Oooo don’t you just love it when you get a new batch of books? The sound of the spine cracking as it’s opened for the first time, the smell of the pages as you open it up..?

Yeah, I like it too. Which is just as well since over the last month I’ve been treated to some lovely ones by our good old Owen.
I can’t get enough of Ashley Wood’s illustrations and paintings; he’s one of my favourites. There’s just something about the way he works his paint and the closer to the pictures you get the more detail you find. Tank Girl is a beautiful, disgusting, amazing and grim woman/girl, who I’ve somehow grown to love greatly. The Tank Girl: The Gifting book was a present for my birthday last month from my good friend and lover of Japanisms and comic books, Mike. He knows me too well!
Akira Club- just ‘cause I love Akira THAT much. I’m more than dubious about how Hollywood are going to re-make the super-futuristic cult 80s classic (which had much to say regarding the then politics in Japan) and turn it somehow into an Americanised (sorry, Hollywood-ised) modern-day blockbuster? Surely the story would have to completely changed to be of any relevance to today’s society? Although, having said that- I don’t know much about 80s Japanese politics and I love Akira all the same. I just hope it doesn’t get ruined (anyone remember the Dragonball movie? No, me neither.).
As a long-time lover of print (ANY print: screen, drypoint, intaglio, woodblock, digital, etc, etc.) how could I NOT want Taschen’s Hiroshige book? His prints were strangely simple, yet full of detail and absolutely brimming with beautiful colour. Mmm.

And last, but not least, the book in the first picture: Print Workshop. Since I’ve become slightly obsessed with print the last few months, I decided to get this little book which is apparently full of tips, tricks and techniques for hand-printing at home. I’ve not had a proper look through it yet, but I guess when I start posting my prints you’ll know it worked! Since the author is Christine Schmidt, founder of Yellow Owl Workshop (find their stuff at Urban Outfitters!) I thought it would most likely prove to be an interesting read.