In the last couple of years I have really started to love graphic novels. There is so much beauty in being able to use your imagination alongside an artist as they tell the story scene by scene. It is such a beautiful way to marry my love of reading with my love of art, though I will admit, it makes it much easier for me to spoil the plot for myself by looking forward.
The Arrival took my breath away from the moment I picked it up. The book is about a man who moves to a new country without his family to get a job and make some money so that he is able to bring his family later on. There is not a single word in the whole book as to echo the fact that there is a language and cultural difference. Each page is a masterpiece that demands the viewer to take a moment and take everything in - absorbing the beauty of Shaun's work. This pairs well with
Kristen Abbott's
work because it is both exciting and comforting.
This piece
specifically spoke to me to pair with the Arrival because of the warm earthy tones and the earthy tones in Shaun's work. They both feel comforting and hopeful.
Where the Light Breaks Through even is a title that matches well with the hope and excitement with a hint of fear and uncertainty.
This One Summer is a beautiful coming of age story about a young girl named Rose and her friend Windy learning about the world from their summer lakeside cottages. They have been friends for their whole childhoods, but now that they are moving into young adulthood they are having to figure out more than just what names they are going to put on their paper for MASH. They are not quite ready to leave childhood behind, but local teen drama and Rose's parents turbulent relationship is forcing them to look outside the life they have lived so far. The purple hue to the book makes it feel dreamy and nostalgic. The artwork is playful and peaceful while still giving room to big topics.
Betsy's
work is also playful and peaceful and nostalgic. She plays with the ideas of desire, youth and nostalgia in her work, so what better pairing than
Deliciousness? Betsy will be in our next show at the end of April and she has some really fun and exciting pieces that will be in this show.
Get on the presale if you want to see more from her!
Blankets is a brilliant autobiographical coming-of-age story of the authors journey through young love and young adulthood. Thompson grew up in the midwest so all of the settings will be very familiar to what we are used to here; especially because this book is set in winter and we are not that far from the memory of being deep in snow ourselves here in Iowa! This beautiful book deals with real and deep topics while being wrapped in beautifully illustrated pages. It is a cozy read that is quick to get invested and quick to want to read again and again. This book could not pair better with
Karin Olah's
work. Her work has such a cozy and comforting feeling with her use of textiles along with pigment. I chose
Blue Madras 6 specifically because Blankets has a blue tint to it and this gorgeous piece has the perfect collection of blues.
Enjoy some cozy spring reading and remember to shop local. I have linked each book to
our local book shop
Storyhouse Bookpub.
