250x175mm Books
Wibalin cover WB570 Black 115gsm
Gold foiling to outer
Wrapped over greyboard case
104pp Text onto 120sm Uncoated
Printed 4pp end papers onto 170gsm Uncoated
Trimmed, collated and case bound
In the world of contemporary art, few names resonate as profoundly as Shaun Friend, known to many by his artistic moniker, “Craww”. His work, a captivating blend of ethereal figures and flowing forms, has garnered international acclaim. But what truly sets Craww apart is his commitment to his drawing and tattoo craft, a journey beautifully encapsulated in his hardback book, “Vessel”.
Published by Ex Why Zed, a leader in art gallery printing, “Vessel” is more than a collection of Craww’s work—it’s a chronicle of his artistic evolution. The book features over five years of sketches, offering readers an intimate look at Craww’s creative process. From initial pencil strokes to completed works, “Vessel” showcases the artist’s journey in its raw, unfiltered form.
“Vessel” is a testament to the power of perseverance and the beauty of artistic evolution. When Craww quit his job as a graphic designer to pursue art full-time, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery and creative exploration. Over the next five years, he filled more than 500 sketchbook pages with stunning pencil sketches and drawings, each one a step further along the road to creating the art he aspired to.
The book is a 250x175mm hardback, with a cover made from Wicotex Brillianta (Colour: Hellgrau). The cover is wrapped over a greyboard case, featuring gold foiling on the outer surface for a touch of elegance. Inside, the book contains 104 pages printed onto 170gsm uncoated paper, offering a tactile experience that complements the visual journey. The end papers are printed onto 170gsm uncoated paper, adding a final touch of quality to the book.
Craww’s journey is not just about his own evolution as an artist—it’s also about inspiring others to embark on their own creative journeys. Through “Vessel”, Craww hopes to offer readers an insight into his process and perhaps even inspire them to pick up a pencil themselves. As he puts it, “My sketchbook is a place where it’s impossible to make mistakes. No marks, no pencil stroke or charcoal smudge is ‘wrong,’ each is a step further along the road to creating the art I aspire to.”
Ex Why Zed’s commitment to quality is evident in every page of “Vessel”. From the choice of materials to the precision of the printing, every aspect of the book’s production was handled with the utmost care. This commitment to quality is a hallmark of Ex Why Zed’s work, as seen in other projects such as the Massimo Rumi hardback photo book and the Spirit of Adventure art catalogue.
“Vessel” is more than just a hardback book—it’s a journey through the creative process, a testament to the power of perseverance, and a beacon of inspiration for aspiring artists. It’s a shining example of what can be achieved when passion meets quality printing, and a testament to the power of art to inspire and transform. Whether you’re an artist yourself or simply an admirer of beautiful things, “Vessel” is a book that deserves a place on your shelf. Tattoo artwork does look really superb when printed onto uncoated paper. It is a medium that translates well to print.
Today I finally got the final printed copies of “Vessel” delivered and I’m so happy with how the book has turned out, it’s everything I hoped for!
It’s been a long time in happening. A book has been something I’ve had in mind for a few years now, actually taking the step and launching the Kickstarter was a daunting prospect.
But here we are! Thank you to all that supported the project, I’m excited to finally be able to share the book – if you missed the Kickstarter, there will be a few copies of the book available in my store at www.craww.bigcartel.com soon.
