Mark V :: Lee Lai || Stone Fruit

Stone Fruit - Cover (2021)

Artist: Lee Lai (All)

5 Comments - 80 Views - 5 Likes

Click Image to View Full Size

Additional Images:

Published cover

Artwork Details

Title:	Stone Fruit - Cover (2021)
Artist:	Lee Lai (All)
Media Type:	Mixed Media
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	80
Likes on CAF:	5 6
Comments:	5
Added to Site:	1/28/2025
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Cover to Stone Fruit, published by Fantagraphics in 2021.

9 x 12 - Pen, ink, and gouache.

Another OAX 2025 pickup, along with another page from this book that I'll post later.

I read Stone Fruit, Lee Lai�s debut graphic novel, when it was originally published in 2021. Though it was early in the �20s, I thought it had a good chance to stand out as one of the decade�s best �literary� graphic novels.   Lai�s beautiful, illustrative style skillfully complements the story of Bron and Ray, a queer couple whose relationship is slowly eroding. Despite the widening fractures in their relationship, they embrace their role as the �fun� aunts to Ray�s six-year old niece.

The scenes in which the three play in the park together, which Lai visualizes as three wild animal-like figures romping through a jungle, are among the most arresting in the book and the best evidence for Lai�s gifts as a storyteller and formalist. You can see this �transformation� on the cover, on which Nessie, Ray�s niece, is depicted in her �wild� form. The cover skillfully depicts the tension between the two lead "adult" characters with Nessie as the joyful fulcrum of the image in the center.

Comics are in good hands thanks to creators like Lee Lai. Critics and readers agreed after Stone Fruit�s publication. The book was has been recognized in the following ways:

- 2022 Cartoonist Studio Prize WINNER
- 2022 Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize WINNER
- 2022 ALA Stonewall Award Honor Book
- 2022 Lambda Literary Award Finalist
- LGBTQ Comics 2021 National Book Foundation "5 Under 35" Honoree

Lai's follow-up graphic novel, Cannon, will be released in Fall 2025 by Drawn and Quarterly.

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Mark V Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	March 2021
Last Login:	September 2025
Website:	https://instagram.com/markvcomicsandart
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Mark's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

Kavi H
Member Since 2018

1 - Posted on 1/28/2025

As usual I learn about something I wasn't all too familiar with when checking out one of your posts, congrats on adding the cover at OAX! I really like this combination of mediums together with the gouache enhancing the background elements while the foreground characters are in black and white. super cool.

Simon Ma
Member Since 2013

1 - Posted on 1/28/2025

I used to give every creator at least a go who was published by Fantagraphics but time and space and funds precludes that now. This, however, certainly bears further investigation. Talk about "done in one"; the cover, no less, and you are in on the ground floor. Thanks for posting.

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 1/29/2025

It's a Fantagraphics' fan's dream come true. It's like owning the cover to Blankets!

F M
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 2/1/2025

I really like the niece's having great fun while the 2 aunties are clearly not. Great piece.

K Gearon
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 2/19/2025

Always good to learn something new! I gotta look into this book. Really dig the uniquely stylized art and the way the white/black/grey background all provide a nice contrast. Congrats!

All
	sly design 9/6/2025 3:39:00 AM
	Bob Goerder 9/6/2025 3:33:00 AM
	Dennis Books 9/6/2025 3:10:00 AM
	Randy Allman 9/6/2025 2:54:00 AM
	Richard Donnelly 9/6/2025 2:53:00 AM
View All


	Stefan H 9/6/2025 2:17:00 AM
	David F. 9/6/2025 1:44:00 AM
	Gio Scarp 9/6/2025 1:38:00 AM
	--J S-- 9/6/2025 1:24:00 AM
	Sam Casciato 9/6/2025 12:38:00 AM