's own right, but I absolutely adore the illustrations. The sheer detail that goes into every one of Baczynski's comics is astounding. I mean, look at that for an inside cover. It's so simple but it's just soooo satisfying how neatly all the different elements fit together. You can tell she's a true professional and I can only dream of being this skilled one day.

Book Four - The Golden Horseshoe

When I bought this comic from Etsy, I just wanted something of Baczynski's to own. The listing didn't give a great deal away in terms of the story, so I didn't really know what to expect. However, when I hand it in my hands I was delighted. The physical quality of all her comics are very high, but still have a tangible handmade quality to them. The printing method makes all the colours POP and the limited colour palette just adds to the character of Baczynski's work. I really do love her work, and if you haven't already, check her Etsy out here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/kriski

Luke Pearson:

Book Five - Hilda and the Troll

I first came across Luke Pearson in my first year of Visual Communication, and he was one of the first comic artists that made me fall in love with illustration. This was at a time when I still didn't really know what I wanted to be "when I grew up", and for my Self Directed module, I decided to make my own comic book. It was the likes of Pearson that really inspired me to invest in illustration, and enabled me to see the potential it had for a career. I adore the tactile quality of this book, from the fabric printed spine, to the shiny, smooth patches on the cover (which makes it really hard to photograph...), to the allocated space on the inside page for you to write your name. You can just tell how much care and attention has gone into creating the story experience, in the sense that comics aren't just something for kids because they're less wordy; they're collectables - an art form. Well made comic books to me as an illustrator, are like collectable figurines to a movie enthusiast. It's appreciation of the art form. I can't wait to add to my Hilda collection.

Cacti Inspiration:

Book Six - The Little Book of Cacti by Emma Sibley

Now this isn't an illustrated book, but anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE cacti!!

I got this book for Christmas and it has dozens of cacti species inside. It's a good little 2-in-1 for me, because not only does it provide information on how to care for each different variety (so I can own them all without killing them, yaas), but it also have a photograph for each one, thus allowing me to draw SO many realistic cacti. Prepare for cacti spam, my friends. It may be prickly (sorry).