It’s either ironic or perfect that artist Danny Martin’s latest publication is a coloring book.
“All my work is in black and white,” says Martin, 36.
Wannabe artists can create their own vision in “Danny Martin’s Tucson Neon Coloring Book.”
“People aren’t bound by the literal,” Martin says. “They can do whatever the heck they want.”
The coloring book is the result of three years’ worth of work, spending hours drawing the city’s historic signs. It’s part of a larger venture Martin calls the “Tucson Sketchbook Project,” which will include architectural drawings and is intended to be a coffee-table art book.
Although, really and truly, the coloring book is, too.
The $15 book — which sold out within a week of its initial 500-book release this month — features 30 images, front-side only, is printed on heavy-duty paper, and has a spine.
“You could actually rip the pages out and frame them,” Martin says.
But it is intended to be a coloring book for grownups, a pretty hot trend these days — although Martin didn’t even realize that until the book went to press.
“It’s accidental good timing,” he says.
Martin was surprised by how quickly the book sold out, with people snapping up multiple copies. A second printing, with a different cover, is available now for pre-order. The books will be for sale at local Bookmans in mid-January, Martin says. He already has a second volume of neon signs in the works.
The artist, who was born and raised in Alabama and rides his bike around town, doesn’t draw from photos. Instead, he spent hours camped in front of Tucson’s iconic signs, like the starburst Lucky Wishbone at Broadway and Swan and the circular one that leads the way to Pat’s Chili Dogs.
And though he estimates he parked himself in front of the Tucson Inn sign for a good five hours, capturing all its intricacies, that’s what Martin loves the most.
“The detail work is fun.”
