Artist James Cook has found an unexpected use for typewriters. The man creates impressively detailed landscapes and portraits on sheets of paper.
Some people may think of typewriters as a thing of the past, but British artist James Cook has found a creative way to use the vintage technology. He creates detailed landscapes and portraits by carefully typing a series of letters, numbers and punctuation marks onto sheets of paper. Cook spent six years honing his skills on the old machines, producing over 100 detailed paintings.
As James Cook says, “I was inspired by the work of Paul Smith, an American typewriter artist who suffered from cerebral palsy. His condition limited his ability to make precise hand movements; however, he found control in using a typewriter. His portfolio of work spans over 70 years, and his legacy is primarily an inspiration for my drawings.”
Cook has collected nearly 30 typewriters, from portable mechanicals of the 1950s to the first electronic typewriters of the 1990s. He rotates the machines to fill orders for album covers, celebrity and pet portraits, and architectural illustrations.
