If you’re from the generation when the computer was not invented, you’d have been familiar with a manual typewriter – the contraption that enabled people to type out letters, articles, books and what have you. However, with the advent of computers and laptops, typewriters became a thing of the past.
However, the credit for reviving the lure of manual typewriters in the present times goes to James Cook, a 28-year-old London-based artist who uses them to create incredible works of art. Cook’s unique typewriter art has now caught the world’s eye, landing him spots on TV shows like The Kelly Clarkson Show and exhibitions in galleries across the UK. His collection of works has grown to over 350 intricate drawings, from tiny postcards to massive murals, all tapped out using the 44 keys of a vintage typewriter. For this talented artist, it’s still a “weird way of having fun!”
The inspiration for Cook’s typewriter art came from the late Paul Smith, a cerebral palsy patient hailed worldwide as the ‘typewriter artist’. Despite his affliction, which affected his speech, mobility, and fine motor coordination, Smith managed to create spectacular typewriter art with thousands of delicate keystrokes. His incredible artworks spanned six decades.
Cook was so inspired by Smith’s story that he made it partly the premise for his art studies at college. He kicked off his typewriter art journey by rendering The Woolworth Building in New York, though his early tries were shaky and rough. In an email to awesomebyte.com, he shared: “It was like learning a whole new language (literally) made up of punctuation marks, letters, and numbers. It was how I assembled these marks on the page that would reveal the image once you stepped back from the drawing.”
These days, Cook’s skills have sharpened. He plays with characters, letters, and punctuation marks, pressing the keys harder or softer to get the shading just right. He even hides little messages or words tied to the subject in his pieces, giving them an extra layer of cool. His architecture roots still show up big time, with sketches of famous buildings, cityscapes, and Essex landmarks he pulls straight from memory or sketches on the spot.
It wasn’t easy for this architecture student from Braintree to get his hands on a manual machine. He told bbc.com, “People don’t tend to give them to charity shops; they either chuck them out because they don’t quite work properly or they get lost through time. For me, a faulty typewriter can often work just fine in terms of using it as a tool to create art.” His first typewriter was a handsome 1956 Oliver Courier picked up from an elderly couple. Now, he’s got over 100 of them, mostly gifted by fans who’ve stuck with him, showing how tight he is with his community.
In his stash, he’s got some real gems, like one used in Buckingham Palace. Cook sticks to two or three favorites for his art, knowing their keys like the back of his hand – he says it’s like playing piano by feel. He’s also big on sharing the love, running free workshops like the ones at Trinity Buoy Wharf in 2022 for kids 11 and up to try their hand at typewriter art.
Cook, settled in the UK, gets commissions from all over the globe. He tackles all sorts of projects – album covers, book covers, pet portraits, wedding anniversary gifts, you name it. His latest piece was a whopper for a lady, stretching about 4 feet by 3 feet across three rolls of paper, packed with over a hundred thousand letters, numbers, and punctuation marks. He reckons it’s the biggest typewriter drawing ever made.
Lately, Cook’s been making waves, popping up on The Kelly Clarkson Show and getting shoutouts from big names like BBC News and Sky News. He’s whipped up art for stars like Tom Hanks, Bill Murray, Burna Boy, and Blake Shelton. His pieces have been shown off in UK galleries, including a big 2022 exhibition at Trinity Buoy Wharf with over 50 London-inspired works.
Right now, Cook’s hammering away at a book featuring 50 typewriter portraits of famous authors. He keeps pushing what he can do with his trusty machines, mixing in his love for history and buildings with every keystroke. With big plans brewing and a future looking bright, James Cook is shaking up the art scene, giving typewriter art a fresh spin for today’s world.
James Cook : Website | Instagram
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