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Ask a Pro Ask a Pro is a collection of illustration related questions answered by top art directors, designers, editors, artist representatives and other professionals in the commercial illustration industry. If you have a suggestion for a question or know someone who might be a good candidate to answer a couple questions Contributors Advertisement
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How do you go about finding an illustrator?
Most times, I talk to the Art Buyer about what I'm looking for and hope they can find me some illustrators that suit the project and the style that i am looking for. If I'm doing a search on my own, I'll think of a key word, or some sort of reference point, and google it. For example, a while back I was looking for someone to do some type for me. I wanted it to be hand illustrated, and I wanted the headline to hold together and make the shape of a wave of scent coming out of a bottle. The closest thing to what i wanted visually was type from old silkscreen rock posters of the 60's and 70's. So, I googled some of those keywords and found a lot of great poster sites that had illustrators listed next to the posters. I ended up using a friend of mine that is a comic book artist to do the finished art, but used those posters i found on line as reference for him.
Honestly, I don't think there is a real great way to search a huge databank of illustrators. And in the not so distant past, Illustration was not real hip in advertising. Photography, or manipulated photography was looked at as much more contemporary. Recently, it seems as though the solution of photography has become fairly obvious. Illustration is a bit more unexpected and fresh. As long as the illustration style itself is unexpected and fresh. But if an illustrator comes out with one great campaign that is recognized in the industry, you don't want to use him because then your work looks like the previous successful ad that got the illustrator noticed. That "fame" kills their style, and then he must evolve or re-invent himself while at the same time dealing with the "followers" in the industry that are trying to look like that original campaign, or feel that by getting that illustrator, they'll win awards, or somehow the ads will be great, even if the idea isn't.
I think it would be hard for an illustrator to remain successful as a result of this. Its not like photography. Illustration style is very specific. If you see one illustration by a certain person, you can recognize their work again. Its also hard to pick an illustrator as a result of this. You always want your work to look like nothing that has ever been seen. Usually, by the time you find an illustrator, they've already been played out. So, if you want your campaign to look completely original, you've got to find an illustrator who's undiscovered, or go with photography and create a visual that has never been seen. Or create a completely believeable photograph of something that doesn't exist, except in your imagination. Then you've given the viewer a real treat. "Wow, If a harp seal was wearing a human skin jacket, that's what it would look like." How do you go about finding an illustrator?
Hmmm... I tend to either look at websites or ask friends for recommendations if I’m thinking of something specific. Sometimes a friend will throw a name at me and tell me I have to look at their work. How do you go about finding an illustrator?
In the past, I've used artists that I've been following or had admiration
for prior to the project. Occasionally I'll do research in
DieGestaltenVerlag books, Faesthetics, Arkitips or online. How do you go about finding an illustrator?
Reading tons of magazines, blogs, going to the Ape Show, networking, galleries and calling art school friends. How do you go about finding an illustrator?
I enjoy receiving postcards in the mail. I believe it is the most effective and cost-efficient way of getting your work in front of an art director. There's nothing to open, so the AD has to look at it. If I like what's on the postcard, I'll go to the web site (which you absolutely must have) to look at more samples. I also look at illustration reps' web sites regularly. I do not usually look at Workbook or other large compendiums of paid illustrator pages. It is too hard to filter through the poor work in those books. I used to order the Alternative Pick but I find it easier to look at their web site. I always look at the Communication Arts illustration annual and the American Illustration book each year. But, hands down, the best way to market yourself is to do regular mailings of postcards and create a web site with lots of great work samples. Leave out anything that isn't an example of your best work. How do you go about finding an illustrator?
Right now I have a pretty good network of friends and people that I've
worked with that I can call on to provide me with an illustrator that
matches a style or way of thinking that pairs up nicely with the
specific project.
How do you go about finding an illustrator?
most of the time it's someone I've seen published or someone that comes recommended. but I'd say a lot of the time it's a friend or a friend of a friend...as long as they've got skills. or if it's something with no budget I may just do it myself. |
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