by Ute Helmbold
640 pages, hardcover, €49.90
Published by Niggli Verlag
niggli.ch

Process, inspiration, seeing and understanding are all major components of creating powerful drawings and illustrations that tell a compelling narrative. Freelance illustrator and educator Ute Helmbold has gathered a compendium of advice, tips, tricks and philosophy from her nearly 30 years of teaching at the Braunschweig University of Art in Braunschweig, Germany, to inspire and guide anyone wishing to immerse themselves in a thoughtful exercise.

Using sample images from her students to illustrate her points, Helmbold offers drawing advice and techniques in the first of ten sections that cover the gamut of topics surrounding illustrative works. The book’s title, Mind the Gap, refers to the author’s assessment that there are always two sides to an image: “…authors and viewers, creating and observing, knowing and showing, making rules and breaking rules, pragmatism and individualism, passion and purpose, head and gut, feeling and understanding.” The biggest challenge lies in creating images that unite the two sides in a tangible, meaningful way that engages the viewer—head and hand come together in the process of telling a story.

There is a wealth of practical advice at the foundation of Helmbold’s book, useful for both students and professionals. The dynamic design draws in the reader and enables quick takeaways as well as deeper study. Peppered throughout are quotes from notable illustrators and exercises designed to make you think about how you see and draw objects. Mind the Gap is highly likely to inspire the reader to grab a sketch pad, sharpen their pencils and find something or someone to draw. —Anne Telford