Paul brought over his awesome new promo postcard the other day, and it inspired me to get to work on mine. The last children’s postcards I sent had slight innuendo of adult things in them which may or may not turn off an art director, so my goal this time was to just have a fun postcard without anything being murdered, had sex with, full of breasts, etc. I am hoping the toilets and dung beetles and hairballs are acceptable. Here’s the ink.
Ok, slight venting ahead: A huge problem for me lately is trying to figure out what might appeal to art directors in the Editorial Magazine market (for adults.) I keep feeling like I have to make a postcard of some sterile boring guy in a business suit, and while I know this is not true I have no idea WHAT to produce. All my stuff seems to be a “style” that appeals to kids, even when everything in it is naked or violent. I am trying to work on being able to draw cute animals and all the weird things I like and making it appeal to the Art Directors of magazines for adults. Aya Kakeda does this fabulously! I originally made Bathtime for Medusa to put on a card, so I may still use it for this next card, but I was trying to come up with some other ideas too, that were more conceptual and actually fit a common topic in magazines– and I just totally drew a blank. Do any of you guys have trouble with certain venues of illustration that you still really want to tap into? :end venting:
Finally, the Creatures Great and Small show is tonight at 6 the 180 Center– check it out! I know Anna has some work in there, and when I dropped off my stuff I saw some awesome paintings and plush so it should be a good time.
Oh, goodness! I love the new promo card. Especially the dung beetle…and the sad fish.
And I don’t think your stuff is so kid-like it can’t appeal to adults or editorial markets. And I don’t think that the editorial market has to be boring, either, especially with your style. I think of your Greed piece as an example. It’s got cute animals, but I think it would be better placed in a “grown up” magazine rather than a kid one. The same is true with your Windy Day piece. Both of those illustrations could be paired with current topics (greed among CEOs and such, and that whole Octomom thing). I think it’s just a matter of maybe making the animals a tad less cute and not showing cat boobies. ;)
Oh, and thanks for the shout out. I’ll see you at the show tonight! I can’t wait to see everyone’s work.