Crites' Coloring Book (Colouring Books) - Softcover

Tom Crites

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1909394300 ISBN 13: 9781909394308

Publisher: Headpress, 2016

Synopsis

A talented artist with a thirst for music and literature, Tom Crites self-published zines and contributed to the small press for over two decades. He designed album covers and t-shirts, but also created art simply because he loved to do it, often leaving his work in public places for others to find. Throughout all of this, Tom struggled with mental health issues. In August 2013, at the age of forty-five, he committed suicide.

The artworks collected here were produced by Tom over many years and are representative of his unique and largely unsung talent. Some pieces were drawn at home in his apartment, watching films he would later review for zines or online; others he sketched whilst in hospital. All are suitable for framing. Be forewarned: There are no 'mindfulness mandalas' here, no kitsch exotic flowers to relieve the stresses of your desk job. Here is a darker beauty: macabre mysticism, human-animal hybrids, hallucinatory patterns, a melding of the sublime and the horrific. The works contained in this book are evidence of a symbolic anthropology and they embody the creative spirit that carried Tom through much of his life. Do not colour them lightly.

From the introduction:

As a young child, Tom Crites drew a family of monsters when asked to draw his family. He has been drawing from his vivid, and twisted, imagination ever since. He drew inspiration from fantasy and science fiction, H.P. Lovecraft, graphic novels, pornography, and civilizations spanning the globe and ages. Over the years, Crites' work has been featured in album art, t-shirts, and in publications outside the mainstream. He was also known to leave copies of his work in public places for strangers to appreciate. Uncompromising in his work, Tom drew largely for himself. He self-published several underground magazines: Paniscus Review, Malefact, and Jesus Pinata.

He would outline a work in pencil and finish it in ink. Sometimes, he would use drafting tools to partition his works, but all of the detail was accomplished free hand. Most often, he would draw while watching movies, of which he would later write reviews. He had an incredibly intelligent and curious mind and would read widely, visit museums and galleries, and travel whenever possible to find inspiration.

To his friends, he was known to be tremendously generous and kind. He loved cooking, card games, fried pork rinds, and movies. He held a variety of jobs ranging from financial analyst for a defense contractor to trust officer for a major bank to food writer for local publications. But, through his art, he gained an international following and fans. Never able to quiet his insecurities, Tom Crites took his own life on August 20, 2013. This coloring book is one way for our family to keep his legacy alive.

-- Margaret Crites (Tom's younger sister)

About this title

About the Author

lived and worked all around the U.S., as everything from a Zamboni driver to a Trust Officer. He drew for over twenty years for zines. He designed album covers and t-shirts.

Edition details

• Publisher: Headpress
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1909394300
• ISBN 13: 9781909394308
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 100