James Cook, a 23-year-old British architecture student, has found a unique way to combine his passion for art with his love for old machines: uUse a typewriter to create stunning portraits and landscapes. This emerging talent has revolutionized the use of a device that, not long ago, was considered a relic of the past, lying in the shadow of modern computer technology.
Cook discovered the art of typing in 2014, when he encountered the work of Paul Smith, an artist who began producing similar works in the 1970s 1920. Smith, who suffered from cerebral palsy, discovered that although he could not manipulate a pencil or paintbrush, he could create impressive drawings with a typewriter. Inspired by this story, Cook decided to experiment with this technique and it soon became a passion that he continues to cultivate to this day.
James Cook uses typewriters as drawing tools, transforming letters, numbers and symbols into authentic works of art. With his deft fingers, Cook creates everything from portraits of Hollywood stars like Tom Hanks to iconic London landscapes like the Ferris wheel. London Eye and the British Parliament. “I started about five years ago, I was in college at the time and I was studying art. Just through my research, I came across this guy named Paul Smith, who had cerebral palsy… So I was really inspired by his story, I started about five years ago and I haven’t stopped since.“, said the artist.
Cook received his first typewriter from an elderly couple selling items from their dusty attic. Now, he has increased his collection to 20 typewriters, each with its own unique characteristics that bring different textures and nuances to your creations. “Obviously, it is very difficult to photograph someone and have them sit in front of me, so if someone has commissioned me to make a drawing, I ask that they send me a photograph”Cook explained in an interview for 7NEWS.
The typewriter as it is currently known has its origins in the technology of the late 19th century. The first typewriter-like device was patented by Henry Mill in England in 1714. However, it was not until 1868 when Christopher Latham SholesWith Carlos Glidden and Samuel Soule, They created the first commercially successful typewriter. The Remington No. 1as it was called, went on the market in 1873. This machine laid the foundation for the design and use of these devices for decades to come.
Throughout the 20th century, typewriters became essential items in offices and homes. There were a wide variety of models, each optimized for different types of tasks, from daily correspondence to literary composition. Mechanical typewriters were eventually replaced by electric models in the 1960s, and eventually the computer revolution of the 1980s and 1990s led to their obsolescence. However, the art of typing has once again found its place in the work of artists such as James Cook, who have given new life to these ancient tools.
Cook’s technique is based on precision and patience. He uses a variety of mechanical typewriters to type letters, numbers, and punctuation marks, which combine to form detailed images. Sometimes he employs multiple types of fonts in a single work to add depth and texture. “The 23-year-old’s palette may be limited to two colors, but his masterpieces are earning him commissions from around the world, even appearing on album covers and winning famous fans.”, highlights the artist in relation to the chromatic limitation of his art, which remains in the black and white of traditional ink ribbons.
His works have gained global recognition and have earned him commissions from various countries. Cook’s art lies not only in his ability to operate the typewriter, but also in his ability to see beyond the keys and symbols, transforming them into pieces that evoke emotions and capture the essence of his subjects.
James Cook has found in typewriters a means to express his artistic vision in a unique and captivating way. While the digital age has relegated these devices to the past, the young Briton’s work demonstrates that, with creativity and skill, even the oldest tools can be reinvented to create something totally new and meaningful.
