The Strand Book Store has partnered with the School of Visual Arts, TOON Books, Drawn & Quarterly and Fantagraphics Books to host a tote bag design contest.

Beginning March 1, 2010, artists from around the world are invited to submit original illustrations featuring the Strand Book Store.

In June 2007, the Strand unveiled the first Artist Tote Bag: Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Art Spiegelman loaned his iconic Maus image for the first time ever to celebrate the Strand’s 80th birthday. The Strand then partnered with artists each year, including Adrian Tomine, Seth and Parsons Illustration Alum and Faculty member R. Sikoryak, creating the Strand’s Artist Tote Series. Now, the Strand Book Store wants to give emerging artists the opportunity to have their artwork featured on a Strand tote bag.

Now, the Strand Book Store wants to give emerging artists the opportunity to have their artwork featured on a Strand tote bag.

Contest Dates

March 1-March 31, 2010

Design Requirements

• The illustration must represent the Strand Book Store.
• The illustration must include the artist’s signature, “Strand Book Store NYC” and “strandbooks.com” or a representation of the Strand logo (as seen on this page).
• Size of Illustration: Artwork must be no larger than 11″w x 10″h.
• Line Weight: Use a minimum of a 2 pt. rule.
• Halftones: Must be at a 40 line screen or less, with percentages no less than 20% or greater than 60%.
• No Trapping: If colors come in contact with each other they CAN NOT overlap.
• Typestyles: Should be no smaller than 20 pt. on 15 oz. fabric with a minimum of 2 pt. rule. Do not use reverse type smaller than 22 pt. with a minimum line rule of 3 pt. Avoid serif typefaces! Their detail tends to get lost in the canvas.

Contest is open to all, aged 18 and above. The Contest is void where prohibited. Please see official rules below.

Judges:

• Françoise Mouly, Art Editor of The New Yorker & Editorial Director of TOON Books
• Art Spiegelman, Pulitzer Prize winning comic artist
• Steven Heller, co-chair MFA Designer as Author Program, School of Visual Arts
• R. Sikoryak, creator of the book, Masterpiece Comics
• Adrian Tomine, author of the bestselling book, Shortcomings

Prizes

Grand Prize

• artwork on Strand tote bag, sold in store and online w/ attendant marketing-artist name on all materials
• an afternoon with Françoise Mouly and staff at TOON Books offices
• complete set of Drawn & Quarterly’s 2009 titles (value: $450)
• a selection of new and recent Fantagraphics Books releases (value: $450)
• complete set of TOON Books (value: $150)
• $100 Think Coffee Gift Card
• artwork featured in slideshow on partners’ websites

Second Prize

• complimentary Continuing Education class at School of Visual Arts (value $470)
• a selection of signed Drawn & Quarterly books (value $90)
• “I Don’t Like to Read” TOON Books basket (value: $70)
• a selection of new and recent Fantagraphics Books releases (value: $50)
• $100 Think Coffee Gift Card
• artwork featured in slideshow on partners’ websites

Third Prize

• DaVinci Artist Supply Gift Card (value $300)
• “Beginning Reader” TOON books basket (value: $70)
• a selection of signed Drawn & Quarterly books (value $50)
• a selection of new and recent Fantagraphics Books releases (value: $50)
• $100 Think Coffee Gift Card
• artwork featured in slideshow on partners’ websites

20 Finalists will receive a Strand tote bag filled with Fantagraphics & TOON Books gifts and a $20 Strand gift card.

r. sikoryak's tote for the strand!

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