James Jean's sketchbooks

Phenomenal artist James Jean has posted a slew of scans from his 2008 Moleskine sketchbooks. Jean has a show of new work opening at Jonathan LeVine Gallery on January 10 and the paintings are truly mind-blowing. I'll link to the online gallery once the show opens. (Some of the sketchbook pages may be NSFW.) James Jean (via DRAWN!)

[#1 posted by LeeBraineater , January 5, 2009 11:13 AM]

James Jean = Best comic book artist of the current age. So happy he's decided to pursue fine art.

[#2 posted by Anonymous , January 5, 2009 11:16 AM]

Just a warning: The Mole A link on the site is worksafe, while the Mole B link is not. Discovered this the hard way!

These drawings are fantastic, though.

[#3 posted by sarahcbagley , January 5, 2009 11:24 AM]

might want to mention in the post that some of the work in the sketchbook (2008b, if i'm looking at the one to which you're referring in this post) is quite nsfw.

[#4 posted by LeeBraineater , January 5, 2009 11:51 AM]

I should clarify; best *cover artist

[#5 posted by David Pescovitz , January 5, 2009 11:53 AM]

Done, thanks.

[#6 posted by Banksynergy , January 5, 2009 12:03 PM]

/click /click /click ARGH!
That'll teach me - I didn't read the whole post, and consequently missed the NSFW warning.
Looks like some amazing art, though - looking forward to seeing the rest once I'm home!

[#7 posted by Anonymous , January 5, 2009 2:14 PM]

YOINK !!

I just got caught myself BankSynergy.

[#8 posted by Aimerss , January 5, 2009 2:44 PM]

Hi - Just scheduled the Jan 10th date in my planner!! Can't wait to see it in person! I love this one. Very eclectic.

[#9 posted by Bonnie , January 5, 2009 2:45 PM]

James Jean's sketches make plane passengers look almost poetic.

[#10 posted by urshrew , January 5, 2009 3:30 PM]

How does a person get such clean lines with such control, I don't know.

[#11 posted by Nerdberockin , January 5, 2009 3:32 PM]

Just thought I'd point out that his collection of covers for Fables is now available in hardcover. I haven't seen the inside of the book, beyond what Amazon has seen fit to show me, but it looks like it includes sketches as well.

[#12 posted by cha0tic , January 5, 2009 9:47 PM]

There is a saying in the UK:
"I can't draw for Toffee"
I have no idea where the phrase comes from, or how it came to be. It means you're rubbish at drawing and you admit it.

I'm one of those people that can't draw for Toffee. I get no Toffee. I get minus Toffee. I owe the world Toffee every time I even think about making a mark on paper.

This bloke gets all world output of Toffee for the last 10 years and that's just for his sketch books.