3 FOR 2 ART PRINTS 🤍 CODE: 3PRINTS
3 FOR 2 ART PRINTS 🤍 CODE: 3PRINTS
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OBVIOUS STATE BOOKS

Song of Myself

by Walt Whitman
Illustrated by Evan Robertson 

Walt Whitman's visionary manifesto, visually reimagined. Carefully culled to about one third of its original length, this version provides the perfect introduction to Whitman's most expansive and audacious poem. Combined with 27 illustrations, the book explores Whitman's own exuberant, witty, playful, transcendent theory of everything, beginning with "a spear of summer grass."

Only moderately well-recognized in his time, Whitman is now regarded as the first and possibly greatest of American poets.

This artful pocket edition is illustrated by Obvious State cofounder, Evan Robertson and is printed in the United States on beautiful premium paper. It makes a great gift for literature and art lovers alike. 

SPECIAL OFFER
Any 3 Books for $30
Code: 3BOOKS

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Song of Myself

FUN FACT
Leaves of Grass was a play on words: Leaves were the pages of a book in printer parlance, and grass was something of little value. Hence, Pages of Crap. Strongly disagree, Walt!

WHAT MAKES IT AWESOME?
Song of Myself is about one person and about everything. It begins with the poet, then reaches outward, expanding to every living thing and beyond, in line after line of seemingly spontaneous and endless inspiration. It’s like watching a religion with no church, book, or dogma materialize, spun out of nothing but sublime language. Yeah, it’s that good.

WHY READ IT?
It’s like taking a walk with Walt at your side, his “left hand hooking you round the waist,” as he shows you revelation after revelation. 

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Illustrated Edition

"How can artwork live on the page with poetic text in a way that enhances it without upstaging it or undermining its ability to communicate? That was my main priority, and it informed everything about the visual approach.

The stark palette, the repetition of visual elements, and the balance of art and text all serve to drive the narrative forward. While there’s no “correct” way to visualize these works, I’ve chosen to focus on the broader themes rather than the literal narration of action. I wanted to create a seamless marriage of provocative visuals and punctuated language, both exploring the same idea in slightly different ways. The result, I hope, creates a uniquely illuminating and immersive experience for the reader, where the wisdom that the author and artist explore together are brought into sharper focus."

- Evan Robertson
Obvious State Cofounder & Illustrator

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Beautiful Typography

For this project, we selected Ogg—a luscious calligraphic serif typeface designed by Lucas Sharp. The design was inspired by the iconic hand lettering of twentieth century book designer and calligrapher Oscar Ogg. It captures the unique mix of calligraphic and typographic forms he achieved through his use of hand carved pen nibs. While Ogg is high contrast and dramatic, it remains refined and warm, which we think pairs perfectly with the art. 

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