Some may say typewriters are a thing of the past, but British artist James Cook is proving otherwise with his art. Using only manual typewriters, James creates incredibly detailed portraits, cityscapes, and still lifes made entirely from letters, numbers, and symbols. Since his last feature, he’s collaborated with singer Robbie Williams, typed live at iconic London landmarks like The Ritz and Royal Albert Hall, and captured the energy of New York in one of his most popular pieces to date.
What began with a single antique machine has turned into a 30-typewriter collection, each one helping him push the boundaries of what this forgotten tool can do. Some of his most complex works take up to 30 hours and include over 100,000 keystrokes, but the results speak for themselves.
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This was how I got started as an artist. I was in the US Air Force in the late 1980s-early 1990s. I worked in a job where I used an electric typewriter. One day I started goofing around with the typewriter and made a basic illustration. Then I kept doing more of them and got good at it. My workplace displayed some of my art. Even our squadron commander had one on the wall in his office. After leaving the Air Force, I went to college and earned a degree in Graphic Design. I did that kind of work for 13 years before switching to healthcare.
I don’t know which one of these was my favorite of the compositions because all of them are appealing in their own ways! I could not decide which one I liked the best.
This was how I got started as an artist. I was in the US Air Force in the late 1980s-early 1990s. I worked in a job where I used an electric typewriter. One day I started goofing around with the typewriter and made a basic illustration. Then I kept doing more of them and got good at it. My workplace displayed some of my art. Even our squadron commander had one on the wall in his office. After leaving the Air Force, I went to college and earned a degree in Graphic Design. I did that kind of work for 13 years before switching to healthcare.
I don’t know which one of these was my favorite of the compositions because all of them are appealing in their own ways! I could not decide which one I liked the best.