Little Paintings


By James Kochalka (Top Shelf Productions)
ISBN: 978-1-60309-017-9 (HB)

James Kochalka is a prolific and always entertaining giant of comics creation, whose vast, sublimely surreal, enticing works range from kid-friendly romps such as the Glorkian Warrior and Johnny Boo series, to self-examining daily journal strip American Elf and the indescribably fun SuperF*ckers (and that’s my censorious edit there, not his…)

The author, artist, animator and rock musician is utterly wedded to the energies of creativity and this tantalizing tome gathers hundreds of mini-paintings he knocked up to sell at various conventions between 2001 and 2007. All the old familiar face are there: cats, ghosts, robots, monsters, aliens, bathrooms, birds, chicks and dudes, animals, cats, mushrooms, landscapes and weather, cats, machines and random images, all apparently arranged in no particularly order and inviting your response. Did I mention, there’s cats?

There is a narrative here, but it’s completely generated by the viewer who can’t help but create a story around the hundreds of thumbnail paintings of gloriously hued things and folks and stuff, and a lot to read in if you’re willing to take some time.

Go on, you know you want to…
© James Kochalka 2011. All rights reserved.