A kitsch atlas book

This illustrations was used on a postcard for Thomson-Shore, a publisher in Dexter, Michigan to promote their booth at the London Book Fair in 2011.  The job came to me from the fabulous people at Inner Circle Media in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

 

When the project was described to me I immediately thought of the flat, graphic styles of the late 1950's/ 1960's.  I decided to try sketching it up in Adobe Illustrator for two reasons.  One I am not comfortable drawing directly in Illustrator, which would force me to keep the shapes simple, and two I could focus on color and design.  Fortunately they loved the sketch.  Several adjustments later and voila!

Words to Mull & Cull #5 - Clouds (Preliminary)

I had two illustration projects come up this week, which is a rare thing for me.  When it rains it pours!  Ha!  This is why I wouldn't make it as a gag writer.  So settle for a WTM&C sketch this week.

Words to Mull & Cull #4 - Nurture Faith in a Neighborhood of Fear

Words to Mull & Cull #3 - Stand Up Tall

I bought a Mother Jones magazine early last year mostly for the number of great illustrations from some big name illustrators.  It happened to have a very entertaining interview with Timm Gunn of Project Runway, which is where I got this idea from.  You can read it here in his response to the first question.

Words to Mull & Cull #2 - Take a Walk

Words to Mull & Cull #1 - Lend Your Ear

Words to Mull & Cull - The Introduction

Dear friends,
"Words to Mull & Cull" is a new cartoon/webcomic/call-it-what-you-will series I'm starting.  My plan is to post at least one a week but hopefully more.  From what I have in my sketchbook so far the focus is on friendly advice, philosophy, facts and non-sense. 

I decided to limit the size to a single panel newspaper comic. I'm trying to use minimal preliminary drawings and going straight to brush and ink.  One reason is speed.  Another is to keep a sense of spontaneity and to try and get into a zen state.  For now I'm sticking to a limited color pallet reminiscent of vintage newspaper comics or Japanese woodblock prints.  I scanned a page from an old paperback to give a sense of age and provide some texture.

I hope you'll find something to mull on. Then, as cull implies, save what you want and discard the rest.

Warm regards,
Big Tall Ken