George A. Walker holds an MA in Communication and Culture from Ryerson and York University. He is an Associate Professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design University where he teaches book-related arts in the Printmaking program. He is the author of the popular how-to book, The Woodcut Artist's Handbook, now in its second edition. He is recognized for Graphic Witness, his art history book on wordless novels. He was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 2002 in recognition of his achievements in Canadian Book Arts.
The Canadian master engraver first published this intimate book as a very limited edition to mark Leonard Cohen's 80th birthday; this reprise expands to include the troubadour's final exit. A largely wordless biography of stark woodcuts that has the expressive power of a silent film.--Nathalie Atkinson Globe and Mail (11/27/2020 12:00:00 AM) [Review of previous edition: ] Definitely succeeds as an art book, thanks to the quality of Walker's engravings; and as a collectible for Cohen fans, thanks to how well the artist captures his subject.--Jeff Fleischer Foreword Reviews (2/13/2015 12:00:00 AM) An adapted and expanded version of a book first published in a limited edition to mark Cohen's 80th birthday in 2014, the new book takes the Cohen story all the way to the end, utilizing 82 wood-engraved images and minimal captions to create an engrossing work that is, in the author's apt words, 'something more akin to a silent film than to a structured textual narrative'.--Ian McGillis Montreal Gazette (11/7/2020 12:00:00 AM) Selection, Holiday Gift Guide-- CBC Books (12/2/2020 12:00:00 AM) The engravings are intricate, accurate, and creative... It's truly fascinating to read about his life through the eyes of Walker.--Ethan Gresko Hook Magazine (2/1/2021 12:00:00 AM)