Going Graphic

June 5, 2012Leave a comment

Love this idea of the graphic cannon. No, not the cannon of graphic novels–these are works in the literary cannon that have been made into graphic art. Aside from being totally awesome, it sounds like The Graphic Canon: The World’s Great Literature as Comics and Visuals would be a great way for teachers to get reluctant readers interested in the classics.

Candlewick also has graphic versions of classics like Moby Dick and The Merchant of Venice, which are fantastic. Works like these might not replace the standard text version, but I think they’re an awesome accompaniment.

(image: Beowulf illustrated by Gareth Hinds, via The Atlantic)

Forest of Books

June 4, 2012Leave a comment

If you’re like me, you probably have more than a few stacks of books around your home. For a prettier way to wrangle them, check out these lovely bookends by Garth Borovicka:

Books and tiny trees? I’m sold. Check out his Etsy shop here.

(image: Garth Borovicka)(via babble)

The Art of Self-Help

May 30, 2012Leave a comment

I love artist Kent Rogowski’s Everything I Wish I Could Be, which uses self-help books to explore communication and development. An example from this collection:

Make sure to check out the rest of the collection as well. I also really like Rogowski’s Bears, which uses inside-out teddy bears.

(via Design Crush)

All the Literary Devices You Need to Know

May 29, 2012Leave a comment

Who’s using their Foreshadow Puppets today?:

Also, Onomatopoeia Engine would be an awesome band name. Musicians, get on that.

(image: Incidental Comics)

Books and Bell Jars

May 28, 2012Leave a comment

Love this use of books as decor:

It reminds me of an old laboratory or curiosity shop. Very cool!

(image: Therese Maring for Apartment Therapy)

Fashion Meets Function for Writers

May 24, 2012Leave a comment

When I was in eighth grade, I went to Montreal on a class trip. While I was there, I got a necklace–a simple chain with a book charm. It was really cheap, but the book opened so I was infatuated. “That’s perfect for you!” my friend said. I quickly parted with a few Canadian bills. Now I had a necklace that showed off how much of a writer I was. The world would know!

Obviously I’m still not quite over that, because I dig these book necklaces by Peg and Awl.

I love the red tie around this one. Plus you can actually write in the pages–just in case a story idea strikes and your regular notebook is elsewhere.

(image: Peg and Awl)

In My Room

May 24, 2012Leave a comment

Really intrigued by photographer Rania Matar’s project, “A Girl and Her Room,” which features photographs of teen girls and their bedrooms from around the world. About her photographs, Matar says:

“I was discovering a person on the cusp of becoming an adult, but desperately holding on to the child she barely outgrew, a person on the edge of two worlds and trying to adjust to the person she is turning into.”

Since most of my characters tend to be teen girls, Matar’s photos made me think about their rooms and how their stuff reflects that balance between adulthood and childhood. Might be a good character exercise to write down all the things that are in a character’s room and why they’re there.

Incidentally, my bedroom as a teen was kind of a mess. I hated the pink wallpaper I’d had since I was five (not that I ever liked it) and tried to cover it up with movie posters, pictures of friends, collages I’d made, and lists of quotes I liked. Nothing came together well–probably a reflection of that childhood/adulthood dynamic.

(image: Rania Matar, via Newsweek)

A Fairer House Than Prose: Emily Dickinson and The Little White House Project

May 22, 2012Leave a comment

This is way cooler than my high school English projects. Deerfield Academy student Peter Krasznekewic has constructed 34 small houses, all made from sustainable materials and all bearing a line from an Emily Dickinson poem. His “Little White House Project” is featured on the grounds of the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst.

Jane Wald, executive director of the Dickinson museum, says:

“When Peter first came to me, it was clear he was thinking about the wider Pioneer Valley. Part of the concept was integrating it with the bigger landscape…The museum has been working to figure out how to connect Emily’s poetry to other art forms and artists, and maybe find an edgy way to do that.”

So excited to hear that teens like Peter and looking for ways to both appreciate art and create their own, while also connecting to their communities. The exhibit will be up until June 30; it’s free and open to the public. Good excuse to make the trip out to Amherst!

Read the rest of the article for more info on Peter and his project.

(H/T: NCBLA)(image: Emily Dickinson Museum)

Whale in the Woods

May 18, 2012Leave a comment

Under the heading of generally awesome, a series of life-size whale sculptures in the forests of Argentina:

The project, My Family Dead is by Argentinian artist Adrián Villar Rojas. I feel like this would be an awesome inspiration for a story.

(via Colossal)(via Design Crush)

Pulling Back the Covers

May 17, 2012Leave a comment

You need to check out Kate Hart’s post about YA covers from 2011. Awesome graphics and information.

She also takes a good look at minority representation on covers. Not surprisingly, there’s barely any. Also:

“But hey! Only about 6.6% of our girls appear to be dead this year! Which is… still more than our POC representation! But only 1% are actively drowning! So… that’s… kind of a win?”

Curious to see if dead girls still dominate in 2012 and 2013. And can filigree maintain its hold as hottest cover design element?

Thanks to Kate for such an awesome resource!

Annie Cardi

Category: Design