Everyone Knows What A Dragon Looks Like

It suddenly occurred to me to expand these art book postings into the massive collection of illustrated children's books that I've been collecting throughout my entire life. So, not only will I start with one of the first books I can remember, but to also start with the one that left me with the most incredible continual fascination with Orientalism.
Han, the orphan gate sweeper of the walled frontier city learns the lesson that appearances can be deceiving when the city is besieged by the Wild Horsemen of the West.
I havent looked at this book in a long time and the illustrations by Mercer Mayer are even more stunning than I remembered, and its no wonder I was so attracted to the asian aesthetic from the get go.
Its 32 pages but Ive spent a lifetime wandering the mountain paths and cleanly swept streets of the city of Wu.

Everyone Knows What A Dragon Looks Like
Jay Williams
Mercer Mayer
Four Winds Press 1976
32Pages (HC)
ISBN-0-590-07284-6
8.5 x 8.5 x 0.1

Maschinen Krieger Graphix Vol. 3

Here's another really cool book from kit-bashing scultpture master Kow Yokoyama, Im pretty sure it's the combined collection of Ma.k. articles from the Japanese hobby magazine Model Graphix from January 2006 through December 2010. If youre not familiar with master Kow's model making I would recommend you start with one of his other books, but if youre a die hard Ma.k. fan such as myself this is a great addition to the collection. Drawings, models, fully lit and photographed dioramas, as well as modeling tips (in japanese) and photos of Kow and Ma.k. fans from conventions and art opening fill this third volume of Model Graphix collections. Stay tuned for future reviews and peaks from Volume 1, and 2. Theres 244 pages in this book with pictures absolutely packed within each page, but above are a handful of my favorites that were easy to photograph with my iphone. I think these books are about $60 US new, but the older ones that are out of print can cost quite a bit more- so if you see one online or at your local book resources you should definitely pick them up if you can-

Maschinen Krieger Graphix Vol. 3
Kow Yokoyama
Ma.K. ZbV 3000
244 (SC)
ISBN 978-4-499-23084-1
8.5 x 11.5 x 5/8

DRIVE

Scott Robertson and friends stretch out the wheeled vehicle design muscles in this nice collection of sketches, paintings, and 3D renderings from Design Studio Press. Broken up into 4 sections, Aerospace, Military, Pro Sport, and Salvage, each designer showcases their particular take on the  category- Racers, Explorers, Tanks, Motorcycles- tons of different types of vehicles to inspire everyone including the young aspiring transportation designer in your life. I would have absolutely gone bananas over a book like this when I was a youngster. Kids are lucky these days. You can find this book on Amazon or where ever but I encourage you to buy directly from Design Studio Press's site, which is also the little publishing company that the author and designer Scott Robertson founded, sheesh, probably about 10 years ago? Stacks of other similar books to be had there if youre into looking at this kind of stuff.

Over 300 drawings in here, but above are a handful of images that stood out to me.

DRIVE: vehicle sketches and renderings by
Scott Robertson
Daniel Gardner
Annis Naeem
Design Studio Press (Nov 30, 2010)
176 Pages (HC)

Sky Chefs

Airplane food. One of those odd things that nobody likes but everyone wants.