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Stuart Sutcliffes 1957/58 Liverpool Sketchbook

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Music Memorabilia Start Price:NA Estimated At:25,000.00 - 45,000.00 USD
Stuart Sutcliffes 1957/58 Liverpool Sketchbook
To the artist, the sketchbook is more than a bundle of blank papers sandwiched between a front and a back cover; rather it’s an embryonic field wherein any (or all) creative first impulses are made “flesh” by a few simple pencil marks. This part of the creative process, is, perhaps, the most important; the inception! That first initial idea can (and will) sprout into dozens of other concepts, directions or meanings. Some of these ideas will flourish into a finished project and some will be destroyed or discarded by the artist himself--as this is his own world. Stuart Sutcliffe’s world is well documented here in his very own sketchbook that was used by him thoroughly in 1957-58 in his Liverpool art school days. This hardbound, 7 x 9” sketchbook contains 136 pages; all but two containing some type of artwork. There are many human figure studies (clothed and nude) as well as gesture drawings in pencil, fine point pen and India ink. Three entire color pages are fully finished town scenes with multiple houses that perhaps were done in the cubist style of Cezanne, Duchamp or Picasso. Other sketches show that Sutcliffe was doing sketch studies of statuary (possibly a large art museum) which is a standard art school exercise. Also quite the norm was sketching people on the streets, parks and cafe’s--all represented here too by Stuart. One page seems to be a self-portrait sketch of Sutcliffe (looking quite intense). Also in the book are some detailed (and well done) studies of buildings, architecture and general street scenes (Liverpool or other). Sutcliffe was very conscious with his exercises; one of note is a two page study in light and shadow, done in India ink pen and washes. He is wholly successful as you can see in this study called “cafe scene”. Human figures are carefully blocked out, placed and rendered as a solitary light source illuminates Stuart’s illustration. Further into the book, we find four pages of water color wash over pen lines that do show figures holding musical instruments; one of which later reveals itself to be John Lennon with a mandatory “skiffle” instrument in hand; the washboard; this being the first of two pages in which John is Stuart’s subject. A Paul McCartney profile is also seen on another page. It goes without saying that here in this exhaustive book of sketches Sutcliffe exhibits his thirst and, ultimately, his understanding into the mechanics and beauty of modern art... and quite possibly himself. On the inside front cover, Sutcliffe has signed his name and identified the book as being “Group II, Inter. Year. British comedian Spike Milligan and two other unidentified autographs are seen on the opposite page. On the inside back cover are two different song listings in Stuart’s hand; the first being a list of eight traditional American country blues and folk songs popularized by mid-1950’s British skiffle king and early influence on The Beatles, Lonnie Donegan. Among the songs included: Midnight Special, Railroad Bill, Worried Mans Blues and Frankie & Johnny. It is interesting to note that Stuart’s close friend, John Lennon, was covering these very same songs with The Quarry Men at the time. The second list of four songs, subtitled “Rock & Roll,” includes Don’t Be Cruel, Daddy-O, Hound Dog and Singing The Blues. The skiffle craze in Britain coincided with the emergence of the rock n roll era; both genres serving as watershed moments for millions of British youth. A second Sutcliffe signature appears on one of the pages of art. The hardbound covers of the sketchbook are quite worn, while the inside pages are overall VG+; a few pages being partially cut by scissors.