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Jeffrey Jones Sketchbook
Beautiful pen and ink sketches by renowned artist Jeffrey Jones, with a sprinkling of his painted work interspersed throughout. Interior is black and white, with rich color dust-jacket. Compiled with the help of George Pratt and David Spurlock, with an intro by Michael Friendlander. Includes a conversation with Jeffrey Jones and George Pratt.
- GenresArt
107 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 14, 2022
I was reminded of Jones's work recently while looking at some old fantasy paperbacks. I went to my shelf and found this book tucked next to a coffee-table book of Jeffrey Catherine Jones art. I can't remember when I bought it—must've been when it came out in 2000—and didn't remember a word of the text which I'm sure I read 22 years ago. Well, I've been dipping too deep into theological essays lately and needed something breezy to clear my mind for a night, so why not this?
The sketchbook elements are touch and go, though this is how sketchbooks are. Scribbles of ideas and splotches of experiments. Some of the art is great, but some are just doodles. I almost wish the book designers had just printed entire pages of Jones's notebooks instead of isolated sketches. Sometimes seeing the whole page gives you an idea of how the mind wanders. The interview accompanying the pictures is interesting. Jones is very open about her* process and opinions, some of which I was surprised I wholeheartedly disagreed with.
*I write "her" as Jones had begun her treatment to transition to a woman by the time the book was published, but I am surprised that Jones is referred to as a man in the text and that JCJ even refers to herself as a man in the interview. I guess that Jones once said that the public artist was male Jeff Jones, but in the privacy of her home and family, she was Jeffrey Catherine Jones. I have also read quotes that suggest Jones regretted transitioning and felt as though it did not resolve conflicted feelings they had about themselves. Perhaps I should watch the Jones documentary "Better Things" to see Jones discuss it her/themself.
The sketchbook elements are touch and go, though this is how sketchbooks are. Scribbles of ideas and splotches of experiments. Some of the art is great, but some are just doodles. I almost wish the book designers had just printed entire pages of Jones's notebooks instead of isolated sketches. Sometimes seeing the whole page gives you an idea of how the mind wanders. The interview accompanying the pictures is interesting. Jones is very open about her* process and opinions, some of which I was surprised I wholeheartedly disagreed with.
*I write "her" as Jones had begun her treatment to transition to a woman by the time the book was published, but I am surprised that Jones is referred to as a man in the text and that JCJ even refers to herself as a man in the interview. I guess that Jones once said that the public artist was male Jeff Jones, but in the privacy of her home and family, she was Jeffrey Catherine Jones. I have also read quotes that suggest Jones regretted transitioning and felt as though it did not resolve conflicted feelings they had about themselves. Perhaps I should watch the Jones documentary "Better Things" to see Jones discuss it her/themself.
May 31, 2012
The greatest exploration of Jeff Jones and his process since The Studio, all by George Pratt.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews