The Iliad drawing wasn't a straightforward piece. It was tricky. Maybe not an award winning illustration. Completed 21st October 2011. For over twenty years I have been fortunate enough to have been illustrating for the New Yorker magazine. It was crossing my mind that I hadn't heard from the New Yorker during 2012 and I finally emailed them recently to remind them of my existence. Turns out - that's it - that's my lot. The Iliad is/was possibly my last drawing for the magazine. Here's a small selection from the archive.
Amazing set of work...Do I dare ask what they said..."We don't want you any more Mr.Hughes...Have a nice day!"...?
ReplyDeleteThank you Mister MacGregor. No not so brutal. Just vagueness. Officially a different creative director apparently was appointed around that time and wanted to take it (the illustration) in a different direction I suppose. But usually I get some sort of warning from the client about something coming to an end even if it's the day before.
DeleteI don't understand! Do you mean to say that they wrote back telling you that they no longer wish to work with you? That would be a bad decision - your work is made for that magazine. In fact, I think your work is made for all magazines. You have long been one of my favorite artists.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes from NC - Kyle T. Webster
Thank you Mister Webster from NC. I appreciate your comments. I think my magazine days are numbered. The ink pot is drained. The New Yorker felt it's time for a change, they just didn't tell some of their regular artists I guess. That's the nature of the business. Or I am not a nice person and I upset someone I don't know.
DeleteDavid, I haven't been hired there in nearly two years (apart from one set of spots I sold them to be published at some later date). I had a streak for about four years with over twenty illustrations and then, radio silence. I get the same feeling - the art department is looking to clean house, in terms of regular artists. I think this is a mistake and not only because of my own selfish interest in continuing to work for them. I believe that the readers enjoy seeing work that is familiar in its approach to the subject matter - it's part of the gestalt. But, times change and I have to plant seeds elsewhere. Another trend I have noticed this past decade is the steady watering down of editorial art by editors. I certainly hope some brave art directors come around and fight against this.
ReplyDeleteAgain - I am a huge fan of your work. Thanks for the reply. Best wishes - Kyle
I've said it before & I'll say it again, David: It's now 10 years since DRAWINGS came out. That was a fine selection of great work but it was just the tip of the iceberg. It's time we had a proper collection published. Don't tell me there's not a publisher out there who wouldn't jump at the chance.
ReplyDeleteYou make the most amazing descriptive lines. no matter what emotion you are describing. they are haunting.
ReplyDeleteThank you Gwen. Just try to be honest that's all, with the same old ink, same old pen.............
DeleteLooks like the New Yorker has not forgotten you! Thank goodness for that. Great drawing in the current issue, David.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kyle for bringing it to my attention. I haven't drawn anything for them I've just had a look on line - that's an illustration from about seven years ago..............and it looks like it's been 'adapted' or it may be that my brain matter is shot....
Deletepersonally i think the NYKR AD has flushed the art in the NYKR down the toilet. These days 95% of the non cartoon work is terrible and it being one of the last places that uses a ton of illustration really is upsetting. if people need examples to justify my statements i will be happy to oblige. and to top it all off I find the practice of assigning yourself and your family members assignments is just wrong. David been enjoying your art for many years. hopefully some other better client will realize you are free and send work your way. and if you have down time hopefully you will put out a great art book. that Shakespeare image was very memorable. i know i ripped it out of the magazine when it was printed.
ReplyDeleteThank you Matt, your comments make for interesting reading. I confess I don't get to see The New Yorker, living as I do in deepest rural England, so I am no judge of what passes for illustration in that magazine these days, so you suggest that nepotism is the order of the day? If that is the case, I am better off out of it. I am attempting another book currently.It is a bastard at the moment - my head is a lump of concrete, possibly because the deadline is long way off over the horizon.
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