Leo's Pillar
During the early days of the pandemic, my son Leo became obsessed with the renowned photobook The Pillar by the photographer Stephen Gill. In that book, every wondrous picture depicts birds (from raptors to songbirds) that land on a pillar in the middle of a remote field in Sweden. A motion-detecting camera on a facing pillar captures the whimsical compositions of each bird.
Enamored by the photographs, Leo began to draw and paint his own interpretations of Gill's photographs of birds on oversized sketch pad book pages, a practice he continued for the next four years. The illustrations and paintings vary in process and sophistication, from line drawing to watercolor and crayon-resist paintings, mirroring Leo's own growth as a young artist from age seven to eleven.
This limited-edition zine echoes the physicality and simple design of Leo’s original book pages, including every finger print, errant watercolor droplet and crayon smudge on the facing pages. Leo’s Pillar is a child’s creative reminder to slow down, pick up a photobook, and become inspired.
40 pages / 13.75x11 inches
Original artwork by Leo Johnson, published by Dad
Limited Edition of 100
$25 + shipping
(international orders please contact me directly)
During the early days of the pandemic, my son Leo became obsessed with the renowned photobook The Pillar by the photographer Stephen Gill. In that book, every wondrous picture depicts birds (from raptors to songbirds) that land on a pillar in the middle of a remote field in Sweden. A motion-detecting camera on a facing pillar captures the whimsical compositions of each bird.
Enamored by the photographs, Leo began to draw and paint his own interpretations of Gill's photographs of birds on oversized sketch pad book pages, a practice he continued for the next four years. The illustrations and paintings vary in process and sophistication, from line drawing to watercolor and crayon-resist paintings, mirroring Leo's own growth as a young artist from age seven to eleven.
This limited-edition zine echoes the physicality and simple design of Leo’s original book pages, including every finger print, errant watercolor droplet and crayon smudge on the facing pages. Leo’s Pillar is a child’s creative reminder to slow down, pick up a photobook, and become inspired.
40 pages / 13.75x11 inches
Original artwork by Leo Johnson, published by Dad
Limited Edition of 100
$25 + shipping
(international orders please contact me directly)
During the early days of the pandemic, my son Leo became obsessed with the renowned photobook The Pillar by the photographer Stephen Gill. In that book, every wondrous picture depicts birds (from raptors to songbirds) that land on a pillar in the middle of a remote field in Sweden. A motion-detecting camera on a facing pillar captures the whimsical compositions of each bird.
Enamored by the photographs, Leo began to draw and paint his own interpretations of Gill's photographs of birds on oversized sketch pad book pages, a practice he continued for the next four years. The illustrations and paintings vary in process and sophistication, from line drawing to watercolor and crayon-resist paintings, mirroring Leo's own growth as a young artist from age seven to eleven.
This limited-edition zine echoes the physicality and simple design of Leo’s original book pages, including every finger print, errant watercolor droplet and crayon smudge on the facing pages. Leo’s Pillar is a child’s creative reminder to slow down, pick up a photobook, and become inspired.
40 pages / 13.75x11 inches
Original artwork by Leo Johnson, published by Dad
Limited Edition of 100
$25 + shipping
(international orders please contact me directly)