Kibyoshi (“yellow covers”) were popular picture-books produced in the middle of the Edo Period (1600-1860). They combined woodblock printed scenes with satirical text and dialogue. The text moves through the image like sound through space. Translations of several kibyoshi can be found in Manga of the Floating World: Comicbook Culture and the Kibyoshi of Edo Japan by Adam L. Kern (Harvard University Press). Link to online collection:
Tokyo University
My current favorite graphic novel is Adrian Tomine’s Shortcomings
Without giving too much away (or sounding like a press release), Shortcomings is the story of a relationship gone sour, and the rather complicated ways we fool ourselves and the ones we love. Adrian has mastered what might be called “acting” on the comics page. His body language is subtle and precise, his characters moving through his pages with an exactitude rarely seen in the medium. All told, this is a case study in incisive characterization and perfect storytelling. This site has background info, notes and other goodies. Check it out and then go buy this book.
Society of Illustrators, October 3rd, 6.30pm, tickets $10 ($6 for students)
Illustrator Ingo Fast’s year long, slow trip around the world posed difficulties not only in respect to the various modes of transportation he chose, but also in how he would continue his work as an illustrator. Often it wasn’t just the work itself or how he would carry it (e. g. cramped on a bus or train, balancing his drawing pad on a sailboat, finding a quiet corner in a hotel lobby or working in the children’s playroom of a public library). Also a challenge was discovering which means of communication would be available to transmit his sketches and illustrations: from slow dial-up internet connections to not too stable satellite phone-to-laptop hook-ups.
Comic Competition «CLIMATE»
Fumetto – International Comix-Festival Lucerne holds a competition
each year to give comic-creators the opportunity to compare their work, present it to a broader public, and exchange views with others.
The competition’s theme this year is «Climate».
Deadline: 14th of January 2008 (date of postmark)
Format: A4 or A3 (other formats will be disqualified)
Form: only Comics (stories in picture form), no cartoons accepted
Number of pages: maximum 4 (only 1 comic)
Labelling: name, address, telephone number, e-mail and date of birth on
the back of each page Packaging: sturdy envelope, no rolls
Return Postage: if the return postage is not enclosed or not sufficient,
the works will not be sent back / For Swiss Nationals: stamps, or money in
the value of the stamps needed / For Foreigners: 5 Euro
Categories: Cat. 1: 18 years or older / Cat. 2: 13 to 17 years / Cat. 3: up to 12 years of age
Welcome to the brand new Parsons The New School for Design Illustration Department blog! We will be posting news about the department, thoughts and news about illustration in general, articles, work in progress from our faculty, and much more. Come back and see us anytime!
