I love all kinds of books but especially beautifully illustrated coffee table books. I have a small collection of these treasured volumes & love flipping through them for inspiration. Since each of these books deserves its own blog post, I figured I wouldn't lump them all together like I usually do for my collections posts. Keep an eye out for future installments!
The first book I want to show you showcases the life work of one of my favourite artists, Charley Harper (I've talked about him before).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01j0JK2YEjGTdExKa9BTyJ0yAw2Kx2wTzPXJ_5SN0Jgi8G63HOq5BOToP4dpc8A9vVhRmSU2suyHCQz7DnonG2ax1y12fd3d98OGJHEnfFfjGwmY-6Dn-6cUohKq5W8vmzg0jYbuoUNYy/s400/july8+122+(Large).jpg)
Charley Harper - An Illustrated Life by Todd Oldham
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14F1lAr8K-2lehyphenhyphenEDUSwjP2WYIruKRjW1AQ18cwI8IDMu64P7K4IpNE-r0He4atHbFB7gFedP2qith0Oy-T9NmjBB7iW2Z6u73eVYD6FSG4R1mGLnhyphenhyphenh7ci2qUGcIQDO7vsQFCr4o9TEn/s400/july8+124+(Large).jpg)
Even the inside covers display his vibrant artwork. Inside, there are pictures of the author too:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1VulhdFyn_bkApyc4y2R-YAoTDhh3d1oTVkt0XAsKoS7jp90AXXghBm_V4ZzAkKrLByxL5GgN8MXaEIal7kTSDdN50qz7LWcImmkSB1c_mRoKNgEyWfb9LoYYo3SRr9kFdMdrSY9oxXx/s400/front_spread.jpg)
The book is broken into sections, starting with an interview with the artist, various books & magazines he illustrated, advertising, mosaics, paintings & posters:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBBNYhQ-UJHJdjKdpqqkgWUVO_mluiCG-9J-Zml1kiQ4J1k3ltjqwi7SwXOUfW0cgS025k7HLIPX3Ic2Sn0XLKyOVsTqv85lZCd383LsMK3dKCdbUNA8lxo7EZUGh-8qg_gnikoXmLjp8/s400/july8+141+(Large).jpg)
The author, Todd Oldham, tried to compile as much of Charley Harper's work as he could - but even the artist himself didn't know where all of it may be.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMGhCqAmWi_DPRHUukZMqN4w69rb6ZXPsQgvMFabpxKUWwdlaPMNRWXtAoNqXO5J-KDAJ2PsScelJ8Pm4T6QPwOjFpoEOv-f5w-13ygWxEQBEDzbWy9UHypEP3O0-hyTsMsIQL95YnyJb/s400/july8+138+(Large).jpg)
I think my favourite section is the Giant Golden Book of Biology:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijteskunb3uF9IFMjVbGBt7hLKYvG3o1oAilvzacOPfNgow7l8QiL_OtXOFNRt6Su5HkC9xU478ANKMP8PQaQQZN2aeRqTMceV71yx74796pPQ1SPissHdLVldrVwkJE86h7VbTTdTF5Hx/s400/july8+153+(Large).jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK1YYCr3BLkaEEDQzhTnkUekCPnKkD91a6DB55jSb-wsDya-ViYXNfSgklKC-Xe4FI5TVwKv7loGdWUZs41XCT6TjtzEHdYVxszv0rGYguihAdFaVI7HWBECqZWnyu6hnrvYc1nji09__/s400/science_spread.jpg)
But the distinctive birds are spectacular too:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H37tSftmbpjC8XJJO8b0XtxnrnErjhUaSc_PNJPFH8b1Oug6D2EcR3BfocBHFYaQjM8EAdK2uWmgJ4GAlFHCObkxmnnmyi0HPWMub9uyNFyl-mIj3YQz5N4ZW6lOtM029edteObHtj6L/s400/july8+172+(Large).jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblVvfdqOyASj8_pi-fZTsu_1-B3Xf9OleXeKYtMq8DD0oSao5BZzOw_mMdw7JI4fbUNCe7Wp7nlP6epRKlcJAJJNQnqbybm6gylcLoMdfZgXtGLgW4h4dfC7KqclIKBsl4quMcTYbXrPv/s400/july8+188+(Large).jpg)
I was particularly awed by the murals:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9K91NNvYzOGL3f96y33dAINV0KZy3V8vJvEslEJRSQuYHHMOReackDmgxcJmA5f3lP4oF8ph8DgOB5AKz16niobwMUw85AJQmJoj06rTfFyTN5vKYasM3F5WUQ3IVJKHeCSECpg80C09y/s400/july8+186+(Large).jpg)
Many of the advertisements & magazine illustrations were very recognizable (& beautiful):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0GnhkAETsHE_wQ4YBlyQaan_aLcQh6bFazhNWzwSs9r9suAoNpKNYOh4CeQPYjqKwDrBftOgpBsbYMw-fpMo7PnQeBDH0YwHHsngq0nJm1694Wrs1dlsseHsBYd89gLOdW3tvZAq_nwD/s400/people_spread.jpg)
One of the best parts is getting to see preliminary sketches of complete paintings & works in progress:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkr01k4_TP5kN8CELcJbNUWsGCXlAFWgZUmwVFg0n2Hmx2L3g4n1w5mJh28kdrS-xSMt2W5nsHMHBZtpdCluHU54ATwBybBz5rRg1GLGxmEhp1Xp9v5OsfNOV69izmPAksWnH0jksG12k/s400/bird_spread.jpg)
Really, this book is awesome. Each time I pick it up, I see something I hadn't noticed before. Charley Harper's work is truly inspiring.
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