Review: People of Print
People of Print's brand new self-titled book celebrates the successes of their online community.
Showcasing work from some of the best printers in the world, the book proves once and for all that, even in this ever-expanding digital age, print is thriving!
In Marcroy Smith’s opening introduction, he talks about the passion for print which sparked within him on his very first day studying at Brighton University. Since then, this passion has gathered momentum, building a strong online community and a creative studio who have worked with countless clients, as well as publishing their own magazine and now a beautiful book!
The book, written by Marcroy and his long-term collaborator Andy Cooke, presents an overview of work produced and championed by People of Print and features over fifty leading illustrators, designers, and printmakers.
They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but with this one you actually can as its stunning cover, illustrated by LE GUN, is a prime example of the exceptional work you can expect inside. More of LE GUN‘s mostly-monochrome work as well as information about the London based art collective can be found inside. The set of print’s which the cover image was taken from all feature a sea of eccentric characters, many of whom are gazing out of the the page at the viewer.
If and when you manage to pull your eyes away from exploring the books intoxicating cover, there is plenty more inspiring imagery waiting to be discovered inside. The book is split into 3 sections – essays, interviews and visits, features and the directory – each showcasing a huge spectrum of creative talent in a different way.
The book’s first section includes a selection of print-themed essays as well as interviews with the likes of Heretic and magCulture.
Our favourite essay comes from journalist Andrew Losowsky. Entitled Get Your Fix, his contribution is an anecdotal piece of writing telling the story of the birth of print. It’s last few paragraphs perfectly sum up what makes print such a powerful and timeless medium.
Just remember, nobody can tap into your 2D messages, they exist in your hand and you have the power to share them or keep them or destroy them, to cut them up or to stick them on your wall…they will never be updated or altered, they will never be challenged or spied on.
The features section showcases everything from classic design and stylised vector graphics to the quintessentially quirky and utterly eccentric.
If we had to choose a favourite, Fatherless collective would be in with a strong chance thanks to their innovative use of print, using abstract layering of colours to transform iconic scenes and portraits, giving each one a new lease of life. Started by Corey Hagberg, Jarrod Hennis, Javier Jimenez and Greg Lang in 2010, Fatherless is a collective of artists, printmakers, educators, designers and graffiti writers. Since then, Dave Menard has been added as a full-time member and they have developed what they describe as a “Rust Belt Power Pop” aesthetic.
Other highlights include Seetal Solanki‘s textural textile designs, Frenchfourch‘s vibrant visuals, The Hungry Workshop‘s colourful paper crafts, Killer Acid‘s slightly psychedelic illustrations and Mike Perry‘s quirky conjurings.
Dispersed throughout the book, a series of snapshots print studios and the printing process – often as joyous for creators as the end result – give context of the where and how behind the stunning end results.
Our highlights, which we have covered above, are merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the amount of highly-inspirational content within the pages of People of Print. The book is a true testament to the power of print, a fountain of knowledge in book-form and a must-have for print-lovers in any specialism.
You can buy a copy of People Of Print from their online Department Store.
www.peopleofprint.com