Charley Harper's Animal Kingdom

Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Individual Artists

Charley Harper's Animal Kingdom Details

Review ""The never-before-published animal illustrations are so graphic, they're perfectly suited to this large format book. What I really love about Harper's work is that the animals retain their integrity: They don't all look like cartoon animals and don't have an ounce of Disney-esque cuteness. It's an exuberant tribute to an exuberant artist, and a lovely antidote to a gray winter day."" —Home Design with Kevin Sharkey, MarthaStewart.com ""Beyond iconizing America's wildlife, Harper's style was fundamental in the formation of contemporary graphic design, promoting 'minimal realism' that relies on basic geometric forms and crisp lines. His sense for color shines in this high quality printing from Ammo, and the exaggerated scale shows off Harper's eye for detail."" —Cool Hunting ""If you think you've seen the work of Charley Harper, then Todd Oldham's new compendium of more than 300 previously unseen animal illustrations will be a breath of fresh fauna."" —Herman Miller Read more About the Author Charley Harper was an American illustrator who worked from his studio in the woods near Cincinnati, Ohio, until his death in 2007, at the age of eighty-four. He is beloved for his delightful, graphic, and often-humorous illustrations of nature, animals, insects, and people alike. Charley liked to say that when he paints a bird, he doesn't count all the feathers in the wings—he just counts the wings. Minimal realism, he called it, and his unique and precise style continue to resonate and inspire his admirers.Todd Oldham is an innovator of accessible design and the founder of Todd Oldham Studio, a multidisplinary design studio in New York City. Originally a fashion designer, Todd has hosted MTV's "House of Style." Todd's career has evolved to include all areas of design—from interior design, film, and photography to furniture, graphic art, and product design. Todd is also the author of several publications by AMMO Books, including "Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life," "Wayne White," "Kid Made Modern," and "Joan Jett." Read more

Reviews

As a Charley Harper fan, this book did not disappoint. The oversized edition (much wider than traditional hardcovers) has enough room on each page for appropriate negative space and the reproductions. It is well organized and a fine addition to a Harper collection.I ticked off a star for what I felt was the precarious binding of the book itself. In these wider, oversized editions, the spine tends to be under enormous pressure; I haven't yet seen a publisher address this problem satisfactorily. With this book, I could plainly see that the inside cover leaves would separate before long. In order to nip that in the bud, I ordered and applied strips of archival linen tape on the inside spine of both the front and back covers. It now feels a lot sturdier...