I was introduced to Jere Smith by the chair of the design department during my final year at Cornish College. Jere is an illustrator, painter, and all around lovely man filled with stories to share. A true wordsmith, Jere had collected a lifetime of stories into a typed manuscript which had already undergone a multitude of revisions.
Jere’s intent was to present each story along with paintings, illustrations, photos, and ephemera inspired by or related to the story. The process we embarked on was a learning curve for both the author and designer. The manuscript was in active review and underwent major changes throughout the design and layout process. The author had also amassed a vast library of images found on many generations of storage technology. Imagery included photos and documentation of his paintings and illustrations from which he wanted to select particular images to insert at relevant points in the text. I also scanned numerous pieces of ephemera—postcards, advertisements, patches, and more.
The result was a full-color book which tells Jere’s story, from childhood to today, with humor and honesty. Paired with his lively imagery, the book truly embodies Jere’s friendly, unique personality.
Details
- Hardcover with perfect-bound pages
- Digital color printing
- W 8.5in x H 11in
- Kindle print-replica eBook, 250 pages
- Jere Smith, 2017
- For sale at jeresmith.com