Disrupting the Disrupters
Even though I’ve been a New Yorker for over 20 years, The Boston Globe holds a warm place in my heart. Ronn Campisi, Lucy Bartholomay and others at the Globe helped my career break out on a national level when I was a young artist. When AD Lesley Becker called with an assignment, I was more than happy to accept. Lesley had a great article about the disruption theory which is a very popular concept in business. The main idea is established companies are vulnerable to upstarts and helpless to respond before it’s too late.
The success of the iPhone followed with the demise of dominant handset makers added to popularity of the disruption theory. The article debunks the idea that disruption of established companies happens on a regular basis. We went though a couple rounds of sketches and the editors liked the idea of waking a sleeping giant. A slightly humorous approach seemed appropriate since it would catch the shock of would-be disrupters confronting reality.
Much thanks to Lesley and the Boston Globe for an entertaining assignment.
Here’s the final page:
Audubon: The Illustrated Aviary
It is an understatement so say I was excited when Kevin Fisher, art director for Audubon Magazine, called with an assignment to reinterpret one of John James Audubon’s painting for the Illustrated Audubon series. Many of the best illustrators have contributed to the series and it was a project which was on my list of dream assignments.
Kevin asked if I would reinterpret the Great American Hen since the issue would fall during Thanksgiving. I was not familiar with the Great American Hen and would not have picked it on my own but it was perfect for my approach to reinterpreting. The biggest barrier during sketches was being too respectful of the original painting. Kevin assured me he wanted it completely deconstructed and rebuilt as I would approach the assignment. There is a great quote that art is about misremembering and this was the approach taken. I started with the relationship between mother and hen and the hen was literally deconstructed to a wire frame like body. Once the wire frame idea came to mind, the rest flowed.
We were both happy with the final art. Much thanks to Kevin for one of my favorite projects of the year.
Sketches for the Illustrated Aviary. The final was pushed further as Kevin encouraged me to give the “full Yang” treatment
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The final art in print.
Better you than me
Illustration for Hour Detroit about the controversy over the vaccination rates in Michigan. Valarie Morgan, AD. Whenever Valarie calls, it’s usually a fascinating story. I enjoy tackling assignments about news of the day and vaccinations are a hot topic. As a child growing up in the 60’s when science was king it shocks me the wisdom of vaccines is even debated. Since the article covered both sides of the debate I focused on the concept that the few are questioning the wisdom of the many. Orange was used a a metaphor for those who are protected and those who are not.
Much thanks to Valerie for always calling with great assignments.
Rules make you free
Illustration for Havard Law Bulletin: “Freedom is just another word for. . . regulation”. Ronn Campisi, AD. Ronn Campisi and I go back many years and he gave me a huge boost by assigning covers for the Boston Globe magazine early in my career. Ronn has a variety of magazines and it’s always fun to work with him because he designs beautifully when using illustrations. Much thanks to Ronn for yet another collaboration.
It’s hard to be clean
Illustration for DBusiness Magazine for Commentary about the difficulties in bringing clean energy to major metropolitan areas. Caroline Chin Watson, AD. The last couple of years I’ve noticed more assignments from the Detroit area which has me intrigued. News about the resurgence of Detroit and its potential as a new center for creatives has certainly caught my attention. DBusiness magazine has been a newer steady client and it’s always a pleasure to work with their AD’s. Carolyn and I have worked on a couple of things since she’s taken over and if past experience is any guide, the future looks bright in Detroit.
The memory game
Sometimes the best solutions are the most obvious. Michelle Furman at AFT called with a request from the editors for a series of illustrations showing a student learning memory skills through a game. They wanted a strip like progression. It is a very direct approach but turned out to be most effective. It also had the benefit of reminding me of the great instructional animated videos from elementary school days.
Thanks for Michelle for bringing back fond memories.
Scott free
Illustration for PlansSponsor Magazine about advisors who manage to escape punishment they deserve. SooJin Buzelli, AD. Since the essence of my childhood was escaping punishment, this was a rich topic to explore. This wasn’t my thought when creating the piece but it definitely echoes the stories about Br’er rabbit and the Briar Patch taught in school. Much thanks to SooJin for the fun assignment.
Here’s how the work was finally used:
