David Small: Stitches
Detroit, 1951, is the setting for David Small’s new graphic novel, Stitches. The story traces the author’s dark childhood through a surgery that renders him practically mute, a crazy mother, and the cancer he didn’t know he had. It’s one hell of a story of growing up, making it all the more amazing and satisfying that surviving this, Small has become an award winning children’s book illustrator.
The visual language of this book is rooted in old silent movies, with moody washes and brisk linework giving energy and life to this world. In promoting this book, the author and publisher have created animated vignettes of the work which connect even further this idea of movie. Seeing the pages and drawings dissolve into one another while listening to Small’s raspy narrative gives further insight into this deep and emotional story.
Stitches: book website / animations (vimeo) / W.W. Norton
[vimeo clip_id="6506966"]
Alex Eben Meyer is a freelance illustrator living, doodling, and working in Brooklyn, NY. As Editor of Fuel Your Illustration, Alex sketches out the world of illustration for your consumption. illustration / sketchblog / twitter
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Love the look of this. i like how each panel is it’s own composition but you don’t get lost as you read through it. Thanks for sharing.
This looks interesting. I’m gonna keep an eye out for the graphic novel when I visit some comic stores :)
Read the book last nite, and it is courageous.
Emotionally — a landmine, and so gripping, due
to the artist/author’s walking this story. Thanks for re-walking it
for your readers. How gut-wrenching & difficult it must have been
to draw it, yet, perhaps cathartic?