social animals

SASQUATCH BOOKS1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 710 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101206/467-4300 TOLL FREE 800/775-0817 FAX 206/467-4301

www.sasquatchbooks.com

RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 20, 2015Contact Haley Stocking, Publicist 206/826-4318 [email protected]

Are you a top dog, a social butterfly, or an odd duck? Enter the Berkley Bestiary of Social Animals (Sasquatch Books; October 2015; $18.95), an imaginative collection of animal portraits and stories from Ryan and Lucy Berkleythe creators of beloved Etsy shop Berkley Illustration. This whimsical compendium is guaranteed to delight readers of all ages, as we begin to see ourselves and other animals in a whole new light.

For the first time, Ryan Berkleys pen and colored pencil animal portraits are collected in book form (along with some exclusive new ones), with accompanying stories for each animal by Lucy Berkley. The Berkleys have been highlighted as Etsy success stories multiple times and Ryan has illustrated for clients such as Nike, The Discovery Channel, Urban Outfitters, Patagonia, and more.

Social Animals features profiles on characters such as The Brooding Bat, who was a loner until she joined the Cave Circus with a gymnastic fruit fly act, and The Crafty Chipmunk, a professional whittler whose passion project is a life-size wooden replica of Babe the Blue Ox.

This tongue-in-cheek illustrated social compendium will delight readers as well as have them asking themselves which Social Animal am I?

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Social AnimalsA Berkley BestiaryRyan and Lucy Berkley

About the Author and Illustrator

Ryan Berkley, the human artist, likes to mix his job making meticulous masterpieces with family festivities. On the drawing board, he's a stickler for detail and accuracy, so much so that he tends to hold his breath and squint while he's coloring. To balance those scrupulous studio sessions, he always allows time for a more abstract activity. On most days, thats an afternoon dance party with his children and hound dog. To him, nothing refreshes his mental palate more than a good somersault while his three-year-old plays air guitar.

Lucy Berkley, the matriarch and head of entrepreneurial operations, spends a lot of her time coming up with ideas. She is a problem solver at heart, and while she used to specialize in crossword puzzles, her solutions now revolve around her duties as a full-time mom, business owner, writer, and dance party co-captain. Because brainstorming occupies the bulk of her business day, she enjoys evenings engaged in embroidery. While she thoroughly relishes the chaos of her routine, she finds the minutiae of needlepoint a relaxing counterpoint to consideration of the big picture.

For more about the Berkleys, visit BerkleyIllustration.com



Social Animals A Berkley Bestiary

Illustrated by Ryan Berkley; stories by Lucy Berkley October 2015 $18.95 80 pages Hardcover

ISBN: 978-1-63217-040-8

Available wherever fine books are sold.Sasquatch Books 800/775-0817 www.sasquatchbooks.com

Its 2010, I just moved to Chicago, I

have my first real paychecks

coming in, and what do I do? I rush

to buy myself some big boy art,

of course. I hadnt even bought a mattress yet,

and the studio I shared with my writing

partner was so small we could cook and do

the dishes all while sitting in bed. Gosh darn it

though, our four new walls would look fab. I

literally braved a storm a tornado, to be

exact to get one of the last copies of Ryan

Berkleys gorilla prints before the storm got

too bad. Wrapped in layers of tissue paper to

protect it from the gale-force winds, I ran

home with a skip in my step. By now, Ryan and the charming animal portraits he

creates for his studio,Berkley Illustration,have become bestsellers on Etsy and a go-to

for quirky and fun home styling. At the time, however, his style was a totally new

concept to me. Here was someone with a new vision and a stylish way of bringing that

vision to life. Subtle colors and the wink of his furry subjects make me smile to this day.

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With over 100 portraits to choose from, Ryan and Lucy's shop has something for everyone from movie lovers to those who want a Ryan Berkley original.

Ryan and his wife, Lucy, run Berkley

Illustrationfrom their home office in

Portland, OR. Their artwork first appeared

at the 2006 Crafty Wonderlandart and craft

show and the rest is history. When talking

about the beginnings of the company on his

site, Ryan says, We decided to do an

ancestor theme for our booth inspired by

our love of animals and also old-timey

portraiture. The ancestor animals did so

well at that first show that theyve

continued to evolve and multiply ever since. The two really are a team in every sense

of the word. Lucy runs the business side of the brand

filling orders, communicating with customers and

making sure everything is running smoothly, while Ryan

sketchesaway, creating his menagerie. Now with over

100 animals to choose from and the likes of Urban

Outfitters and Real Simple featuring their work, Berkley

Illustration truly is a lesson in how two people can build

a brand with a little passion and a unique idea. The

couple was generous to let us peek inside their home

studio and we couldnt be more honored. Garrett

All photos byRyan and Lucy Berkley



Ryan and Lucy used to rent studio space, but with two kids and a dog to care for, the commute was proving too difficult. The couple decided to move into a larger home and turned this space into a home office. Wood paneling and old carpet had to be replaced and what Ryan calls "cardboard paper-like ceilings," had to be updated immediately.

This playful corner of Ryan's office truly embodies the quirky nature of his work. Ryan has collaborated with Nike, his art has been featured in Real Simple magazine, and he has sold prints at Urban Outfitters.

social animals

Documents

ryan berkley stories

illustratorryan berkley

social butterfly

lucy berkleyabout

ryan berkleys pen

accompanying stories

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