Spellbound: Making Pictures with the A-B-C

by Maree Coote

A brand new take on Typographic Design creates unique Letter Art pictures. Every image is made with the letters that spell its very name. Features famous faces, places and things from all around the world, plus famous people and places from Melbourne and Australia.

120 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2015

About the author

- Designer, writer, publisher & founder of retail concept store & gallery Melbournestyle (CURRENT),
including corporate image; brand design and development, product design and development, and online at www.melbournestyle.com.au

-Creative Director of MCA Advertising p/l (CURRENT),
projects include corporate image; brand design and development, advertising - all media.
website at: http://www.melbournestyle.com.au/Mare...

- Publisher of Melbournestyle Books, a collection of titles about Melbourne history and contemporary culture, and also children's titles and graphic design books, including:
- 'Letters From Melbourne'​ picture book for children, 2014
- 'Alphabet City Zoo'​ picture book for children, 2014
-'The Melbourne Book - A History of Now'​, (History, contemporary culture) Editions 1, 2 3 and 4 (2003; 2008, 2010, 2013)
WINNER: New York Independent Publisher - Gold Award 2015
- 'Alphabet City Melbourne'​ Published Oct. 2013
- Creator of 'The Alphabet City Project'​ website at www.alphabet-city.com.au
-'When You Go To Melbourne'​ picture book for children launched Feb 2013 together with a companion exhibition of illustrations.
- 'The Art of Being Melbourne'​ (2012) ( Art History)
WINNER: Royal Historical Society of Victoria Award Overall Winner 2012
WINNER: New York Independent Publisher - Gold Award 2014
-'50 Neds: Ned Kelly, Icon of Australian Art'​, graphic design/history
-'The Black Pot Belly'​, picture book for children
-'The Gum Queen'​, picture book for children
-'The Seacret of Driftus and Sprout', picture book for children

Specialties: Bringing great ideas to life in whatever form gives them the most power.....campaigns, books, products, events, lyrics, film...

Reviews

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Maree Coote
Age Recommendation: Middle Primary
Art Style: Typographic Design
Topic/ Theme: Puzzles, Art

Spellbound is a really difficult book to make a decision on. It is a really clever concept. The idea that any word can be turned into art and showing that to younglings in a way they are going to understand. The book doesn't know what it wants to be is it a showcase for Coote's work or a book on how to do it yourself? There is too much interaction with the reader for the former but not instruction for the later. There is an introduction that says how Maree Coote does it (she has limited herself to a set of fonts but will play around with them, direction, colour, mix and match fonts until the feel right) but no real step by step something that could have been very useful for readers and educators alike. Because I can see many teachers and other educators using this art with kids.

The pictures themselves are amazing for some it is hard to believe they are just made up of the letters of the word. The locations are well done The Palace of Westminster (using the letters of Big Ben) Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House but it is very Melbourne centric (go figure given the author and publisher). But my personal favourites are are the people, Tim Minchin, Dame Edna Everage, Lady Diana, George Washington and Frida Kahlo.

I wanted this to be 5 stars but I feel like it can't be, it's too confused. But it is a gorgeous book definitely one for the creative types an those who want a project.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant non fiction for all ages. art, puzzle, language, challenging, amazing. A book to engage rather than read.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really unique

Lovely illustrations

Very creative

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good book for children who like to draw and let the child develop his imagination through this book