The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Artist Book
This tale by L. Frank Baum is one of my favorite stories, as well as an endless source of modern-day cultural references. I chose to work on a large format because I wanted my book to convey the feeling of a children's book even though it is meant for the enjoyment of people of all ages. I combined intricate etchings and playful typography to illustrate this wonderful story which is meant to be seen rather than read. I enjoyed experimenting with typographic kerning, weights and sizes to create interesting textures and bring letterforms to life. I also borrowed from the idea of the flip book by incorporating transitional cutout pages within spreads filled with action, in order to better convey Dorothy’s journey. Being the main protagonist, she’s the only colorful element throughout this Artist Book as her magenta appearance animates the sequential pages.
