Sketchbooks The hidden art of designers, illustrators & creatives

In this collection of sketchbooks, philosophers, cognitive psychologists, art theorists, and artists address the vexing question, How do creative people think? While focusing on so-called commercial artists, Brereton (ed., GRAPHIC magazine) rightly grants their creative processes the same seriousness usually accorded to painters and others working in the fine arts. This text is composed of excerpts from sketchbooks of 42 different illustrators, and each designer briefly describes how he or she utilizes sketchbooks in working life. The work features wide margins, deeply saturated color prints, and fine quarter binding, all aspects that result in a valuable visual treat at a good price; second, the author eschews simple answers regarding artists' use of sketchbooks. This is helpful because ambiguity is the very stuff of the contemporary art market: artists court multiple interpretations by urging viewers to find their own way into a particular work. Verdict There are two key strengths here: the book is outrageously beautiful and thought-provoking; strongly recommended to students of creativity and readers curious about contemporary design. Design students may also want to consider Timothy O'Donnell's recent Sketchbook.-Katherine Adams, Bowdoin Coll. Lib., Brunswick, ME (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.