This Is for You

If you believe in love, but find it difficult to explain—this is for you.

Renowned screen printer and artist Rob Ryan's exquisitely detailed and sweetly whimsical papercuts have graced book covers, album covers, and the fashion collections of Paul Smith. In This Is for You, Ryan takes his unique vision and crafts a book-length valentine that will move the heart and engage the spirit with its charm and artistry.

Hand cut and hand painted, each page of Ryan's book can stand alone as a striking art piece, or be read as part of a larger tale of a young man's love and his ultimate triumph over loneliness. Ripe with evocative imagery and a heartfelt text, This Is for You is a powerful combination of poetry, graphic novel, and museum-quality art—but at its heart, it's a simple yet timeless tale of love.

Inspired to begin drawing at a very young age in Cyprus, Rob Ryan studied Fine Art at Nottingham Trent Polytechnic before going on to receive an MA in Printmaking at the Royal College of Art in London. Read more about his work on the Chronicle Books Blog, on the new California Home and Design website, and on Rob's blog, and even purchase his original screen prints on Etsy. But be forewarned: once you experience the magical work of Rob Ryan, you just might find him as irresistible as we do.

WIN A LIMITED EDITION SCREEN PRINT FOR VALENTINE'S DAY!

This is for you: Because we love you, Chronicle Books and Urban Outfitters have joined together to offer a special Valentine's Day promotion just for our fans. Click here and enter to win a limited edition Rob Ryan screen print, "Every Beat of My Heart" and a copy of This is for You. One grand prize winner will be selected, and five runners-up will receive a copy of the book. Winners will be notified on February 12, 2009, see contest details for more information.

More Art and Design Titles

Manuel Alvarez Bravo
Photopoetry

Manuel Alvarez Bravo (1902-2002) picked up a camera in 1923, unaware that he would go on to become Mexico's most celebrated photographer. This first major retrospective of his eighty-year career, showcases hundreds of iconic photographs and unveils more than twenty previously unpublished images.

Odyssey
The Photographs of Linda Connor

In Linda Connor's photographs, even the humblest subjects assume a visual radiance. From the clarity of her portraits and landscapes to her sunlight printing technique, Connor's body of work evokes a sense of otherworldly serenity.

California Academy of Sciences

This is the story of an architectural masterpiece detailing the intricacies of form and function: its 2.5-acre rooftop garden, the 60,000 photovoltaic cells designed to power the building, and its use of natural light and ventilation.

Right
Portraits from the Evangelical
Ivy League

Patrick Henry College is the higher education institution of choice among politically far-right young people aspiring to enter the conservative power elite. Acclaimed photographer Jona Frank presents an honest, intimate, and eye-opening portrait of the school and its students.