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4.6 AVERAGE
4.6 AVERAGE
ReRead 13 March 2019
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I first read about Shag in a book on lowbrow art: a Los Angeles art movement influences by underground comix, punk rock and hot-rod culture. (Cribbed this description from Wikipedia.) I remember especially liking Shag's work in that book. His simple line-work and solid color choices caught the eye easily.
Months later I found this little gem in a Half-Price Books. Sold!
Shag: A to Z reminds me Edward Gorey's The Gashlycrumb Tinies in that both books show off the author's unique artistic style while going through the alphabet, each letter accompanied by a short poem. In the case of Shag: A to Z, each letter corresponds to a different icon of lounge/tiki/B-movie culture, and the overall aesthetic of the book is very reminiscent of the 50s and 60s.
Shag: A to Z is not the most politically correct book by today's standards but is an excellent nostalgia trip through kitsch culture of a bygone era. It's fun, and if nothing else, the rich colors and cartoon-y illustrations are a delight to view. I read somewhere that Shag's done work for The Walt Disney Company. I'm not surprised.
It's 40 pages, so check it out if you've got a few minutes to spare. And if nothing else, stop by my house. You'll most likely find it on my coffee table.
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I first read about Shag in a book on lowbrow art: a Los Angeles art movement influences by underground comix, punk rock and hot-rod culture. (Cribbed this description from Wikipedia.) I remember especially liking Shag's work in that book. His simple line-work and solid color choices caught the eye easily.
Months later I found this little gem in a Half-Price Books. Sold!
Shag: A to Z reminds me Edward Gorey's The Gashlycrumb Tinies in that both books show off the author's unique artistic style while going through the alphabet, each letter accompanied by a short poem. In the case of Shag: A to Z, each letter corresponds to a different icon of lounge/tiki/B-movie culture, and the overall aesthetic of the book is very reminiscent of the 50s and 60s.
Shag: A to Z is not the most politically correct book by today's standards but is an excellent nostalgia trip through kitsch culture of a bygone era. It's fun, and if nothing else, the rich colors and cartoon-y illustrations are a delight to view. I read somewhere that Shag's done work for The Walt Disney Company. I'm not surprised.
It's 40 pages, so check it out if you've got a few minutes to spare. And if nothing else, stop by my house. You'll most likely find it on my coffee table.