“Only Draw When You Are Tired” is a captivating publication that offers an intimate journey through the artistic world of Austrian visual artist Lavinia Lanner. Designed by solo ohne – a Viennese design studio known for its innovative and thoughtful approach to visual communication – collaborated with Lanner on this project, exemplifying their commitment to creating designs that complement and elevate the content they encompass.
The publication marks a significant milestone in Lanner’s career, being her first substantial release. It encapsulates two decades of her artistic journey, offering readers a comprehensive insight into her world of drawing. The book is a process-oriented guide through Lanner’s studio life, inviting reflection on the fundamental aspects of drawing and illustrating how everyday life can be transformed into pencil lines.
The essence behind the bold red, white, and black design concept of the publication
Lanner’s drawings are renowned for their bold black-and-white aesthetics and intricate pencil work. To complement and enhance these characteristics, studio solo ohne introduced a vibrant neon red element into the book’s design. This choice was intentional, aiming to match the fresh, forward-thinking ideas present in Lanner’s work. The interplay between the monochrome drawings and the neon accents creates a dynamic visual experience for the reader.
Innovative design choices further enrich the publication. Instead of traditional pagination, large neon red or black markers — comprising numbers and letters — are used to denote artworks, studio photographs, texts, interviews, and quotes. This approach fosters dynamic page compositions and guides readers through the content in an engaging manner. Additionally, the decision to leave the black binding thread visible adds a raw, authentic touch to the book’s overall aesthetic. The use of the Decay font introduces a blend of casualness and strength, mirroring the essence of Lanner’s artistic style.
The book’s cover features a unique sketch specifically developed by Lanner for the publication, while the intriguing title is a quote that resonated with the artist
Departing from her typical central object-focused compositions, the cover drawing fills the entire format with intriguing empty spaces in the middle, acting as a portal that invites readers into the book’s depths. “The three central shapes are cut out so they allow a certain preview to the next page – or resemble a portal that leads to the inside of the book”, Lanner explains. “I like the idea that it is not strictly two-dimensional – but that the drawn lines rather suggest a kind of depth, and on top also the surface as such is permeable.”
Only draw when you are tired because you then draw what is necessary.
The intriguing title, “Only Draw When You Are Tired,” originates from a quote by Phyllida Barlow, a former professor of Lanner’s at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. The complete quote, “Only draw when you are tired because you then draw what is necessary,” resonated deeply with Lanner. It prompted reflections on what is essential in art, challenging the artist to eliminate the unnecessary and focuse solely on the core elements of their work.
The choice of materials plays a crucial role in the book’s tactile and visual appeal
For the cover and core, Munken Lynx Rough paper was selected in weights of 300g and 120g. This paper not only matches the color of Lanner’s original drawing paper but also possesses the necessary thickness for the large die-cut on the cover while remaining foldable. “The thinner Fluo Poster red paper creates a striking contrast against the black-and-white elements throughout the book. We were concerned that binding the different paper weights, especially the thin 90g Fluo Poster red, could cause problems during the finishing process. However, everything worked out well, and the materials could be processed together without any issues,” solo ohne explains.
Neon papers have a special fluorescent coating on one side. Through their nature, they enhance book production by adding vibrant, attention-grabbing elements to covers, dividers, or special sections. Additionally, they are compatible with standard printing techniques, ensuring versatility in design and production. Fluo Poster is available in five vibrant colours (pink, red, orange, yellow and green) and can be found exclusively at Europapier Group.
The publication utilizes a two-color printing process: black and the special neon red Pantone 805U. The neon paper wraps around the white pages, causing the spine to glow red, a feature achieved through open thread binding. Inspired by the pencil strokes in Lanner’s artwork, black thread was chosen for the bookbinding. The cover’s die-cut design reveals portions of the book’s core and its title, adding an interactive element to the reader’s experience.
“Only Draw When You Are Tired” is available for purchase through VFMK Verlag für moderne Kunst. The publication is a testament to Lanner’s journey as an artist and explorer of the question: What is necessary and what is left when all unnecessary is eliminated?
Images © solo ohne — Studio for Design