I Drew This Thing #13
May 5, 2011
(By Mark Kaufman for EFII)
Long story short. Mark Kaufman is a partner at Vivitiv, an issue oriented design firm based in Seattle. His illustrations have appeared in publications nationwide including The New York Times, The Progressive, The Stranger, and The Oxford American.
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I can totally relate to this. It seems gone are the days when art directors could actually draw and it was part of their job. (no offence to the few art directors who CAN actually draw)
totally!!
Years ago, I use to work as an associate AD for a magazine publisher (Who will remain nameless) before leaving for the greener pastures of freelance illustration. We would often get together for additions to our submissions wall of shame and all have a good laugh when something really atrocious came in. Typically the worst offenders would send horrifying original art done in crayon or blunt #2 pencil with return addresses including “correctional” in the title.
What I can relate to in this sketch is the underlying fear among new artists, myself included at one time, that occasionally AD’s and designers at any given company get together to laugh at new submissions. Though maybe not once a week, I can attest to the fact that it does happen. No matter how successful they may be, a large number of artists have an inherent need for approval and a lurking dread that someone, somewhere, hates their work. Maybe.
Mike, Thanks for the behind the scenes look at the day to day operations of ad agencies, design firms, and publishers. As a designer an an illustrator I don’t blame AD’s for acting out in childish ways and passing judgement on the quality of someone’s body of work, because at the end of the day, whether the work goes up on a wall of shame or the work is dismissed as “not right for us”, or “I must work with this person”, judgements are made each and every day. I hope that the sense of superiority shown by some people is simply a coping mechanism, because whether you are an illustrator, art director, musician, actor or writer, that need for acceptance and approval, that lurking dread of self doubt and anxiety exist in everyone that pursues creative endeavors.
Cheers.
Believe me: I laugh at a few more things about my Art Directors…
I can count on one hand in 15 years the number of art directors I’ve worked with that could draw. I’m fortunate that the one I work with now is quite capable :-)