Yoda Sketchbook Portraits
(Yoda sketchbook art by Paul Hornschemeier)
words: Bonnie Burton
How many different ways are there to draw Yoda? Fantagraphics Web Editor Mike Baehr found out when he began asking his favorite comic book artists — Daniel Clowes, Lynda Barry, Tony Millionaire, Adrian Tomine, Gilbert Hernandez, Craig McCracken, Mary Fleener, and many others — to draw his favorite Jedi Master. Starwars.com chats with Mike about his favorite, and some of the weirdest, portraits of Yoda.
Why did you decide to start a Yoda sketch book? How did you get the idea?
I actually stole the idea from my Fantagraphics co-worker Jacob Covey. We were working at Comic-Con in San Diego last year as exhibitors and Jacob started a theme sketchbook based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which was a formative series for him as a young comics lover. He was having so much fun collecting sketches that I decided I wanted to get in on the excitement too. I wanted to choose a theme that was equally formative for me, and nothing sparked my young imagination quite the way Star Wars did, so that was a no-brainer. I settled on Yoda pretty quickly because what he represents is so positive. Plus I’ve learned that, since Yoda is so iconic, artists can take a lot of creative liberties with him and he’s still recognizable, so I get a lot of great variety and creativity in the sketches.
How many drawings are in the book so far?
Right now 102, in two volumes plus a couple of loose drawings my friend David did and gave to me. Not bad considering I just started it last year, but I have a bit of an unfair advantage working in the comics industry.