Art&Culture, Publications
BETWEEN THE LINES
French artist Jochen Gerner distils the magic and energy of dogs using disarmingly simple techniques, relying on felt pens and school notebooks.
s READ MORE
CLOSE
CLOSE
BETWEEN THE LINES
Some of the world’s best ideas were born of doodling in the margins of notebooks. And some of the most captivating dog-centric art was born—and will stay—on the grid-lined pages of school notebooks. Because it’s French artist Jochen Gerner’s signature style, a technique he perfected when striving to capture the chromatic patterns of birds’ plumage.
The resulting collection of bird illustrations (published as a book) led Gerner to dogs: “I started drawing them when I realised that they could be sketched with a simple silhouette. It’s an abstract form, more or less vague, with more or less long hair. By simply drawing two eyes and a nose on this very graphic shape, I could immediately evoke each dog in a very expressive way. So, it became a very interesting motif for building another collection.”
Drawn with pigmented Indian ink felt pens on lined and squared school notebooks (sourced specifically from China and India), Gerner’s illustrations are intriguingly paradoxical, their apparent simplicity a ruse for detail and complexity. It’s a style referred to by some as ‘abundant minimalism’.
Gerner’s love for the simple line and the nostalgic square of a school notebook brings a unique charm to his work. It captures the spirit of dogs in a way that’s both straightforward and intricate. The unassuming nature of his medium contrasts playfully with the depiction of each dog’s character—they cheekily leap off the page in ways that defy their pared-back bones. It’s a light-hearted dance between the routine and the artistic. It’s clear that the artist finds joy and magic in the ordinary, transforming it into something quietly extraordinary.
Dogs is published by Éditions B42
—
All artwork courtesy of Jochen Gerner and Éditions B42
jochengerner.com
@jochengerner
TAKE THE LEAD
We are thrilled to introduce Dog-Friendly, a collection of city guides for dog-loving people, created together with our long-time contributor, photographer Winnie Au, and fellow enthusiasts, indie publisher Hoxton Mini Press. Available for purchase here.
August 25, 2021
PACK OF DOGS
Have you ever imagined Amy Winehouse or Nick Cave as a Chihuahua, Neil Young as a Vizsla, or PJ Harvey as an Afghan hound? That’s exactly what San Francisco-based artist Michael Gillette has done through his unique illustration project, blending beloved, iconic music legends, both past and present, with their dog counterparts. Pack of Dogs, our first foray into book publishing, is a celebration of pup and pop culture for music and dog lovers alike.
August 25, 2020
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Spanish photographer Sara Monsalve strives to ‘capture your memories’—to immortalise the beauty, innocence and wisdom of our pets.
November 8, 2023
JUMP FOR JOY
Photographer Rebecca Rinaldi knows that to capture a dog’s true essence, play is the key ingredient.
July 13, 2023
PLAY DATE
An antidote to mass-produced dog accessories, MiaCara’s range of carefully crafted toys are designed to surprise, endure and delight.
July 12, 2023
REALLY GOOD DOGS
Photographer Randal Ford’s fierce clarity draws dogs’ personality to the fore to reveal each animal’s “true essence”.
June 8, 2023
JET SET PET
Moving your buddy from A to be B becomes an exercise in style, comfort and convenience with Cloud7’s Travel Collection.
June 2, 2023
NATURAL INSTINCT
In his series ‘Kinetic’, San Diego-based photographer James Lee celebrates dogs at full speed.
May 7, 2023
POODLE ELITE
Jouk Oosterhof photographs Amsterdam’s beloved family members (with a dash of lifestyle accessory).
May 3, 2023
TEAM EFFORT
What started as a fundraising effort to save photographer Kristoffer Paulsen’s beloved dog Josie, morphed into Melbourne’s most in-demand pet portraits.
March 31, 2023
KINGDOM OF HOUNDS
For decades, legendary Irish documentary photographer Tony O’Shea has captured the country’s annual drag hunt, and a country’s rich history along with it.
March 24, 2023
THE DOG MAKER
Thanks to hungry wolves and ancient humans, there are over 350 dog breeds in the world today. Artist Hosung Jang offers more.
February 27, 2023
Loading more posts...