Threshold of the Eye: The Work of Pol Turgeon, Illustrator

Allison Sivak is a librarian in the Science and Technology Library at
the University of Alberta.

Pol Turgeon is a Quebec-based illustrator. This well-produced volume
presents a chronological review of his work. It features high-quality
reproductions of his art (46 full-colour illustrations and 45 sketches)
and commentary on his artistic process.

Turgeon’s work is carnivalesque, often with a dark undertone. Rich
colours, surrealistic characters (both human and animal), and
collage-like composition form a body of work that is distinctive and
highly individualistic. His voice and perspective are as unique as his
illustration.

Threshold of the Eye is a bilingual book. The French text has been
translated into English; the English, however, is sometimes awkward.
When describing his work, Turgeon draws attention to its idiosyncratic
nature, but his cheery tone is at odds with his references to the
“dark side” of his work. This may be a result of the translation.

Those who are interested in the mechanics of the creative process will
find his discussions of artistic inspiration under deadline and client
negotiations illuminating. He also alludes to aspects of graphic design
work that are not always visible to those entering the field, such as
the importance of moral rights when creating contract illustration.

The book is beautifully designed. Unfortunately, some of the
reproductions on double-page spreads suffer from being bisected by the
gutter.