We find out which ones have inspired the designers who make them for a living. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its inexpensive paperbacks, sold through woolworths and other high. Penguin books art prints since its first appearance in 1935, the original penguin books triband, colourcoded cover, has become one of the most recognisable designs in the world. In 1935, if you wanted to read a good book, you needed either a lot of money or a library card. Though many voices participate in this creative process, its the designers expertise that is most critical. High quality penguin books inspired canvas prints by independent artists and designers from around the world.
It was cofounded in 1935 by sir allen lane with his brothers richard and john, as a line of the publishers the bodley head, only becoming a separate company the following year. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its inexpensive paperbacks, sold through woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. I started searching local book stores and online for some of the old penguin and pelican books. Or, the anatomy of the image bellmer, hans, moynihan, michael, coleman, joe, lee, annabel, graham, jon on. Drop cap style covers for penguin classics creative bloq. Art directors share their alltime favourite book covers.
Harland miller penguin book covers guy hepner art gallery. A historic guide to the world of penguin classics from its uk origin, covering a span from the ancient world to world war i, in a luxurious orange clothbound package with colored endpapers, fullcolor pages, and illustrations. Experimenting with different paper sizes and angles, he occasionally shows their spines, and the shadows they cast. Book cover art book cover design book design book art vintage book covers vintage books graphic design illustration illustration art books to read little anatomy of the physical unconscious. Jul 03, 2014 the penguin books color code vintage penguin books all had the same iconic design two bands of color on the top and bottom and a white band in the middle with the book s title and author in black, but they came in an array of colors. This is part 2 of a 2part post on paperback book designs from penguin books. Illustrator and letter designer extraordinaire jessica hische has collaborated with designer and art director paul buckley to create this series of beautifully designed book covers for a special collection of penguin classics. Ive cited designers where i could find them, but some of them have eluded me. Penguin cover design is of such high standard that it constitutes a history of design and illustration in itself and is worthy of examination as visual art. In 1961 marber was invited by art director germano facetti to design two penguin covers for the author simeon potter. A map of fictional london now available as a map or poster. The only slipup came in 1967 when after art director tony godwins departure, it was felt necessary to print a penguin book in heavy 36 point at.
The images on the wrapping paper are a selection of penguin book covers. Unfortunately, most of the covers included here are rather dull in design. Topics activism 408 architecture 626 art 1968 automotive 157 businessfinance 300 educationacademia 962. A look at the colorful history of scifi book covers use this link to get a 30 day free trial of vrv premium. Published by penguin books may 1970 with cover art by franco grignani. Jan 22, 2012 penguin book covers part 1 ive been concentrating on painters for quite a while now, so thought id take a look at something a little different today some graphic design featuring iconic and quintessentially british paperbackbook cover designs, all from penguin books. Penguin books vintage art, illustration, illustrator see more.
The secret of penguins enduring paperback covers is all in the rigorous geometry, a wise choice of illustrators and that wonky handdrawn bird published. Louisa hares cards feature a short quote from shakespeare taken from the folio, along with a contemporary illustration. Penguin has produced a number of rather striking book covers over the years. Original penguin tribands of some of our most popular and iconic paperbacks. Bookrelated recommendations, news, art, design, and fashion. If you know any creators ive missed, let me know in the comments and ill add them. Independent art hand stretched around super sturdy wood frames. His design for language and the modern mind was a formalist composition with sans serif type and geometric elements combined with an abstracted portrait in printers dots. Grace han, senior designer for riverhead books, has worked at penguin random house for nearly four years, designing covers for a wide range of titles, everything from cookbooks the art of flavor to drew barrymores memoir her covers are simple, elegant, and beautiful. The book collections are housed in the national art library and include around books published by penguin. Crazy beautiful book covers the fundamental rule of all readers is to never judge a book by its cover, but ilhether we spot a gorgeous book in someones hands or displayed in a bookstore, the cover piques our curiosity. How penguin classics books became design icons books. Personalised penguin classic book cover print perfect for a wedding gift, new baby, or, fun art for the family home.
Penguin random house, in partnership with strand book store, is proud to present an exhibit of 100 notable book covers created by a select group of penguin random house creative designers and art directors in a special be my cover exhibit, may 1123 in the rare book room at strand book. After graduating in sheffield, jim took a placement at bill smith studio in london, which turned into a job designing record and cd covers for such labels as emi, virgin, bmg, mute and trojan records. D078 in 2020 book cover art, penguin books, penguins. After doing some freelance book covers for penguin books, he was hired in march 1965 by penguin s chief editor tony godwin to become the art director of penguin. Penguin random house, in partnership with strand book store, is proud to present an exhibit of 100 notable book covers created by a select group of penguin random house creative designers and art directors in a special be my cover exhibit, may 1123 in the rare book. Created by edward young, a 21 year old office junior at the time, the covers are a cherished part of britains design heritage. They seem to be very popular art at the moment and penguin book cover art is definitely better than having empty frames.
One of the most exciting aspects of any books publication is the design of its cover. The penguin covers successfully adapted the visual idea of the cards onto book design. I thought penguin covers really took of in 1962 with the use of romek marbers simple cover grid. Its weird how you get used to things and after staring at the empty frames night after night for such a long time, we hardly even noticed them anymore. The only slipup came in 1967 when after art director tony godwins departure, it was felt necessary to print a penguin book in heavy 36 point at the top of covers, as if anyone would have. The story of a weird reality, after taking fourtenth of a gramme of mescaline. May 29, 20 one of the most exciting aspects of any book s publication is the design of its cover. Seven hundred penguins is another great book that shows an amazing collection of 700 book covers do not grab my images and repost them on your flickr page. I am in awe of all of his book covers, and it is hard to single out one cover but. There are some real gems included, but frankly far too few. Penguin book covers inspire artist for york exhibition the.
Iconic penguin random house book covers on display in exhibition at strand book store. See more ideas about penguin books, books and book cover design. By looking back at seventy years of penguin paperbacks, graphic designer phil baines charts the development of british publishing, the everchanging currents of cover art and style, and the role of artists and designers in creating and designing the penguin lookincluding penguins, pelicans, penguin classics, and more. Pages 1045 in the book show eighteen brilliant covers using simple graphics with black, green and red inks. This site explores the graphic design of penguin book covers, with a focus on series editions. Cheap paperbacks were available, but their poor production generally tended to mirror the quality between the covers. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. The idea of a collection of postcards featuring classic penguin book covers is, on the surface of it, a fine idea. Though many voices participate in this creative process, its. See more ideas about best book covers, books and good books. Lustig was a renowned twentiethcentury graphic designer and a design hero of mine. Examples of fonts in use tagged with penguin books. The art of illustration flourished at penguin during the 1960s and 70s under a series of art directors whose tastes in cover design were more graphic than typographic.
May 17, 2018 a look at the colorful history of scifi book covers use this link to get a 30 day free trial of vrv premium. For background information on penguin and for more covers see part 1 below. Original penguin designs of some of the most popular and iconic paperbacks. This is part 2 of a 2part post on paperbackbook designs from penguin books. Five years later he joined penguin, where he worked as a cover designer. Browse our latest titles in the art category to discover your next read from. Penguin series design the art of penguin book covers. Find classic prints of your favourite penguin books and contemporary covers by awardwinning designer coralie bickfordsmith. Art meets matter in the uk sells readytohang stretched canvas books of more than a dozen penguin classics bookcovers. The grid cover style ran into the seventies with the nonfiction pelicans and nicely still using everybodys favorite type. These include his renowned penguin book covers, inspired by the dust jackets of volumes from the 1950s and 1960s, and the pelican bad weather paintings which evoke the culture and. After doing some freelance book covers for penguin books, he was hired in march 1965 by penguins chief editor tony godwin to become the art director of penguin. Weve rounded up some unique and breathtaking book covers that are sure to catch your eye and your heart. Over the years covers have been undertaken by many famous artists and designers see ben shan, eduardo paolozzi, paul hogarth, and milton glaser originator of the i heart ny logo.
Grace han, senior designer for riverhead books, has worked at penguin random house for nearly four years, designing covers for a wide range of titles, everything from cookbooks the art of flavor to drew barrymores memoir. Penguin book covers inspire artist for york exhibition. Buy penguin book cover prints framed art prints penguin shop. Turn your home, office, or studio into an art gallery, minus the snooty factor. Penguin cover design the art of penguin book covers. Check out some of my favorites below, including both official covers and concept art. Commissioned by awardwinning penguin art director paul buckley, the penguin threads series debuted with cover art by jillian tamaki and continues with art by rachell sumpter for giftworthy penguin classics. Penguin paperback cover designs victoria and albert museum. The penguin books color code vintage penguin books all had the same iconic design two bands of color on the top and bottom and a white band in the middle with the books title and author in black, but they came in an array of colors. This instant new york times bestseller and reeses book club x hello sunshine book pick is a. Penguin books is now the flagship imprint of the worldwide penguin group. Art directors share their alltime favourite book covers books jackets are often as iconic as the words they contain.
The fundamental rule of all readers is to never judge a book by its cover, but whether we spot a gorgeous book in someones hands or displayed in a bookstore, the cover piques our curiosity. In this rare display of his watercolours and drawings, millers penguin covers are closer to still life studies, rather than twodimensional posters. Over the next two years as art director, he especially focused on science fiction book covers and introduced his style which resonated with the mood of the time. His crime, in rieus eyes, was to replace the spartan jackets with a reproduction of a painting, chosen to reflect the theme of each book. Aldous huxley, book covers of the doors of perception. More covers starchild 3103 by frederik pohl and jack williamson part two of the starchild trilogy, first published januarymarch 1965 as a threepart serial in if magazine. Penguin books art prints since the creation of the first penguin paperbacks in 1935, the colourcoded jackets have become a cherished part of british culture and design history.
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