My Quarantine Sketchbook Project

By Izzy Singer

Sheltered In -Pandemic Sketchbook by Sharshira [Sharon Shiraiwa] (She/Her)

Call Number: 416.13-02

Sharon Shiraiwa’s uses colored pencils and ironic Presidential quotes bring much-needed humor to quarantine. Her detailed illustrations of animals and fictional creatures inspire us to be safe and self-care through the monotony of staying inside. Using her typography skills, the artist created medievalist pages to quotes from the 45th President with date stamps, emulating that of a biblical quote. Her humor and design make this book a wonderful read. Sharon is a retired elementary school teacher who has participated in various crafts exhibitions across Connecticut, “...showing my crafts in decorative boxes using washi paper and baubles.” She draws inspiration from her Japanese American heritage. She told us, “Briefly, ‘Sheltered In’ was created during CT’s shut down this spring as a way to turn my pessimism into something more positive and humorous using elements from my cultural background.”

Quarantine (COVID-19) by Jayde Pang (She/Her)

Call Number: 416.11-10

Jayde Pang uses her sketchbook to share small moments. The sketchbook features close ups of objects one might see around the house and breathes new life into them with ink and color pencils. It is a calming collection of illustrations. Colored pencils and inks admitted mediums of choice but she also uses paints if she is in the mood. If you would like to see more of her work she has a website jaydepang.com and an instagram (@concrete.design).

Random Thoughts by Carlos Carrillo (He/Him)

Call number: 416.14-04

Carlos Carillo is a QA at a tech company who is most comfortable with ballpoint pens, fountain pens and watercolor. In his sketchbook his ballpoint pen sketches capture people and moments from 2020 as well as original characters and birds he loves. With powerful expressions and emphasized features he tells a story we know from the news and each other. His sketchbook includes people, things, and small personal comics in both English and Spanish. His work can be seen on behance.net/carloscarrillo and instagram instagram.com/carloscarrillo_art.

An Unexpected Pandemic by Eduarda Coquet (She/Her)

Call number: 412.02-08

Eduarda Coquet is a visual artist and retired Professor of Artistic Education at the University of Minho located in Braga, Portugal. Her sketchbook… She curates a collection of photographs of essential workers in PPE gear, collections of inky/distressed words we hear often: “Quarantine,” “Stay At Home,” as well as more abstract statements such as “Restart Living,” and “the world seen through the windows.” She is currently interested in ceramics and posts her work on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eduarda.coquet.