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Yeesh. What a question.
I haven't read any of the Eisner books, though I keep meaning to. I adore Understanding Comics. Even when I disagree with it at least it gets the wheels turning. I had a woman come up to the counter at the book store I worked at wanting to exchange Understanding Comics for a (shudder) Christopher Hart book. I cringed, then tried to talk her out of it.
Rizla's right. There are certain artists who force me to look at the way I work, and how I can improve. Most of them are from the Simplification school of cartooning, which seems to be what you're asking about. OK, long list.
Alex Toth, Jack Kirby, Mike Mignola, Jack Cole, Kyle Baker, Philip Bond, David Mazzuchelli, Hugo Pratt, Dan DeCarlo.
Roy Crane, Charles Schulz, Harold Gray, Frank King, Hank Ketcham.
Darwyn Cooke, Shane Glines, Glen Murakami, Bruce Timm.
Mary Blair, Geefwee Boedoe, J.otto Siebold, Rick Nierva.
Peter Arno, James Thurber.
Those up-and-comers Nelson Evergreen and Cameron Stewart kick my arse, as well.
That's pretty much the tip of the iceberg. There are so many other people I'd like to put up there, and many more I've probably forgotten. Notice Alex Toth is on the top of the list.
Other then that, there's "real" art books, both instructional and creative, graphic design books, packaging, old magazines, tiny die-cast cars, clip art, movie posters, you name it. Oh, and never underestimate the value of going outside and watching people. |
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