sign up SPRING 2012  /  Volume 15


Nuestra Voz (Our Voice) poster for the Obama campaign.



Latin Music Legends Forever series of stamps for the U.S. Postal Service.



Cover from The Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred. (Cazuela means cooking pot.)

Campaign Spotlight: Rafael López
Blending magical realism and cultural references to bring children’s books to life.

Born in México City to architect parents, Rafael López grew up surrounded by art and the vibrant culture of an ancient city. His parents encouraged his innate curiosity and artistic explorations, and after graduation from high school he moved to California to attend Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.

He has taken his early childhood experiences, and the dichos (folk proverbs or sayings) and myths he was exposed to as a child, and used them as the inspiration for his vibrant, emotion-laden illustrations for a variety of projects including children’s books, editorials, and a series of posters for the San Diego Blues Festival.

Many years ago I was fortunate to travel to México with Rafael to research and conduct interviews for an article on contemporary Mexican graphic design for Communication Arts magazine. We flew to México City and stayed with his Auntie Lucho, driving around the world’s most populous city in the car he drove while attending Art Center many years before. In addition to his drawing and painting skills, the man can navigate the most hellish traffic with a cool that brings to mind Steve McQueen in Bullet. Visiting the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán and the National Museum of Art gave me an inside glimpse into his artistic influences.

We also visited Oaxaca, explored Mayan ruins, and enjoyed tasting at a boutique tequileria, exploring the roots of the icons, palette and influences of modern México. Seeing a country I deeply love and have traveled widely, with a Mexican who seemed related to half the people I encountered, added immeasurably to the authenticity of my story, and it forged a deep friendship.

López ’s illustrations for Pat Mora’s Book Fiesta! garnered the 2010 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award given by the American Library Association to honor work that best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children's books. He considers it “the gift of a lifetime” and was especially proud that his mother Pillo flew from Mexico to Washington, DC for the award ceremony. His children's books have also won two Americas Awards and he received the 2012 Pura Belpré Honor for The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred, written by Samantha Vargas (featured here). His 2008 poster Voz Unida was selected by the Obama/Biden campaign as an official poster at Artists for Obama.

The 2011 stamps he created for the United States Postal Service celebrated Latin Music Legends Celia Cruz, Carlos Gardel, Carmen Miranda, Tito Puente, and Selena. His Merengue stamp was featured on the cover of the commemorative stamp yearbook in 2006 and at a special exhibition at the Smithsonian called Trendsetters. A 2007 stamp celebrated Mendez vs. Westminster, an important legal case in equality in education. López ’s international client list includes Amnesty International, Apple, Harper Collins, IBM, Intel, Los Angeles Times, the Grammy Awards, and the World Wildlife Fund. In 2009 he was invited to create three paintings for Oprah Winfrey's girls’ school in South Africa.


Luba Lukova, Delta Blues, limited edition silk-screened print, size 27 x 39 inches, 2012.

What's Hanging
Exhibitions of note nationwide.

Luba Lukova: Graphic Guts
La MaMa La Galleria
6 East 1st Street
New York, NY
Through March 4
www.lamama.org

Internationally-renown artist Luba Lukova has long been associated with La MaMa Theatre in New York City. (La MaMa was founded in 1961 by Ellen Stewart, over the years it has been the “seed bed of new work by artists of all nations and cultures.”) Lukova’s bold uncompromising illustrations have graced many La MaMa posters over the years. Her distinctive metaphor-rich work is immediately recognizable and presents difficult subjects in an uncompromising fashion. Her work is included in the permanent collections of MoMA New York; The Library of Congress, Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Paris; and the World Bank. Graphic Guts presents a new collection of Lukova’s social commentary and theater-inspired art.


Cover illustration by Yuko Shimizu.


Good Books
A brief review of notable titles and inspiring monographs.

The 53rd edition of the Society of Illustrators Annual
Published by The Society of Illustrators, 602 pages, softcover, $45.00.
*Members, Educators, Students and Featured Artists: Please email shop@societyillustrators.org for special pricing.

Representing the very best of illustration created throughout 2011, this volume features award-winning artists such as Steve Brodner, Marc Burckhardt, Tomer Hanuka, Kadir Nelson, Tim O'Brien, Yuko Shimizu and many more! These volumes have been collected and treasured for decades by those who love, and use illustration. They are not only an invaluable source for art buyers, but also keep professional artists abreast of current trends and serve as inspirational teaching tools for art students and those entering the field.


PLAY! Illustration and Design
for Toys & Interactive Games

www.playillustration.com

Directory of Illustration

www.directoryofillustration.com
Medical Illustration Source Book

www.medillsb.com

Good Surfing
A few hot breaks to check out while surfing the net.

3rdwardopencall.com — 3rd Ward Open Call is an international search for exciting, innovative, and compelling work in the categories of Art, Photography, Furniture Design & Graphic Design. Awarding over $15,000 in prizes including work residencies, a gallery show and cash grants. Deadline is February 29.

www.theillustrationconference.org — ICON 7 will be held in Providence, RI, June 13–16. As always, a fantastic roster of speakers has been lined up including Marshall Arisman, Bob Staake, Sam Weber, John Cuneo, Chris Silas Neal and Josh Cochran, among many others. Early bird registration is still available but going fast so log on now!


Random House
Barbara Spoettel
Nissan
Richard Thompson
Sonoco
Boris Lyubner
Newsletters Ink
Tad Herr
The Art of the Cocktail
Mariya Paskovsky
Bike Wear
Lee Woodgate
TIME
Barbara Kelley
Franklin Mason Press
Lon Levin
Wall Street Journal
Amy DeVoogd
Ontario Tourism
John Mantha
Practice Pictures
Matt Maley
Time Out London
Gary Redford
Proactive Environmental Products
Marc Tobin
The Sir John Soane Museum in London, England
Jessica Palmer
The Business Marketing Assocation
Jeff Huang
National Geographic Traveller UK
Freddy Boo
Highlights High Five Magazine
Mike Brownlow
Hinterland Wine Company
Sonya Shannon
Saturday Evening Post
Charles Pyle
52 Pick-up
Robert Rodriguez
Heck
Bob Dob

(MORE ILLUSTRATION PROJECTS)

blog.directoryofillustration.com
Featuring over 180 blogs from artists and their representatives.
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blog.playillustration.com
Blogs from illustration artists in the Toy and Interactive Game markets
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Industry Advice
Advice from an industry of one, but a determined one.

I’ve been spending a great deal of time lately sorting through boxes of papers from my days as managing editor at Communication Arts magazine. I’ve unearthed some amazing self-promotion projects in the process, which led me to think about what makes a memorable mailer. I always enjoy receiving multi-part promotions, where you grow to anticipate the next in a series of clever or compelling images that tell a larger story. I love it when the illustrator has included a personal note, or even hand-signed the mailer.

In the go-go 1990s, I received self-promotion projects ranging from a custom-designed box formed of a hubcap, to a cool wooden box full of plastic toys and gadgets from Seattle’s famous Archie McPhee’s (Thank you Modern Dog, I still have all the promo items you ever sent me!), to amazing posters and elaborate cards. In the 21st century, most of the promo pieces or PR vehicles seem to be found embedded in e-mails. While this is fine, and probably cost efficient, these e-mail blasts are not as effective since I get so many I’m not able to click through every one in a timely matter, and most often these “mailings” don’t have a specific focus.

(READ MORE)

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