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How to Produce Better Art Books
The best art books connect art and artists with readers in engaging and memorable ways. Unfortunately,
too many suffer from unfocused ambition and a lack of basic planning, resulting in publications that miss their
mark.
Cultural Communications invited Ed Marquand of Marquand Books in Seattle to share his top tips for producing better
art books. Marquand Books designs and produces books for artists, designers, architects, photographers and
cultural institutions. The company is well worth adding to your rolodex.
Here are his secrets to creating a successful art book.
Know what you want your book to achieve. Gather and
prepare content accordingly.
Be clear on what must be included in the book, and what is
optional.
Consider the structure of your book. An illustrated essay followed
by a plate section might be appropriate for a book that is heavy on the art and light on the story. However,
a complex narrative is better served with tightly integrated text and illustration.
If you contract a writer to contribute to your
book, be specific about the assignment. Establish word counts, deadlines and responsibilities.
Who will source and acquire figure illustrations and permissions? How will editing and review of typeset
galleys be handled?
Ask your writer for a content outline. It’s a good way to make
sure your expectations are in synch.
Avoid the temptation to tell too much in your book. Stick to the
essential story. Tell it clearly, succinctly and accurately.
Allow enough time to prune and shape the manuscript to its best length
and highest quality. An art book editor recently told an author, “Cut 200 pages out of that
manuscript and you will have a much better book.”
One of the most challenging aspects of art book publishing is finding the right
balance between the text and the artwork. Illustrations should support the text, and the text
should support the illustrations.
Quality color reproduction is essential, and isn’t difficult to
achieve when you work from high quality photographs.
Digital files vary in size and quality. Research what the printer will
need to get the quality you expect.
Good editing is invisible. Work closely with a professional and
experienced art book editor who understands your goals.
Allow yourself much more time than you initially think is necessary to
produce your book. Quality art book publishing takes time and attention to detail.
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Marquand Books has worked with over one hundred museums to publish exhibition catalogues, collection
books, handbooks and monographs. They work with major art book publishers and university presses
to develop titles with strong trade potential. To learn more, visit www.marquandbooks.com
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