The Art of Tim Burton, Standard Edition

by Tim Burton, Leah Gallo

The Art of Tim Burton Standard Edition is now available for purchase!

**This is NOT the deluxe edition***


Over 1000 illustrations and 430 pages plus foldouts.


The Art of Tim Burton is the definitive compilation of forty years of Tim Burton's artistry, including film concepts and hundreds of illustrations from his personal archives, edited under the creative guidance of Burton himself. This comprehensive 434 page book is grouped into thirteen chapters that examine common themes in Burton's work, from his fascination with clowns to his passion for misunderstood monsters, to his delight in the oddities of people. Many of Burton's friends and collaborators offer their thoughts, insights and anecdotes about Tim Burton's style and artistic approach to life.
Artwork from the following films and projects are included in this book: Alice in Wonderland (2010), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride (both 2005), Big Fish (2003), Planet of the Apes (2001), Sleepy Hollow, (1999), Mars Attacks! (1996), Ed Wood (1994), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Batman Returns (1992), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Family Dog (1987), Batman (1989), Beetlejuice (1988), Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985), Frankenweenie (1984), Vincent (1982), and Hansel & Gretel (1982). The book also contains additional drawings from his illustrated book of poetry The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories (1997), and from The World of Stainboy web shorts (2000).

Text By: Leah Gallo, Design by: Holly Kempf, Edited by: Derek Frey, Leah Gallo & Holly Kempf

*PLUS*

Personal text contributions by friends and fellow creatives including:

Allison Abbate, Colleen Atwood, John August, Rick Baker, Helena Bonham Carter, Felicity Dahl, Johnny Depp, Danny Devito, Danny Elfman, Carlos Grangel, Ray Harryhausen, Martin Landau, Rick Heinrichs, Christopher Lee, Lindsay Macgowan, Shane Mahan, Ian Mackinnon...

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Film, Coffee Table Books, Biography, Art Design, The United States Of America

Hardcover

First published September 1, 1999

About the author

Timothy "Tim" William Burton is a prolific American film director/writer, best known for the dark imagery and quirky nature of his popular films. He is also the author and illustrator of the poetry collection "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories."

Reviews

[Mojan]

Dear Tim Burton,
Thank you for existing.

[Lili]

دیدن اسکچ‌‌ اولیه بیشتر کارهای برتون تجربه‌ی بانمکی بود، مثل سرک کشیدن به یک اتاق کار خصوصی. خوشم اومد از این‌که انگار علاوه بر دیدن طرح‌های اولیه کرکترهاش و فیلم‌هاش، می‌شد با خودش هم وقت گذروند. با خود برتون.

[Celise]

Can't say Tim Burton is an incredible artist, but that's what makes every piece true. He's not doing it for money or because he's really good at it. It's one of the only ways he knows how to express himself, whether its on paper or camera. Having it all bound into this wonderful cloth covered book is fantastic. Not too mention the Deluxe edition looks great on any shelf or table.

Such a beautiful book. I bought it right outside the TIFF Lightbox that featured a lot of his costumes (the Sleepy Hollow Cape, Edward Scissorhand's outfit, etc.), puppets from Corpse bride, crazy sculptures and twisted drawings, random props, film clips, school projects, writing notes, and a whole bunch of things that I can only classify as Tim Burton. The book is basically the photocopied versions of everything I saw so I love that it allows me to remember that experience! It even came with a special little signed lithograph in it, which is a beyond creepy rendition of a clown that I can't quite bring myself to frame.

[GreenFaerie]

Beautiful, magical and a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours. Sitting in a huge chair with this epic tome balanced on your knee, especially with an equally large mug of coffee next to you. : )

The book is separated into sections each displaying pictures from a certain theme. I couldn't even pick a favourite section, let alone a favourite image, because they are all just so wonderful. A great insight into the mind of such a unique and fantastic director. Whether you are interested in the images that are memories of real life events, or the thought processes that led to some of the best movies of the past 20 years, it's all there.

The quotes spaced throughout the book also give it a personal touch, where people who are familiar with Tim's art will give you their take on it. My personal favourites were the ones from Helena Bonham Carter, as they were able to offer insight both professionally and personally. But also very enlightening are the additions by Danny Elfman and Johnny Depp, who have worked on so many projects with Burton at this point, that they have a lot of important points and opinions to contribute.

This is in my top two of expensive books that I have ever purchased and it was worth every penny. I am so glad that I have this book in my collection. I know that I will look through it for years to come.

[M. C. Sánchez]

Bueno, para variar, las páginas del libro consiguen transportarte de nuevo a toda la filmografía del director.

Aunque no es del gusto de todo el mundo, el arte, las ideas y los sentimientos que transmiten las películas de Tim Burton siempre consiguen removerme por dentro.

Un gusto para todo aquel que sea fan del director 🖤

[Alexander Secilmis]

The drawings are incredible and reveal fascinating sides to the director which any fan should see. The descriptive writing by the editors, accompanying the artwork, is very well observed

[alexisren03]

this book is the epic of everything every part of the catches you I recommend it too

[Taylor]

I've anticipated having this book for about 10 years now, and it's served (as expected) as the most inspiring art books I have.
Tims artwork and commentary from friends / co workers really help to paint the complete picture of his own persona. These beautiful, funny, cleaver, dark and bright artworks bring me back to my childhood and open up the world behind all his produced/published pieces of art.
It felt like delving into a deeper aspect of my initial inspiration for most of what I've produced art wise, and its been lovely to see where he's derived his own, for instance, witnessing elements of Van Gogh in his own works.
I'd highly recommend this book for Burton fans (and others of course), it's perfect for getting into his own mind and taking a look behind the curtains of his film productions and other art forms.

[Zelly B.]

After seeing the Tim Burton Exhibition in the tiff Lightbox, I absolutely had to have this book.

It's a little on the pricey side (though I'm not surprised, given how commonly expensive art books can be), but absolutely worth it.

There are hundreds of Tim Burton's drawings - sketches, storyboard art, concepts, finished pieces - from throughout his entire career. It's really an extensive look at Tim Burton's career and gives a really great insight to how his mind works.

He remains, as ever, a great inspiration to me and having this book in my collection is absolutely worth the slightly expensive price-tag.

I recommend it to any Tim Burton fan who also collects art books.

[Xenia]

A reminder to create for oneself and focus on what first got us interested when lacking inspiration

[Leanna]

I had been on the fence about purchasing this book for the past several years (impossible to find at a library), but finally did so. I'm so glad I did! This book is a masterpiece and I will keep it for the rest of my life. Each image is stunning and the commentary from Tim's various collaborators brings everything to life even more. A must-have for any Tim Burton fan.

[Ruthy lavin]

I am SO glad that Tim Burton shares his incredible mind with us.
Thank you for existing in my life time and the lifetime of my children, Tim 🖤

[Redgie]

an amazing book. a must-have for every burton fan.


and to think, this collection of 1,000 images is only a small percentage of tim's body of work!

[Sarah]

This is an amazing book! Full of talent and inspiration from one of my favourite directors. I read this book in almost one sitting, which is quite impressive because it's HUGE. I just couldn't put it down and I came away wanting to do some more art.
Only thing is I'm gutted I missed the MOMA exhibition.

Hugely recommend it for any Burton fan!

[Jenny]

Mind Blowing. Every Burton fan should own this book, Not only does it let you see Tim's life work but it also lets you look into his soul. Worth every penny and is now one of my most prized possessions.

[Sarah]

It's a beautifully compiled and constructed volume that demands re-visiting over and again. Far more than just an artist's monograph, it offers a window both into the filmmaker's working creative processes as well as something of his unique, incisive worldview.

[Aimée]

Tim Burton ist im Herzen ein Künstler. Doch anstatt nur zu malen und nach seinem Tod berühmt zu werden, hat er seine Magie in Filmen gebannt. Doch das Problem, das alle Künstler*innen haben, bleibt: Er malt immer und überall auf alles, was nicht davonläuft. Also haben sich Leah Gallo und Holly Kempf hingesetzt und über 4.500 Puzzleteile zum Wahnsinn Burtons sortiert - Notizbücher, Bilder, Serviettenbildchen, Sketche und Konzepte für Filme und und und. Dann haben sie Weggefährten und Kollaborateure befragt und herausgekommen ist dieses 5 Kilo schwere Prachtwerk.


Vor einigen Jahren gastierte in Köln die Tim-Burton-Ausstellung und ich wollte unbedingt den Ausstellungskatalog dazu haben. Leider war dieser überall vergriffen und als es ihn wieder gab, nur im Shop in Amerika (hier findet ihr auch Beispielbilder!). Da das gute Stück 5kg wiegt, waren die Versandkosten erheblich über dem Budget.

Doch Forbidden Planet eilt zur Rettung und so werde ich mir diesen Schatz endlich zu Weihnachten schenken, hurra! Das Cover ist übrigens mit Cut-out, das lustige Viereck zeigt das Vorsatzpapier.



Kapitel:

1. Misunderstood Monsters

2. Alien-Nation

3. People

4. Animals

5. What is it?

6. Clowns, Puppets & Ventriloquist Dummies

7. Too much free time

8. Freaks, Friends & Foes

9. Around the World

10. Love

11. Happy Horrordays

12. Strange Places

13. The End



Die Anekdoten von Helena Bonham Carter, Winona Ryder, Johnny Depp, Vincent Price und anderen Weggefährten sind herrlich und genauso bekloppt, wie man sie sich vorstellen würde (die Geschichten, wie er Helena "umwirbt" - grandios). Ein Buch, das nicht nur Tim Burton zelebriert, sondern alles Seltsame, Andersartige und Komische.

Ich musste immer wieder kichern - wie man so "gruseliges" so herrlich abstrus gestalten kann! Das war, wie nochmal durch die Ausstellung zu laufen (besonders durch die ausklappbaren Großformate) und ich habe viele Favoriten neu- und wiederentdeckt.


Unbedingte Empfehlung zum Weiterlesen: Seine Gedichte in "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy".



"He is witty, sharp, and humorous, if slightly choppy, as though his brain is working on a level that his mouth cannot faithfully reproduce."

[Thought Bottle]

Found this while trying to find some art to study. Turned out to be much more insightful than I would have expected. Kind of like I just found a decoder ring for his movies I thought I understood in childhood.

His art wasn’t what I expected. I thought maybe I’d find something more polished.

However, my appreciation for it grew as I read his quick biography chapter and then hoardes of quotes from household names about the function of his hand-drawn art on his collaborative art.

For Burton, hand drawn art is his primary communication device. Where words fail, his art prevails.

From actors to composers, costume designers to partners, all communicated in their own way how a simple sketch was all it took for them to instantly understand all that would be required of them.

This isn’t the kind of art you’d expect in a museum, which seemed to be a lifelong contention to Burton, but art as communication of ideas.

One production designer said a simple 6” watercolor gave all the information you would demand a director give an elaborate explanation of.

An effects supervisor said he treated each department as he would a special paintbrush & under his clear guidance they would collectively help him paint his story. That you weren’t just told what to do, but allowed to bring your skills to his vision. He said that it felt much more like art collaboration than any other set he’d ever been on.

With every new page of art and quotes, you quickly come to see why this style of communication would work so well with creatives & why he inspires such fierce loyalty amongst them.

Also learned along the way that many of his movies have an undercurrent of a secret story from his life and experience. Like how the Nightmare Before Christmas could be seen as an allegory for his time at Disney.

Again, not what I expected, but I feel I got a lot more insight from what I found.

If you read all the way through & are interested-it’s free on archive.org.

[Lör K.]

I've always been a massive fan of Tim Burton, since I was a young child, and I was gifted this at Christmas the year it was released. My Mother got me it as a surprise and I've read this a great deal of times, and I've lost count of how many times I've actually read it.

This is a must have for anyone who is a fan of Tim Burton. The artwork shown within this book is amazing, and so stunning to see. The best thing for me was to see the descriptions and insights into his artwork and his life from friends and family. This very much runs as an autobiography as sorts. You can see where his artwork has gotten better over the years and it's so amazing to see. This is a must read for any Tim Burton fan, for sure.

[Paris Chanel]

"Tim resonates with the young because, like any good artist, he has kept in touch with the child he once was. Or rather still is. His inner child is pretty outer. And his art has the artless simplicity, freedom and naïveté of a child. Tim's five-year-old son and he both love to draw monsters. Sometimes it's difficult to tell who drew what. And I mean that as a compliment to both."

The Art of Tim Burton is a collection of sketches, concept art, and paintings that were once only intended to be seen by no one by Burton himself. His art intertwines the macabre and the fantastical so uniquely and so effectively becoming its own style — Burtonesque.

[Tyler Robinson]

This book is incredibly well made, and remarkably well put together. It’s jam packed full of Tim Burton’s art. I think it’s important to know that while this collection touches on Burton’s cinematic works, you will not find a large portion of the book dedicated to them. Nightmare Before Christmas receives the greatest number of pages, but still less than ten. Other works, such as Mars Attacks, receive only a few.

[Elizabeth Finley]

Finished just in time for Halloween! This is a great book for reference material of all kinds. It keeps it real--not everyone is a Picasso or Rembrandt and reminds all of us that what kind of art we draw or paint is ok. Tim shows us the wild and wacky but it is totally ok to make stick figures--there are plenty of those in this book as well as his well know characters from many of the movies he has developed.

[Lacy Lovelace]

The artwork was just stunning! I am so glad that I bought it because it inspired me so much that I would really like to get back to what I used to do myself-drawing! You learn so much about Tim Burton through his art and what everyone who worked with him had to say about him throughout the book! As a huge Tim Burton fan, this was definitely a must-have!

[thessa ♡♡]

Das beste Kunstbuch, das ich jemals gelesen/gesehen habe. Tim Burton hat mir eine ganz andere Perspektive der Kunst gezeigt. Außerdem hat er mit seinem Werk bestätigt, dass man diesen Bereich nicht nur mit Können verbinden sollte. Wie vielfältig und individuell Kunst sein kann, veranschaulicht er in seinen Werken (Bücher, Filme etc.)

[Mandi Hidalgo]

I love Tim Burton. His art and movies have both been inspiring me for ages. This vast collection of his artwork is just beautiful. I love his scribbly, strange, and scrawly creations and it's a wonderful book to just sit down with and peruse for a bit.

[Viola Folador]

Il libro: un insieme delle opere di Burton, i suoi disegni, i suoi schizzi, i suoi studi o i suoi passatempi.

vi's Pov: Devo a Burton molto, anche se lui non sa chi io sia. Questo libro (a lungo atteso) e tanto amato è una parte intera di me.

[Emma Zépo]

Livre très bien fait, j'ai beaucoup appris sur Tim Burton.

[Ella]

Absolutely phenomenal. If you appreciate art and Tim Burton’s style, this is a must! There is also great insights into his film and quotes from people who have previously worked with him.

[Michelle (Witchy Books)]

It's Tim Burton Duh

[Jenny]

my husband bought this book for me to cheer me up.
It is one of my prized possession books!