Posted by: stuart (45 posts)
October 22, 2008 4:53 PM

I was given practically free reign to design a whole wrap around book jacket for a novel that documents the author's travels around Romania and the gypsies that he meets. If you dream of never seeing cars and wish you could live without this thar internet thing, this book is for you!

Posted by: keegan (155 posts)
11:50 AM

I just got my copy of Patrick McNeil's excellent new book The Web Designer's Idea Book. Patrick runs designmeltdown.com which if you haven't checked it out is a deep, rich vein of design ideas from websites around the world. Patrick has categorized hundreds of sites based on theme, style and function on his site, which he has translated into print for his book.

I am lucky enough to have a screenshot of my humble, aging portfolio website jonkeegan.com featured on page 36 (itty-bitty, tucked away into the corner).

Thanks Patrick for including my site in your book, and for creating such an excellent design resource!

Posted by: stuart (45 posts)
September 24, 200812:55 PM

An image for the next issue of the Color Ink Book. And when I finished it, I just had to colour it in! That's what it's for... (to U.S. readers, "color" is spelt differently in the U.K.)

Posted by: stuart (45 posts)
12:51 PM

An image for "Número A", a 'zine printed in Argentina by "Dos Fuerzas".

Posted by: stuart (45 posts)
July 23, 2008 2:06 PM

Week of the zines:

An image for the folks at crayonlegs.com who are doing a 'zine about "Facial Hair".

An image for a zine put together by some Kingston students called "This is it". This is for the "Fun" themed issue. I can't think of anything more fun than flying a kite whilst wearing a bear skin.
I'm also featured in issue five of Document's +1 magazine. You can pick it up for free at hip and with it boutiques or download it as a PDF zine from plus1mag.com .

Posted by: stuart (45 posts)
2:03 PM

I'm extremely happy to announce that I will be working on a new separate comic book that will (eventually) be published by Blankslate Books. Blankslate is a new independent publisher set up by Kenny Penman and James Hamilton, founders of Forbidden Planet international. At the moment I'm still bouncing around some ideas and have just started to sketch to get a feel for how I want to tell the story. I plan to start working on finished artwork by the beginning of September. In the meantime, go check out the Blankslate blog for it's imminent publishing schedule- they've got some rad stuff planned...

Posted by: kerry (81 posts)
July 11, 2008 7:00 AM

Recently I read two excellent graphic novels by the Italian comics creator Gipi. Both Garage Band and Notes For A War Story tell small yet compelling stories through rich characters and gorgeous art. While the characters are simply drawn, the landscapes they inhabit are intricate and impressive. Executed in pencils and watercolor, many panels are mini masterpieces. Above is my own watercolor cityscape inspired by his.

Gipi has his own blog. It is in Italian and you can see it here.

Posted by: stuart (45 posts)
April 26, 2008 8:13 AM

This is an image I made for a small edition art book that collects together a bunch of cool artists from all over the world that are influenced by eastern european aesthetics/folk lore. The image itself is based on an idea I've got floating around my head about a florist and his wife. More soon when the book is available...

Posted by: stuart (45 posts)
April 7, 2008 8:00 AM

Here's another preview page from the book proposal I'm working on at the moment... Since last week's post, I have been asked to contribute to uber cool comics site Partyka and have been featured in another Serbian magazine article, this time in
Slovo Magazine- which again I can't read because it's in Serbian.

Posted by: stuart (45 posts)
March 31, 2008 9:32 AM

Here's a page from a comic I'm working on at the moment about two brothers growing up in Serbia during WWII. Don't hold your breath though- it might be a wee while before it finds way out into the paper world. A serbian newspaper called "Vesti" found out about the way my Serbian heritage has shaped my work and featured an article about me last week. The only problem is, I cant read it because I can't read or write Serbian- doh.

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
August 16, 2007 9:15 AM

recently, i finished making 120 (phew!) custom mini-calendars for a california wedding. thanks invisibleman! (as i was found through here to get this fun project) and contratulations to the bride and groom. : )

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
July 25, 200711:01 AM

i was long overdue for a new sketchbook, so last night i made this. ive been noticing and obsessing over clouds lately... my dad was a huge fan of them. he used to take rolls of film of them... so i guess this is a recent self-portrait in a way...

the bookcloth is from papersource. i really wish there were one of these in philly. the binding is a "4 needle coptic". I've only done that once before, but i think the result is pretty nice and simple. the inside paper juts out from underneath the covers. i'm not sure if i like it, but i wanted to try it. (i usually like it on other books.)

the other bottom 2 photos show the rest of my sketchbook making "ritual." i always create a notes/calendar section in the back and i always write the "d.o.b." in the front. bookmaking is so rewarding.

ps stay tuned for > new studio < information. here's a peak at the new space that my friend brian and i will be sharing. it's in this philadelphia landmark building. fun fun!!!

Posted by: eric (24 posts)
July 9, 200711:26 PM

"While waiting on the platform for your subway train, quietly stand right behind an unsuspecting pigeon. As the train pulls into the station, give the bird a good heave-ho onto the tracks."

This is a collage/drawing I did for the book, Canceled Flight: 101 Tried and True Pigeon Killin' Methods. Don't worry, it was a vehicle for artists, not really a manual for the destruction of flying rats.

Although, people didn't always get the joke. The author received hate mail from protestors who hadn't even seen the book. And, one Barnes and Noble fanned the flames by accidently putting it in the kids' section. Oops.

I felt honored just to be published in the company of some of my favorite artists, including kozyndan and Ryan McGinness. But then, the original artwork from the book was exhibited in a travelling gallery show.

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
December 22, 2006 6:42 PM

they're back again. the 2007 bzdesignstuff handmade mini pocket calendars. you can order via paypal or email me to order. colors are subject to availability... so please specify a first and second color choice. colors avaiable are: lt pink, dk pink, pale blue, cyan blue, purple, kraft brown and charcoal. happy holidays everybody! :)

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
February 12, 2006 2:44 PM

the 2 inch show is finally up and online. i hope these books will inspire you as they have me. i have been given many compliments on the show. thanks to everyone (over 50 people!) who participated.

see all the books/prints here and here are a few pictures of the books on display at the university of the arts

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
January 24, 200611:28 AM

it's been too long since i have posted. here is my latest sketchbook and a detail of the cover art. it is so satisfying making a case bound book. hopefully i'll have some of what's inside it to share next.

ps i agree w keegan on the moma/pixar show. it's amazing to see such fun, innovative works created with gouache and colored pastel!

also - please consider submitting a book or print to my 2" show...

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
January 3, 200611:43 PM

call for art and aritists!

with my love for all things small - i am curating a 2 inch (or smaller) book + printmaking exhibition.

please please submit some mini books or prints! i am looking for a range of work and am excited to see what posting this here will bring. i know the time frame is short, but after all, 2 inches is quite small...

here are a few sites for inspiration:
the miniature book society
art on paper - a great magazine
fun comix 'n books
here's how to make a really simple book. it's one of my favorite ways!
small books exchange
philobiblon - the book arts web

happy new year and happy book and printmaking! :)

email zuckee@mac.com for more information or with any questions.

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
December 11, 2005 1:34 PM

here is my fun little 2006 pocket calendar.

i sold 20 of them at the center for book arts holiday fair yesterday. now i need to make another batch for the uarts "book party" which is thursday.

they are $5 (+ $1 s/h) if anyone wants one, send me an email. (theres a chance i may not be able to ship it till after the 25th...but it'll still be good for all next year!) :)

Posted by: kerry (81 posts)
November 30, 2005 4:41 PM

Many of you may already be aware of Steve Mumford. Lately he has been getting a TON of press, both on TV and in print. Until this week I'd never heard of him.

As the Boston Globe reported:

"During 2003 and 2004, Mumford traveled on his own to occupied Iraq four times to chronicle military and civilian life. He made hundreds of sketches and kept a journal; entries were posted at Artnet.com, an online magazine. Now his writings and paintings have been collected in a book, Baghdad Journal, from Drawn and Quarterly publishers."

I am VERY impressed. The skill Mr. Mumford displays across a diversity of mediums and scale of imagery is staggering. I long to see his work in person. Until then I'd happily settle for getting the "Baghdad Journal : An Artist in Occupied Iraq" for Christmas. Anyone feeling generous?

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
November 27, 2005 6:01 PM

* it is so hard to photograph books... but here's my somewhat distorted solution :)

* this is my 30th "official" sketchbook since starting count in 1995. the cover uses imagery inspired by my "5 senses" prints. for this image i just played around with the images on silkscreens and i only "registered" where i wanted to.

* the binding is a coptic binding / single needle link stitch.

* for the inside pages, i used a variety of graph papers as well as some english and japanese alphabet practice paper.

Posted by: keegan (155 posts)
November 20, 2005 1:38 AM

One of the things on my to do list the past few weeks (umm...years?) has been to make some of my own sketchbooks with all of the nice paper I had imported from London's Faulkiner Fine Papers. They used to sell the BEST sketchbooks, the "Rivoli", when I studied in London back in the early 90's. At some point, the fellow who made them went out of business, and they haven't been seen since.

My efforts to recreate the glory of these sketchbooks have been mocked for years...But now that I have been schooled in the foundations of flatback case bookbinding (Thanks Nancy Loeber & CBA!), and I am in possession of a large stock of Rives' "Artist" paper (the successor to the famed Rivoli paper used in Falkiner's sketchbooks), the moment is soon approaching.

I am making a batch of these sketchbooks, as kind of a "beta" release to see how they hold up in the field. I'm reasonably sure that I screwed all of these up to a certain degree by gauging the paper grain's direction wrong. Any errors in these sketchbooks will be corrected in future versions!

These books currently consist of a series of signatures of paper stitched togerther (Herringbone stitch), with the endpapers and book-cloth hinges sewn on. The next crucial step is a meeting with the mighty and unforgiving guillotine at CBA, where they will all be chopped into neat, flush proto-books. Then I need to build their cases with binder's board and cover them with bookcloth. Then these neatly chopped text blocks will then be glued into their cases, ready for finishing.

I was quite delighted to see so many posts late on a Saturday night, that I had to post a shot of these books in their naked, pre-case state. When importing the photos, I thought it wise to make an alternating "poor-man's-3D" view of the books, as I am fairly drunk after returning from a neighbor's fun party. Enjoy.

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
November 14, 2005 1:19 PM

here are some pictures from "excerpt".

i am waiting to get some better pictures which were taken by my friend olivia, but in the meantime here is a little preview of what was installed. i hope posting them here will inspire me to continue working with the apartment and their contents...

see the images here

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
November 1, 2005 1:43 PM

these are images from my "i believe in coffee" book and this is my first gif animation :)

Posted by: bz (54 posts)
October 20, 200510:26 PM

here i am super busy in grad school. our show opens tomorrow! if any one is in philly. :)
(i'll post some pix of my works after i take them. my circle is the 1st one on the bottom row...)

ps i saw chip kidd, chris ware and charles burns speak at the philadelphia free library tonight. good stuff...

Posted by: keegan (155 posts)
May 13, 2005 6:35 PM

Well I just finsihed up my first ten-week course at the Center For Book Arts. The CBA was recommended to me by the master book artist herself, Barb Zuckerman (make sure you check out her TRULY amazing books).

I took Bookbinding I with Nancy Loeber, and I thoroughly enjoyed the class. Bookbinding is one of those step-by-step crafts that requires an enormous amount of first-hand observation of someone who knows what they're doing (and my instructor Nancy clearly does...she was very helpful and patient– highly recommended!). There are many little tips and tricks that would be very hard to understand from the written word, or from a flat diagram - especially the stitches.

I made three books (each with a healthy assortment of mistakes and blemishes) and a cloth-bound case for my current sketchbook (complete with a handy compartment for my drawing tools). I joined as a member at the CBA, and will be periodically renting studio space so I can continue to hone my skills, and make some nice sketchbooks with my Rives Artist paper, fresh from Faulkiner Fine Papers in London (thanks Danielle!).

I whole-heartedly recommend checking out some of the classes at the CBA. It's such a cool workshop with tons of ancient, poweful (and deadly) machines, you will want to poke around and see what everyone is working on. They offer classes in all sorts of bookbinding, case making, letterpress, printmaking and typesetting.

Link: Center for Book Arts | Upcoming classes

Posted by: keegan (155 posts)
May 5, 2005 8:38 PM

You can now pre-order "The Lambkins" by Eve Bunting on Amazon. This is the HarperCollins-published book that I did my first book cover for (Click here to see a large version). I also did a few black and white spots for the interior. Good for young teens, shrinking children and crazy old ladies with dollhouses.

Also, I have posted my ill-fated illo that was killed at finish just the other day.