Illustration is not dead

Chris Frame — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:43:07 +0000

Our campaign for Infor launched this past Monday and features the work of the illustrator Steve Brodner . How often do you see illustration in advertising? How often do you see it at all? Twenty some years ago, you didn’t need to be in the business to be vaguely aware of RO Blechman, John Collier, Robert Weaver, Seymour Chwast, Milton Glaser, David Levine, Paul Davis, James McMullan, etc (you just had to be perusing your Mom’s issue of Redbook). There was so much of it. But the balance that existed then between photography and original, commissioned illustration bears no resemblance to the modern magazine.

Luckily, today we have more channels than just magazines and TV.

In the book “The Education of an Illustrator,” which came out in 2000, James McMullan had this to say (keep in mind the prospects for illustration are even less today than they were when he said this):
“Why do all these smart, gifted people choose to paint and draw while opportunities in magazines dwindle, corporate and advertising art morphs into creepy assembly line surrealism, and magazines that willingly hand $20,000 to a third-level photographer to take a picture of a Hollywood star, can barely eke out $1,500 for a full-page illustration?
Whatever the reason, illustrators and their art remain one of the richest and under-utilized resources of American culture. A really smart art director could make a huge career by enlisting the enthusiasm of these unsung creators and by spearheading an illustration renaissance.”

Of course, with advertising, it’s not that simple. Art directors work for agencies and agencies work for clients. So on that last point, I’d make one edit; a really smart client could make a huge contribution to their brand by enlisting the enthusiasm of these unsung creators. We just need to help our clients do it.

Infor campaign at LAX. "Today's delays brought to you by BigERP"

PJA: Bow & Arrow » illustration

Illustration is not dead