We talk to Skwish as he prepares for the opening of his exhibit, “ASk/wish”, at Ron Reason’s new gallery in Chicago, Friday, August 8.
Andrew Skwish is one of the country’s most sought after illustrators. I first met Skwish at The Poynter Institute for Media Studies, where he often taught illustration to artists and page designers in several of our seminars.
Today he is a part time features page designer at Crain’s Chicago Business, but he devotes most of his time to illustration. Skwish freelances for a variety of publications. You can view his vast catalog of work by visiting www.skwish.com.
Or, better yet, be at his exhibit Friday night, August 8, to talk to Skwish and to see his magnificent work first hand.
Mario: How do you see the current state of illustrations in US newspapers?
Skwish: I have become like much of the readership in the US and have not been looking at newspapers as much as I used to, so I can’t comment too closely on their use or non-use of illustrations. I can say that I have been getting less and less assignments and that has been the trend for some time. Peers of my say the same. I also know that the rates for illustration work hasn’t changed for years. I get the same amount for a piece I do today (and often times less) than I did 10 years ago. The contracts that I have been asked to sign have also been getting worse, publications want rights for multiple extended uses at the same rate as before. So from a business standpoint working for newspapers isn’t very lucrative. On the creative end, the work I have been getting feels like it is being more tightly art directed. A bit less back and forth.
I would say it is a sad state.
Mario: How do you maintain creativity while balancing page design duties at Crain’s (a Garcia Media redesign led by Ron Reason!) as well as being a new father?
Skwish: Oh, that isn’t very hard. Most creativity, I find, comes from interacting with the world and people. Many of my friends are artists, musicians or just look at the world with very unique perspectives. The people I work with at Crain’s are so varied, smart, generous and have such diverse interest that it can’t help but rub off. While the work might not be pushing any envelopes (and doesn’t need to) it does still require smart, thoughtful solutions. You don’t have to paint the Mona Lisa everytime.
Being a new dad brings an energy and wonder to my life. I want my little guy to know about so many things that it reminds me not to overlook the obvious. Buying fruits and vegetables for him to eat has me appreciate all the textures and colors out there and gives me ideas. Pointing out animals in the back yard or the color of the sky or how the grass feels gives me more. Seeing how closely he looks at the pictures in the books we read him inspires me to look as close. To try to see things as if I was looking at it for the first time and trying to make sense of it. It is so much fun. So very much fun.
Mario: Where do you look for inspiration? – or – how does the internet, music, or pop culture influence your paintings?
Skwish: I am trying to look closer for inspiration. My son (Porter) is a big source. You can’t underestimate the value of a smile. I will be pointing something out to him. Say that a cheerio is a circle and try to explain what a circle is (and he is way too young to understand any of this) and it makes you think about things like circles,shapes, textures, colors and all things. My wife (Emily, the go-go dancer) is another. Her beauty, smarts and talents are often too much for me to handle. Seeing how impassioned she gets when her dance troupe creates a new dance routine and her diligence in making it happen makes me feel the need to do the same (not make dances but paintings or photos).
Music has always been an influence. I don’t think it is accidental that many of my paintings are on records. So people don’t buy them and play them anymore… but by painting on them I hope that I continue to add to their value. And before painting on them I have to revist the music. So there is nostalgia in the mix as well. But the greatest inspiration is the blank page… the moment of anticipation before the story is told.
Mario: What is most rewarding about bringing your illustrations out of the 2-D environment of newspapers and the web, and into the 3-D world of a gallery exhibit?
Skwish: Probably being able to interact with people as they engage with the work. It takes it away from a mass audience. With newspapers the work is sent out and rarely is there any acknowledgement. I have done hundreds and hundreds of illustrations over they years and I think I can count on my hands (and maybe a couple of toes) how many times any sort of feedback has come back to me. With the paintings and creations made as a single self standing piece people react. Often right in front of you. And when someone wants one of the paintings or photos that feels pretty good. Now do I make stuff for this feeling? No. If I just made these things to put up in my bedroom and no one saw them but me, my gal and my boy it would be just as nice. Still it feels pretty good.
Andrew Skwish home page including classic features page designs and editorial illustrations:
www.skwish.com
Gallery splash page for within(Reason): a contemporary art and photo space:
http://www.artwithinreason.com/
Ron Reason’s blog about contemporary art and photography:
http://artwithinreason.com/blog/
Ron Reason’s news design blog:
http://ronreason.com/designwithreason/
RON REASON’S NEW GALLERY: A DREAM COMES TRUE
Ron Reason’s gallery constitutes a fulfillment of his passion for art, and especially for new, promising artists, who may not find a forum in other more established galleries. In his words: “My gallery is a side interest based out of my news design consulting office in Chicago, and I remain heavily involved with the news business. In addition to ongoing work as a Poynter visiting faculty member, I am currently working with two startup newspapers in the U.S., with The Standard in Kenya, and as part of the Garcia Media team on the startup project in Lagos. As with Skwish and his illustration work, the gallery project and related blogs are an outlet for creativity that sort of EXPLODE my interest in storytelling and my experience and expertise that once were restricted to newspapers.”
RON REASON OFFERS TIPS FOR CREATING TEMPLATES WITH INDESIGN
Recently, our intern Reed Reibstein, asked for help with creating templates using InDesign for the new design of the Yale Daily News. I referred him to Ron Reason, who has put together a handy primer. Here is the link:
Thanks, Ron!
WHAT THE SKWISH EXHIBIT CONTAINS:
– paintings done on pages from a vintage typography catalog (these are beautiful and may be of particular interest to your readers – you can preview all of them at his page on my gallery website)
– mixed media on vintage record albums, and a painted antique guitar – bringing new life to old media!!!
– paintings done on antique wooden shelves discarded by a Chicago church – again, new life from old materials!
– a 30 foot by 14 foot installation of one of his illustrations—I sent you a photo of Justin reproducing this yesterday, let me know if you want it again; the concept is that the gallery visitor can be photograph ed within the piece of art, making it sort of interactive and fun.
– gigantic Polaroids, some of which are enlarged outtakes from an editorial photo shoot he did last year.
Online gallery of within(Reason) artists, featuring the Andrew Skwish art to be shown Friday Aug. 8 and also available for purchase online:
http://www.artwithinreason.com/gallery/index.html
Opening Friday Aug. 8: “ASk/wish” – a super fun summer show:, from 6 to 10 pm, with music to follow.
1932 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60608
For more information, contact Ron Reason, ron@ronreason.com or 773-562-7464
http://www.ArtWithinReason.com
From the IFRA Executive News Service
I always enjoy IFRA’s pick of the best and share SIX that should be of interest to you as well:
– UK: News of the World website relaunches
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/aug/07/newsoftheworld.digitalmedia
– UK: The Guardian newspaper unrolls e-reader for 2015
http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2008/08/04/the-guardian-newspaper-unrolls-the-e-reader-for-2015/
– UK: How the Tabloids use video: The Mirror
http://www.andydickinson.net/2008/08/06/how-the-uk-tabloids-use-video-the-mirror/
– USA: Newspaper Decline to Continue through ‘09
http://www.mediabuyerplanner.com/2008/08/06/newspaper-decline-to-continue-through-09/
Rupert Murdoch denies eyeing newspaper biz in India
http://news.moneycontrol.com/india/news/business/rupert-murdoch-denies-eyeing-newspaper-bizindia/13/20/350603
– Singapore: Getting, readers’ input for newlook ST – ‘Straits Times’
readers ask for more alternative viewpoints and variety in stories
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-southeastasia.asp?parentid=95663
Still in wet and humid Lagos, Nigeria. Not a day of sunshine tne entire week. The friendly doorman at the Sofitel reminds me that this is rainy season and lasts way into September. If I were to take a picture from the sky, it would be hundreds of umbrellas (the yellow ones prevail) as people make their way to work. The women carrying huge baskets of everything from fruit to loaves of bread on their heads just let the baskets protect them from the rain. Everything is wet and green, the mud beneath your shoes an orangy brown and slippery. Forget running in the roads here.