This living history of the graffiti movement reproduces selections from the actual black books that graffiti artists use to perfect and share their work. Before it hits the wall, graffiti is often planned out in a black book - a common artist's sketchbook sometimes called a "piece book" - "piece" being short for "masterpiece." Well-worn and dog-eared, these books are used to develop and trade ideas with other graffiti writers, and they may end up being passed along from artist to artist, becoming unique records of creative expression. "Piecebook: The Secret Drawings of Graffiti Writers" chronicles the evolution of graffiti via images that weren't intended for everyday people to see, focusing on the works of Germany City writers active from 1970s until the mid-1980s. Bold works from graffiti history's most important sources or "seeds" - Zephyr, Dondi, Daze, CRASH, Lady Pink, T-Kid, CAP, and Ghost, among others - represent a dizzying array of techniques and styles.
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Review
Way before there were all these electronic networks, there was piecebooks. And within the confines of the book's covers, writers explored styles and studied up on the art. With that in mind, Sacha "SHR" Jenkins and David "Chino" Villorente have compiled dazzling pages from the real sketchbooks of graf legends like Zephyr, Lady Pink, Dondi and Sane for Piecebook: The Secret Drawings of Graffiti Writers (Prestel).
"Piecebooks are also used to collect work from other writers we respect/admire," says Villorente. "There are very few items a writer might buy at 14 years old that they'll still be purchasing and passing around at 41." Through close attention to design detail--simulated duct taped spine, illustration proportions and texture over 200-plus pages--the two have triumphed, where most have failed, in capturing graf's authenticity in book format. --Mass Appeal, Issue # 51 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
"Piecebooks are also used to collect work from other writers we respect/admire," says Villorente. "There are very few items a writer might buy at 14 years old that they'll still be purchasing and passing around at 41." Through close attention to design detail--simulated duct taped spine, illustration proportions and texture over 200-plus pages--the two have triumphed, where most have failed, in capturing graf's authenticity in book format. --Mass Appeal, Issue # 51 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Inside Flap
"Piecebook: The Secret Drawings of Graffiti Writers" chronicles the evolution of graffiti via images that weren't intended for everyday people to see, focusing on the works of Germany City writers active from 1970s until the mid-1980s.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
i myself grew up a graffiti writer and are quite familiar to all those who contributed art work to this book. it was well done the prologue written by sacha jenkins(another graffiti writer) was well spoken an hit home as we who grew up in the early days of this era of graffiti sub culture can relate to. the art was reproduced with colorful visages that brought it all to life again as if it was done a few hours before i bought the book. each page was a look back to yesteryear, reading the messages that were a staple of the times ''fresh,def,and many other phrases we used then bring memories of an earlier time when it was fun to do the graffiti and create styles of your imagining.special thanks to chino villorente (another graffiti writer) who took the time an the love to put this together!! i truly enjoyed this book tremendously and glad i bought it, any graffiti writer should have this book on the shelf next to all the other homage books of the street life growing up.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellently executed, this is the ultimate blackbook for all REAL graf heads!
May 6, 2008
By Juli
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
PIECEBOOK: The Secret Drawings of Graffiti Writers has successfully compiled a who's who of writer's writers in a format that looks so legit, you'd swear you could feel the grooves in the pages left by pencils and pens... As authentic and realistic as possible, there are even a few blank sheets to get up yourself! I even tried to peel the sticker off the inside cover! Villorente & Jenkins have compiled every toy's fantasy blackbook!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having always had a fascination for the art of graffiti, I wanted to find a book containing colored pictures. I ordered this book after reading the great reviews, and I was totally delighted when it arrived. This book is better than pictures of graffiti. It is like the artists actually created their designs on the pages of the book! The cover is terrific, too, and there are blank pages scattered throughout...just in case you are inspired to create some art yourself.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Huge Disappointment
I could not believe how weak the art was in this book. I just kept turning the page and being re-disappointed. Read more
Published on January 27, 2011 by C. Owens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply beautiful!
From cover to cover I found Piecebook to be ascetically gorgeous. The attention to detail is superb. Read more
Published on April 4, 2010 by G.Lopez
5.0 out of 5 stars
The pieces are great.
The overall cover look of the book already deserves 5 stars. Great hardcover looks exactly like a blackbook. Read more
Published on March 11, 2010 by Szczepan Nowak
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dazzling drawings by legendary artists
"Piecebook: The Secret Drawings Of Graffiti Writers" has successfully put together a who's who of writers, and gives you an inside look at the world of graffiti through the eyes... Read more
Published on December 31, 2009 by Graffiti Diplomacy
5.0 out of 5 stars
thumbs up!
Authentic, beautifully printed, fun, and even has a page or two for you to add to it and become one of the graffiti masters. Read more
Published on April 7, 2009 by catg
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing collection of urban art
A substanial collection of grafitti art that captures the many talents of the sometimes over looked urban artist of NYC. A job well done!
Published on March 5, 2009 by J. Grimaldi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Passing around the "Piecebook"
I received this book for my birthday recently and I could not be more stoked about what's inside. First of all the intro is written very well by giving the reader just a brief... Read more
Published on October 24, 2008 by M. Preston
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Gift for the Artist
I bought this book for my son who loves graffiti art. He loves it and uses it often as he practices his own art. Read more
Published on September 8, 2008 by D. Hays
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works Of Street Artist
The PieceBook gives you an inside look to the world of graffiti through the eyes of street artist.
Published on August 25, 2008 by Blake A. Dominguez
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