New to the Collection:
Book & Magazine Reviews
Spring 2024 Clerk Reviews:
The Latest & Greatest from the MIAD Library!
This set of books collect a series of essays and articles about early American furniture design aesthetics and functionality, and how they were appreciated and used in day-to-day life.
Anybody looking for references for historical furniture, particularly early American interiors, will find this series useful. These books contain a collection of clear, detailed photographs and analysis. Illustrators interested in these eras of design would also enjoy these volumes.
LaneyAmerican Art - Fall 2023 - Vol. 27 no. 3
This issue covrs multiple instances of copyright history, and showcases a number of historical precedents for different instances, like animals holding rights to photographs.
With contemporary concerns about AI art and copyrght, I think that this issue in particular is relevant to any artist or designer who wants to brush up on historical cases of similar things.
A beautiful guide with color photographs featuring Wisconsin's bird species. Contains an introduction to each species, its habitat, birdsong text, and even tips on when and where to see each kind of bird throughout the year!
Birds are such a beautiful part of our world and they should be appreciated by everyone!
MelodyNational Geographic - January 2018 - Why Birds Matter issue
This issue of National Geographic goes into facts about birds, including endangered and extinct species.
On a personal note: this book was an extreme amount of help during my first year at MIAD.
In my Freshmen History Class (Intro to the Practice of Art & Design History), I set myself out to research the great artist Loïs Mailou Jones and her art piece, "The Ascent of Ethiopia" (1932). Luckily...this book has not only that same exact artwork, big and up front to see, but a great description of both the work and the artist by Carole Genshaft. The next pages even show more of Loïs Mailou Jones' work.
This level of detail is consistent across the book, but not sooo much that it becomes uncomfortable to read. In fact, it has a lot art/images to accompany the text. You'll enjoy this book, whether for research...or for leisure.
Who might find this of particular interest? First & Second Year History. Or if you want to research some beautiful artwork, poetry/lit, music, and partially relive one of the most bustling times in America.
BrandonImagineFX - August 2018 - Superstars of Manga
Welcome to...
No.1 For Digital Artist
ImagineFX
"Regular readers will know that we're not just here to help you with art techniques and guidance. We also love to share insight into how you can improve in other ways, whether it's about how to fight you inner negativity, or make better use of social media." - Claire Howlett
There is A LOT in this magazine. If you begin to read the entire publication, you start to realize each issue has an abundance of info.
In this particular issue (quick SNEAK PEAK):
p12-21: covers the thoughts behind a lot artists' work
p23: covers one of my favorite artist - Ilya Kusvshinov (also covers what it takes to be a "manga" artist
p26: "When history and sci-fi COLLIDE"..."History reimagined: A classical painting style and setting is infused with sci-fi elements in the hands of Polish artist Jakub Różalski"
p54: Toni Infante (freelance illustrator and comic artist from Spain) demos a workshop that..."taps into the influence of Akira, and uses colour, contrast and composition to create a striking cover image.
p50: Sketchbook art by Sai Foo.
10 Kick-Ass Careers for Storytellers
By Eve Weston
By Eve Weston
Request here
A great book for storytellers who are interested in how to use their skills for different industries such as: Animation, Pod Casts, Video Games, Artificial Intelligence, etc.
Who might find this of particular interest? I think this book could work for any storytellers interested in finding a job having to do with stories. This book interviews pioneers from industries telling their stories on how they got work from the stories they made.
EmilyCharacter Design Quarterly, 26, March| June| September| December 2023
The 26th issue of character design quarterly is full of amazing artists sharing their stories on their careers. The magazine is also full of character design from humans to animals and the full art process on how they got there.
Anyone from the illustration major would love this magazine if they were interested in developing or rendering their character designs, as this magazine has artists Ben Eblen and Alex Jensen showing step by step process on how they made the character's for this months issue.
Identity and History in Non-Anglophone Comics
By Harriet E.H. Earle & Martin Lund
By Harriet E.H. Earle & Martin Lund
Request here
Lack of scholarly attention to works published in languages other than English, especially with no translations, plagues essentially every topic and discipline. Comics are no exception, and this book aims to address the gap created in comics studies by works that have not seen an English translation, but that are every bit a valuable and vital to the discussion of world comics. This is a largely text-heavy and academic discussion of comics, but the essays are broken into very accessible bite-sized chunks.
Who might find this of particular interest? People interested in comics, and also interested in the international comics art scene, and the medium of comics as a means to address culture, politics, and life.
RyanNew American Paintings 166 June/July
New American Paintings is always a great spread of contemporary artists, this issue being no exception. I especially enjoyed Troy Dugas, Monica Kim Garza, and Nicolas Lambelet Coleman from this issue.
Anyone who is interest in the painting scene in American art, perhaps students interested in what paintings are in certain publications, what galleries artists are exhibiting paintings like this at, or just people who enjoy browsing cool paintings.
Fall 2023 Clerk Reviews:
The Latest & Greatest from the MIAD Library!
Creating Characters for the Entertainment Industry
By Kenneth Anderson, Devon Cady-Lee, Cecile Carre, & Hollie Mengert
By Kenneth Anderson, Devon Cady-Lee, Cecile Carre, & Hollie Mengert
Request here
This book goes in depth on how characters are made based on its purpose in either the game, illustration, and animation industry.
Illustration majors, aspiring character designers, and concept artists will find this book interesting as it explains in detail the process for creating characters based on the industry they wish to be apart of. This book also explains the need for character brief's, the design process, as well as how to present and process feedback.
EmilyCharacter Design Quarterly
Vol. 26, March - December 2023
Vol. 26, March - December 2023
This magazine does interviews with illustrators and character designers about the field as well as answer how they deal with struggles familiar to all artists. The artists in this magazine all do character design prompts and show original work.
Illustration majors, aspiring character designers, and concept artists will find this magazine interesting as it explains in detail the process for creating characters. This magazine looks into the mind of designers in the field.
Push Your Creativity: Reimagining Fairy Tales Through Illustration
By 3D Total Publishing
By 3D Total Publishing
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"Discover multiple renditions of five well-known tales, from research and sketches to rendering and revisions. Informative step-by-step tutorials, techniques and tips by professional illustrators and expert concept artist that will help push your illustration skills to new heights. Learn what makes an effective fantasy illustration and compare different artists' vision side by side".
A good example to explain the depth of information given in this book...is to look at the first study:
Little Red Riding Hood - Red Rinding Hood Versus The Wolf By Ahmed Rawi......
_.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._.._
-Begins with the Rawi's personal connection to Little Red Riding Hood
-Re-sketches the story through thumbnails...but exaggerates moments for artistic freedom
-Whiteboard Quick thoughts
-Development of Little Red's character
-Choosing a Key moment
-Base Sketch
-Defining Characters
-Introducing Light color
-Editing along the way
-Color/light temperature and "Putting thoughts into Detail"
-Refining Lighting, Story-telling objects, and mood
-Finishing Touches
This books explains a good bit: )
Great book for Illustration Major (including Animation Track) - shows step-by-step illustrative process of research, discovery, story and color composition...and includes ways to show thematic resolutions, points of view, etc.
Brandon
Louis Wain's Cats by Chris Beetles
By Chris Beetles
By Chris Beetles
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'Louis Wain invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world'. Broadcast in 1925 by H.G. Wells, these words characteristically foretold the future of the Wain cat which has, once more, become the century's most recognizable image in cat art. During their heyday, in the time before the First World War, Louis Wain's cats, dressed as humans, portrayed that stylish Edwardian world having fun: at restaurants and tea parties, going to the Race and the Seaside, celebrating at Christmas and Birthdays, and disporting themselves with exuberant games of tennis, bowls, cricket and football. This is a titillating world of cats at play, uninhibited and slightly dangerous, with most group activities likely to turn into mishap, mayhem and catastrophe. This is Wain's world, funny, edgy and animated: a whole cat world. The first comprehensive exhibition of Wain's work was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1972 and, since then, Louis Wain has steadily become more fashionable, and collected worldwide. This biography contains 300 plates of richness and variety, all of which are reproduced faithfully from the original artwork.
Everyone should know and love Louis Wain. If you are a fan of his work you should check out this book, if you're unfamiliar with his work you should check out his work, and if you're a fan of Benedict Cumberbatch you should check out the movie "The Electrical Life of Louis Wain" then come back and check out this book because he's quoted saying, "this book is a joy, an inspiration and as thorough a document into understanding the life and times of Louis Wain as one could hope to read".
KellyNew American Paintings 165 Apr/May
The Open Studios Press was founded in 1993 as a vehicle for facilitating contact between artists and art enthusiasts. To date, our critically acclaimed periodical, New American Paintings, has featured the work of more than three thousand painters from throughout the United States, many of whom have gone on to receive international attention. The publication benefits artists and viewers alike. While included painters receive international exposure, those with an interest in contemporary painting are provided with an invaluable resource for discovering new artistic talent. New American Paintings is a juried exhibition-in-print. Each museum-quality issue results from a highly selective juried competition and presents the work of forty painters. Thousands of artists enter our competitions every year, but only a limited number make it through the jurying process. We work closely with renowned curators in order to select those artists whose work deserves to be seen by a wider audience. Unlike other art publications, New American Paintings does not discriminate by style or yield to art-world trends.
If you're interested in contemporary painting at all you should check out this periodical! As a painter I find it very insightful to see what curators are interested in throughout America and who could be up in coming in the fine art world.
Color Design Workbook : A Real-World Guide to Using Color in Graphic Design
By Adams Morioka & Terry Stone
By Adams Morioka & Terry Stone
Request here
A book that shows the fundamentals of color in a real-world perspective from other designers. Gives an explanation regarding the importance of choosing the right color in order to have a successful design.
Communication Design = This books explains and gives good tips for beginner designer in order to have success when staring to choose colors and a base mood for a design. The book also goes into the basics of graphic design and it's principals giving some real world examples and how and why are they a good example.
MelodyCharacter Design Quarterly / Issue 26
CDQ is a magazine that collects different illustrations and pieces of several artists giving tips, process ideas and even explains the importance of color and studies in order to get a good final product.
Understanding color and how to be successful when using it in order to make something that can give emotion and get peoples attention is a challenge. The CDQ magazines are such a great and amazing resource that collects different artists tips for other people to learn and get inspired. Color theory is shown by the use of color studies and the process that takes in order to get the right and final selection.
To Be Seen: Queer Lives 1900-1950
Edited by K. Kühn & M. Triendl-Zadoff
Edited by K. Kühn & M. Triendl-Zadoff
Request here
Focused mainly on queer people living in Germany from 1900-1950, this exhibition aims to show the lives of people living prior to the rise of the Nazi party, and then directly following it. Much of this history has been deliberately destroyed, or else kept quiet and not widely distributed. The book also features contemporary art, and essays both on historical context, and modern conections.
People interested in queer history in Europe, specifically Germany in the early half of the 20th century.
Ryan
Funk You Too! Humor and Irreverence in Ceramic Sculpture
by Garth Johnson
by Garth Johnson
Request here
This book is a museum catalogue that highlights different artists and their work in the ceramics medium.
Anyone in NSP might like this book! it's a collection of colorful and humorous artworks that might be a source of inspiration.
LaneyAnimation Magazine June/July 2023
This volume contains interviews about some of the recent animated movies that have come out, like Nimona and Spiderverse. Since it's been such a good year for animation, this magazine has a lot of incredible resources for people trying to learn more about the industry.
Animation and illustration majors will find this helpful! It's a very visual magazine, and it can help shout out newer projects in the animation world.
The Fundamentals of Printed Textile Design: Second Edition
by Alex Russell
by Alex Russell
Request here
This book covers just about everything you would need to know about textile design! From the history of textile design, mechanization of printing methods, work process and job opportunities as a surface designer, The Fundamentals of Printed Textile Design is the first resource you should use as an artist interested in surface design.
Anyone in any major with an interest in surface design should use this book. Want to create designs as an Illustration or CD major for textiles? Use this book! Want to learn printing processes for fabric as an NSP or Fashion major? Use this book! Just want to know how your favorite shirt was made? Use This Book!
WyattPrintmaking Today Vol. 32 / Issue 125 / Spring 2023
This issue of Printmaking Today features profiles on artists Guo Shang, Alberta Whittle, Nicci Haynes and Robert Kipniss in an effort to showcase modern printmakers. Different techniques such as viscosity printing are talked about, as well as possible problems that would change how printmakers work such as AI.
This periodical is intended for people with a moderate knowledge of printmaking, but could be a useful start for anyone interested in picking up the medium.
GET IMPRESSED: The Revival of Letterpress and Handmade Type
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GET IMPRESSED! Talks about the newfound love for handwritten type, with a focus on letterpress technology from the even earlier days of calligraphy. This book has a catalogue of handmade letterpress type made in the modern day, as well as interviews with contemporary typographers.
From the surface, many of those within the communication design field would love this book, as it contains a historical outlook of the development of type since its early days in China. However, letterpress is considered a wide activity loved by illustrators, book-makers, librarians, printmakers, etc. Anyone with an interest in design, its limitations by the machine and the way we bend those rules, would love to see how far its come and GET IMPRESSED!
TamarLetter Arts Review 37:2
Letters Arts Review prioritizes a collection of handwritten letterform as well as development of linguistic mark-making. Throughout the issue of April 4th, LAR focuses on Kristoffel Boudens and Sue Huffon, as well as an early look at Japanese letterform made in the Nara and Edo period.
Anyone with a piqued interest in history and typography could find inspiration from a catalogue of pieces that find appreciation for the early development of letter.
Survey of Historic Costume (7th Edition)
Phyllis G. Tortora & Sara B. Barcketti
Request here
A breakdown of primarily Western (Western European, American) fashion from antiqutry to the 2010s. Presented in textbook format, it gives a good overview and jumping off point for further research.
Anyone particularly interested in historic fashion- especially the early middle ages- 19th century in European and American fashion would really enjoy this book, I believe. The book really shines once they are able to get into the decade to decade trends of the 17-1800s and onward.
RyanAmerican Indian, Volume 24, Number 2, Summer 2023
This month's issue highlights improved internet connections on tribal land, Taino language revitalization, cyclists Neilson and Shayna Powless, Water scarcity and the San Juan river, Powwows and community building post pandemic restrictions, artists Shelley Niro, potter Karen Charley, and rising water levels effect on the Guna people.
Anyone with an interest in contemporary native art, news, issues, and this issue particularly highlights the effects of water scarcity, and water levels as they effect indigenous communities.
Girls Garage
Emily Pilloton
Request here
Not sure which screws to buy? Need to fix a running toilet? With Girls Garage, you'll have the expertise to tackle these problems with your own hands. Or maybe you want to get creative and build something totally new. A birdhouse? A bookshelf? Girls Garage has you covered. Packed with illustrations that will build confidence for your next hardware store run, practical advice on everything from quick fixes to safety tips, and inspiring stories from real-world builder girls and women, this eye-catching volume makes the technical accessible. This is the guide everyone needs to take her life into their own hands. Get in touch with your inner badass, and get building!
If you're reading this, I'm looking at you. If you are scared of the 3D lab, you should read this book. I would say 90% of the MIAD students I've interacted with have said they're nervous to use the 3D lab and I would say this book would be an excellent starting point to not only becoming more comfortable with stuff like woodworking, but also opening yourself to the possibilities of what you can take into your own hands!
KellyInks The Journal of Comic Studies Society Volume 7 Issue 1 Spring 2023
This magazine features scholarly research on sequential art, graphic narrative, and cartooning. The journal brings together scholarly essays, archival materials, and conversations with leading comics professionals. Inks highlights scholarship from a wide range of academic disciplines and engages all periods of comic history, with both a US and an international comics focus.
Illustration students and anyone with an interest into deeper, scholarly discussion around silly comics. This magazine asks questions around aspects of the classic comic strip that most people wouldn't think twice about such as why comics use frames and what a frameless comic affects how it's story's interpreted. And you should want to read about it cause learning is cool!
Spring 2023 Clerk Reviews:
The Latest & Greatest from the MIAD Library!
Pests
Bethany Brookshire
Request here!
An engrossing and revealing study of why we deem certain animals "pests" and others not--from cats to rats, elephants to pigeons--and what this tells us about our own perceptions, beliefs, and actions, as well as our place in the natural world. At the intersection of science, history, and narrative journalism, Pests is not a simple call to look closer at our urban ecosystem. It's not a natural history of the animals we hate. Instead, this book is about us. It's about what calling an animal a pest says about people, how we live, and what we want. It's a story about human nature and how we categorize the animals in our midst, including bears and coyotes, sparrows and snakes. Pet or pest? In many cases, it's entirely a question of perspective.
KellyPests explores the stories of human perception of and interaction with animals that society calls "pests," and what these say about us. Brookshire's in depth research and playful style of writing makes this an engaging look into human nature.
This book might appeal to any MIAD River Rat who sympathizes with the underdog animals, and wants to explore more about how this system of classifications reflect human society as well.
LaneyAn in-depth look at how humans anthropomorphize animal life and place our morals onto them, Brookshire explores the relationships and history of humanity (and those we call "pests"), explaining how it speaks about us as people than their natural habits. Entertaining, well researched, PESTS discusses the philosophical aspect of man vs. nature, with pests being the forefront of it all.
Anyone interested in ecology and natural sciences, as well as anthropology will enjoy this book. Although it is less pictures and more word, such ideology can help explore how we regard nature in our works as well as in our society.
Tamar
Taking the form of a composition notebook, this comic goes over Lynda Barry's first three years teaching a UW-Madison course on keeping a creative notebook. We see not only her thought process going into teaching but examples of her students' work as well.
Anyone familiar with Barry's other work will be interested in reading this but if you want to look more into unconventional, multi-media comics you should check this out!
WyattInks: The Journal of the Comics Studies Society -- Summer 2022 (Vol. 6 Issue 2)
Inks is a magazine dedicated to showcasing academic essays on varous comics-related topics. Two of my favorite articles in this issue are Barbarella: Sexual Revolution or Editorial Revolution and It Was As Much Ours...Reader Contributions to Teen Humor Fashion Comics. Both articles focus on a societal issue/narrative through exploring the history of a comic / comic genre.
Anyone who's interested in comics should read this to gain a deeper insight as to how we view the medium. Art History minors might also find some of these essays interesting to read.
The Hysterical Alphabet
Terri Kapsalis & Gina Litherland
Request here!
A satirical look at our medieval roots to the modern age, the Hysterical Alphabet combines type and illustration to create stories from a single letter. As it says in the title, these stories focus on hysteria and its effect in history, as well as the healing that comes from it.
Anyone will be interested in this book, but perhaps CD and IL students alike, especially those with an interest in humorous logos or literary stories could take inspiration from history with a twist.
TamarJuxtapoz Winter 2023
This issue of Juxtapoz contains interviews of upcoming contemporary artists, such as Genevieve Cohn and Stipan Tadic. Cohn is a feminist artist who specializes in psychedelic, psyho-active paintings, while Tadic features art of urban horror, inspired by his Croatian roots.
If you have a general interest in contemporary art and media, this magazine is perfect! There's events listed as well as insight into how artists find inspiration for their work.
The Eternaut: 1969
H. G. Osterheld
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Based upon the iconic 1950's Argentinian sci-fi novel, Eternaut: 1969 is a graphic novel adaptation ten years later. In Buenos Aires one night, a deadly snow falls and Juan Salvo's household has to band together to survive both the forces of the government and the greater unknown.
Illustration majors, specifically those interested in comics should look at this, with Alberto Breccia's work being the star of the piece. Anyone who is interested in sci-fi/dystopian writing might also find this interesting.
WyattHi Fructose Vol. 64 2022
This issue of Hi Fructose features interviews with Jennnybird Alcantara, Adam Parker Smith and Aaron Robert Baker, to name a few. All of the artists explain their inspirations and the reasoning behind pushing the medium of their choice.
NSP majors will find the more fine art approach to showcasing and interviewing these artists interesting, but all of the artists deal with drastically different mediums & topics so everyone has something to enjoy.
Ghibliotheque: An Unofficial Guide to the Movies of Studio Ghibli
Michael Leader & Jake Cunningham
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A small guide/critique to selected Studio Ghibli ,ovies. This book explains the inspiration, process, and facts of each movie.
Illustration and animation majors will love this book!
Character Design Quarterly no. 12
The Character Design Quarterly magazine features some great artist every issue showing tips, techniques and insights. It's great for inspiration and a good resource to improve and look out for new or better techniques.
I will believe anyone interested in character design or illustration! I usually look at this magazines when im having an art-block to find new artists and ways to do my work!
Three Fingers
As told by Rich Koslowski
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Through a series of never-before-seen interviews and rare photos, documentary-maker Rich Koslowski reveals the horrifying true story behind the Cartoon industry and our most celebrated cartoon actors - the story that Hollywood doesn't want you to see.. Told in the style of a Ken Burns documentary, with interviews of 'toon stars today as well as historical "file footage" of the "early years," you will forever rethink those beloved characters in the white gloves.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes making fun of Disney, enjoys dark humor, and enjoys documentaries about the behind-the-scenes of the Hollywood industry.
HI-FRUCTOSE vol. 64
This issue features: An In Memoriam on Margaret Keane, the anatomical sculptures of Ema Shin, the surreal landscapes of Micah Ofstedahl, Lauren Clay's otherworldly abstract sculptures, Jansson Stegner's bold portrait paintings, cover feature Jennybird Alcantara, a visit to Millo's mural-filled Milloland, classic sculptures remixed by Adam Parker Smith, the drawings of Aaron Robert Baker, Surface Tension: the paintings of Dorielle Caimi, and a review of the deluxe new Mothra record.
Anyone interested in contemporary art and NSP majors would be most interested in this magazine because it showcases new upcoming artists who work in a variety of different mediums and practices while still all being, for lack of a better word, contemporary.
Character Design: Fairy Tales & Folklore
By Imagine FX
Request here!
This book showcases the character design process of different artists as they create illustrations of different fantasy characters, based on fairy tales.
Illustration majors will love this! Each entry in this book breaks down different explanations for what makes a character design successful or unsuccessful in what they are trying to represent. The book shows a variety of styles and inspirations in a sketchbook format. Overall, I think this book is incredibly interesting in terms of what it shows about the artistic process.
Laney
National Geographic October 2022
This magazine focuses on the idea of animal sentience and emotional intelligence. The main article explores different studies and anecdotes about animals displaying empathy. Full of wonderful photographs as well.
If you're an animal or photography lover, you should give this one a read! National Geographic has some of the best nature photography out there. Very interesting article!
Art Nouveau Postcards
By Alain Weill
Request here!
This book is a series of postcards from the art nouveau period showcasing many different styles.
Finn
Cinefex January 2001
Behind the scenes of both the live action "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Red Planet" as well as the process of each creation of both movies.
Animation Track students can use this to better understand the work that goes into creating animation let alone live action movies.
River Rat Recipes
By MIAD Faculty & Staff
Request here!
A great book made by our MIAD staff and faculty members to help us get some great inspiration for cooking our meals! This book contains lot's of great recipes, going from a corn casserole to M&M cookies, fruit pizza, lasagna, ratatouille, etc!
I believe most of students might have at least a small interest in this great book! Trying something new at the time of cooking might be scary. Meal planning is a challenge and more if you are on a budget and don't have an idea on what we are preparing during the week.
Melody
RealSimple January/February 2022
This magazine has some great recipes! Including Frozen strawberry trifle, Tofu bowls, Salami and fennel pizza, Polenta in tomato sauce, and more!
Having new ideas for future meals is always great.
Awake in the Dream World: The Art of Audrey Niffenegger
By Audrey Niffenegger
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Otherworldly, provocative, and strange, Awake in the Dream World channels the looming, historical grimness of the classic fairy tale, illuminating the dichotomy between the real and imagined through the context of fantasy, and bringing to life a macabre ensemble of folkloric characters.
I think this book will peak the interest of students that are interested in combining NSP and Illustration in their practice. It also is a great read for anyone with an interest in early fantasy art and storytelling.
KellyDecember Vol. 33.1 (Spring/Summer 2022)
December is an independent nonprofit literary magazine that was founded in 1958. The journal was part of both the little magazine and the small press movements of the 1950s and was revived in 2012.
I think this journal is great for anyone interested in poetry, craving something quick to read, or just trying to get back into reading.
Dimensional Cloth Sculpture by Contemporary Textile Artists
By Andra F Stanton
Request here!
Sculpture is no longer limited to materials like stone or metal. Sculpting in fabric is shown in ingenious detail here, with more than 350 lavish photographs of 3D cloth configurations, along with insightful profiles of the 78 artists who created them.
This book will definitely pique the interest of any NSP students with a focus in textiles and soft sculpture. With it being such a niche craft, this book explores a surprisingly wide variety of different artists, subjects, and techniques. Whether you have already dabbled in soft sculpture or you've been thinking of trying something new, this book has something for everyone.
KellyHi Fructose Vol. 63
Hi-Fructose focuses squarely on the art which transcends genre and trend, assuring readers through coverage and content that is informative and original. Hi-Fructose showcases an amalgamation of new, contemporary, and emerging, as well as distinguished artists with a spotlight on awe-inspiring spectacles from around the world.
While I think this magazine could be more geared towards NSP or Illustration majors, I genuinely think it will be enjoyed by anyone making art right now. I think it can be hard to find a current magazine that is engaging with what's currently going on in the art world and isn't flooded with boring articles. Hi Fructose feels on the pulse with what's happening with contemporary art and includes a huge variety of artists you might not have heard of before.
Modern Gothic; The Inventive Furniture of Kimbel and Cabus, 1863-82
By Medill Higgins Harvey
Request here!
Two New York furniture makers (Kimbel and Cabus) capitalize on the 19th century European trend of medievalism in both arts and living, and help to introduce the aesthetic to an American market. If you are anything like me, and have an obsession not only with the 15th century gothic, but also the wacky victorian interpretations of it, this book is for you. Not only are the furniture pieces Very Cool, but the majority of the Victorian Gothic materials I have seen have been European, and the American take on the same aesthetic is pretty interesting.
As previously stated if you are a gothic junkie such as myself, but also anyone with an appreciation for the intersection of fine arts and furniture, or anyone who sees an image of an ornamented cabinet and says "Ooh!"
RyanInks; The Journal of Comics Studies Society
What sets this magazine apart from other comics journals is its in-depth dissections of the comics its highlighting. For this issue there's discussions of Nancy A. Collins' work on Swamp thing, Tourist perspective and deconstruction of privilege in Sarah Glidden's How to Understand Israel In 60 Days, narrative and visual symbols and how they show the affects of violence felt after a catastrophe in Art Spiegelman's Maus II, and a graphic interview with Meghan Parker.
Illustration majors with an interest in comics might appreciate the thorough and specific deconstruction of comics, and the sort of alien feeling (at least to me, someone who isn't used to comics being taken seriously) academic seriousness with which they are treated. Also anyone who is interested in Swamp thing, or Maus, or Sarah Glidden and Meghan Parker's work.
Sunny (vol. 4)
By Matsumoto, Taiyō
Request here!
This installment picks up where book three left of, but the series follows the lives and interactions between children living in a foster home, or in-between house. All are there for various reasons, such as a sickness in the family, divorce and custody issues, unreliable parental support. Or any number of other things that would land them in the home either transiently, or until they are old enough to leave. The library now has the complete series, and while the story is the whole point of reading them, the art and ink work is the whole reason I picked up the series in the first place, highly recommended!
Illustration majors interested in comics are the obvious choice, but really anyone interested in manga and comics with a unique style, and a slice of life type story.
Ryan3x3, The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration; vol. 10 no. 2;
This issue contains work from a multitude of contemporary illustrators, and also includes some interviews and guides as well. There's a short interview about designing and writing trans and nonbinary characters, some spotlights on artists like Gizem Vural, and David Plunkert, and some individual pieces from contributing artists as well.
Illustration majors would probably find the most interest in this, but students interested in advertising or design would also likely find this magazine helpful as well.
Your Career in Animation, How to Survive and Thrive
By David B Levy
Request here!
This guide gives an introduction to few basic things when planning to start a career in the animation industry. Not only gives another perspective to the career but also gives tips on working on your portfolio and starting your own projects.
Any Illustration major with the new animation track would benefit from checking this book out. Might be interesting for the people going into the major mainly because it gives so many tips for starters from people that have already worked in the industry.
Character Design Quarterly (CDQ)/Issue 19
A magazine full of tutorials by other artists! Composition, color studies, shape language are some of the topics covered in here.
Illustration majors will want to take a look at this issue. Just looking at the beautiful illustrations found on the magazine gives a lot of inspiration! It explains and gives tips form other people to improve your own work.
Spring 2022 Clerk Reviews:
What's New at the MIAD Library?
Fashion: The Definitive Visual Guide
By Kathryn Hennessy
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"Truly a definitive guide, this book covers fashion from BC all the way up to today. Taking a more logistical approach, every time period's fashion is explained in terms of technological advancement or cultural change."
Any student with an interest in fashion will find something to enjoy here with the big spreads showing the ornate details of clothing. If you need a resource on period fashion this would be it.
The Comics Journal No. 268 (June/July 2005)
This edition focuses on interviews with Craig Thompson (creator of Blankets) and Bob Burden (creator of The Flaming Carrot). The interviews cover a lot of topics, from the process of making comics, each artist's time in Milwaukee and their opinions on the industry.
Illustrations majors with a focus on comics will enjoy hearing about the process of making a comic, from conceptualization to publication. If you are a fan of either of these artists, this edition is a very fun look into the people behind the work.
Everything That's Alive Moves
By Karyn Olivier
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"An exhibition showcased at the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania in early 2020 starts with the installation process of one of the works, a large obelisk, and is full of the artist's thoughts and intention behind every piece in the exhibition. This show is primarily large installation pieces, with some video and smaller installations, but Olivier's rationale and thought behind the work is also a stand out of the book. Incorporations of poetry and U.S. history make for a good read, and her art, especially the reflective monument, is really cool to look at."
NSP majors, with Olivier's installations as art, and the nature of her work, would find this book especially interesting. But it could appeal to anyone.
Aperture - LATINX 245, Winter 2021
Aperture is always a magazine I look at for inspiration for color and composition, and this issue is no different. This issue in particular- as you might have already guessed, highlights the contributions of Latinx artists to photography in America, and has a broad collection of vintage, and modern photographs.
Visual artists looking for inspiration, but also anyone interested in a brief history and discussion of Latinx photography in the U.S would enjoy this issue.
Style on the Street
By Rei Shito & Scott Schuman
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This book is a street style guide to Tokyo, featuring looks from Japan and all over the world. It includes styling tips, street fashion photography, and interviews with designer Sacai and sartorialist Scott Schuman, among other things.
This is a book I recommend to anyone interested in fashion, street style, or old FRUiTS magazines.
Rolling Stone Vol. 1073 March 5, 2009
This issue is a blast back to 2009 and shows the beginnings of some of the most notable celebrities currently. It discusses Jimmy Fallon as an SNL alum and the beginnings of his talk show. Its cover story however focuses on at the time 19 year old Taylor Swift and her "Picture Perfect Life". I think this issue as a whole is an interesting piece of pop culture history as it alludes to the beginning of some of the most powerful people in the media today.
I would recommend this issue to any fans of Taylor Swift or anyone that's feeling nostalgic for the early 2010's.
The Art of Thai Comics
By Nicholas Verstappen
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Explore the vast history of Thai comics and discover the evolution of style over time. As you read this book, you can see how past styles, stories, etc. influence modern comics within both Thailand and other countries' as well. American pop culture is evident as well as you can find a section on the "Elvis Era" of Thai comics.
Those interested in either comics or art history (or even better yet, comic art history!) will find great joy within these pages. Seeing the similarities and differences between modern comics and then comics from 100 years ago allows for inspiration for your own comics and illustrations. For those interested in art history, this book explains cultural influences and historical contexts behind the comics.
Printmaking Today Vol 30, Issue 120, Winter 2021
This magazine explores printing techniques, artists, and groups that are exploring new techniques and bringing life to classic techniques. This issue highlights many innovative artists such as Olesya Dzhurayeva who uses linocuts. She captivates the viewer by creating these 200 year old techniques and "capturing fleeting moments" within her imagery. Another article discusses "electro-etching" which uses electricity to create organic, abstract imagery. Overall, this issue keeps you flipping the page and gets you excited to meet the new artists and techniques on each spread.
Those interested in printmaking and exploring new mediums will find great interest in this magazine. This magazine forces the viewer to push these mediums' boundaries and exploring new concepts.