James Cook Uses Typewriter to Create Art

Architecture student and artist James Cook found a creative way to make art. He uses a typewriter to “print” landscapes and portraits using regular keyboard characters. Cook has a great collection of vintage typewriters and has recently began using them to make these awesome illustrations. He calls them “typictions” and has recently displayed them at the Wonky Wheel Gallery in Finchingfield, England.

For the show, Cook made a series of illustrations inspired by the Essex countryside, where he was born and has spent months during the COVID-19 pandemic. “James is from Braintree, Essex and is studying for a master’s degree in architecture at UCL, London,” his website reads. “In the past seven years he has produced more than one hundred typewritten drawings.” He creates art using around 30 typewriters from his collection. Some of them date back to the 1930s.

Cook’s limited edition prints, as well as the original works, are available in his online shop. You can follow him on Instagram to stay up to date with his work and scroll down to check out some of our picks. His work has been featured in many different places around the world, including The Kelly Clarkson Show and The Morning Show Australia.