Fade to Black

America elected a president of color, we have models of color, but fashion illustration still sits at the back of the bus. This realization struck me as I reviewed my work and this image was the best I could find. While I did draw African American women the magazine art directors always politely told me with carefully chosen words to fade the skin color until we ended up with a Caucasian woman.
Perhaps the situation has improved in the mainstream fashion media but I have not seen evidence of it. Somebody prove me wrong.

From Pedigreed to Mutt

These illustrations were lovingly executed for a book about a fashion model's life as seen through the eyes of her Japanese Chin lap dog who traveled the globe alongside her. Initially intended to be a high end, quality paper, hardcover book suitable for coffee tables, the tanked economy changed everything. The publishing house took a different direction and the story was rewritten as a goofy children's book and my illustrations were replaced by the authors own drawings. Ahem.
I have many more sketches from this aborted project but these are the only two finished pieces.
I once stumbled upon the printed book in the dollar bin at Strand Bookstore and the experience ruined my day. On the bright side, it is not often one gets paid to draw a dog dressed up as a Samurai, my unpublished image still makes me laugh.

To Catch a Thief

These mannequins were drawn as a promotional postcard for D.P. Accessories. I fortunately retained the rights as this drawing has the dubious honor of being my most stolen image of all time. I am aware of at least four thefts and have consequently won numerous lawsuits. As an illustrator you must always be aware of theft which can be a full time job.
One such case was brought to my attention by a female friend who was trying on dresses at an edgy East Village shop. Being of modest means, she checked the designer hangtag for the price at which point she immediately recognized my work being used as their logo. Shocked, she hurried to the nearest bar and phoned to alert me to this fact. She offered to play Emma Peel to my Steed for the price of a dry martini. We quickly revisited the shop armed with a small disposable camera. My friend photographed the misgotten image on each tag of every dress she tried on from the privacy of the fitting room as I distracted the sales girl from the flash. Evidence on film, we fled the shop and immediately contacted a lawyer, the rest is fashion justice and my financial gain.
Photo: Diana Rigg as Emma Peel of The Avengers

And the Winner is... Gavin Smith

I am a complete loser when it comes to predicting Oscar winners, especially this year as I opted to stay home and read books. Please, feel free to leave your comments concerning best picture, actor, etc., I would like to know what I have missed.
The above illustration was printed in Film Comment Magazine published by The Film Society of Lincoln Center. I ceased working for them on a regular freelance basis when the editor, Gavin Smith, sucker punched me in the stomach because I had the audacity to speak to a B level director at a New York Film Festival party held at Tavern on the Green. One cannot make these things up.
A socially inept academic, when given a little power, can be enormously cruel. While I am not excusing Mr. Smith's violent actions, I suspect peer rejection during his formative years played a major role in his present day illegal and ugly behavior.
The sad yet absurd point is that illustration work can be dangerous but do not live in fear, 99.9 percent of your clients will never use you as a punching bag.

I shall leave you with this serene photograph of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly backstage at the 1956 Oscars, I am quite certain that neither was punched in the stomach during the evening's festivities.

Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk