SNC Alum Releases 'A Drawing a Day'
Alyssa Mueller
Issue date: 11/3/08 Section: News
St. Norbert College alumnus, Chris Ayers '97, is set to release his first book that contains his art work, The Daily Zoo: Keeping the Doctor at Bay with a Drawing a Day in November. Adjunct Associate Professor of Art, Director of Art Galleries, Curator of the collection, and former professor of Ayers, Donald Taylor, has spoken highly of both Ayers and the book, providing one of the reviews on Amazon.com.
"A special book by a special person for the kid in us all," Taylor's review states. "Even in their sixties and beyond."
The book was inspired after Ayers, a free lance concept artist in Los Angeles, was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in 2005. According to his website, a year after the diagnosis, he gave himself the assignment of drawing an animal a day.
"My hope, in addition to being challenging and fun, was that it would help my healing process and give me a focused opportunity to appreciate the gift of each healthy day," Ayers stated on the site.
The Daily Zoo is a compilation of those 365 drawings Ayers created the year after his diagnoses. The book also includes short excerpts of explanation and reflection of each sketch.
Ayers, who continues to do a drawing a day, visited SNC in September on his day 903 along with alumnus Nick Patton '03 for a book signing and reception. Taylor explained that upon arrival to the Bush Art Center, people were lining up to buy the book. Ayers spent the evening both signing and personalizing each book with sketches of animals for guests.
"It's an indication of what a giving person he is to take that extra effort," Taylor stated.
Taylor expressed fond memories of Ayers as a student at the college, explaining that he was "very, very talented" and a slow, dedicated worker.
"It's sort of like bragging about your kids," Taylor stated. "I just always tell my students about him."
According to Taylor, the SNC graduate is in the process of creating an alphabet book. Its release is dependent upon time and the success of The Daily Zoo.
For more information on Ayers and his book, visit chrisayersdesign.com.
"A special book by a special person for the kid in us all," Taylor's review states. "Even in their sixties and beyond."
The book was inspired after Ayers, a free lance concept artist in Los Angeles, was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in 2005. According to his website, a year after the diagnosis, he gave himself the assignment of drawing an animal a day.
"My hope, in addition to being challenging and fun, was that it would help my healing process and give me a focused opportunity to appreciate the gift of each healthy day," Ayers stated on the site.
The Daily Zoo is a compilation of those 365 drawings Ayers created the year after his diagnoses. The book also includes short excerpts of explanation and reflection of each sketch.
Ayers, who continues to do a drawing a day, visited SNC in September on his day 903 along with alumnus Nick Patton '03 for a book signing and reception. Taylor explained that upon arrival to the Bush Art Center, people were lining up to buy the book. Ayers spent the evening both signing and personalizing each book with sketches of animals for guests.
"It's an indication of what a giving person he is to take that extra effort," Taylor stated.
Taylor expressed fond memories of Ayers as a student at the college, explaining that he was "very, very talented" and a slow, dedicated worker.
"It's sort of like bragging about your kids," Taylor stated. "I just always tell my students about him."
According to Taylor, the SNC graduate is in the process of creating an alphabet book. Its release is dependent upon time and the success of The Daily Zoo.
For more information on Ayers and his book, visit chrisayersdesign.com.
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