What happens when a collector of 50s-60s ephemera, books and various what-not gets a chance to illustrate a Mad Men-themed party? Well, here you go. For The Boston Globe G Magazine. Big thanks to Martin Gee for being such a swell client.
In order to pull this off, I had to endure an all-nighter - which, by the way, gets harder to recover from the older I get. Not like it was when I was in college, that's for sure. But anyway, it was worth it. I'm quite pleased with how this looked after sleeping throughout the next day. I think I was worried that it was looking too busy, with some of the colors looking jumbled and crazy. But I simplified the colors to the partygoers in the far background, near the top, and that seemed to do the trick. I also played around with the starburst in the middle of the composition. I know that it's something I tend to do a lot, but here, it worked out pretty well since we are focused on the TV in the middle. Plus, the starburst motif is mirrored by the starburst clock in the upper right corner.
I'll do a step-by-step progress post on this illustration once all the dust settles.
Boston-ites, this will be for tomorrow's Boston Globe: Thursday, July 15th. Look for it! Here's a sneaky-peek before it goes to press, thanks to Martin:
groovy, baby. makes me wanna light up a cigar and mix an old fashioned right now!
ReplyDeleteI thought about you Pope, when I was drawing all the drinkers here. Even thought about putting in a guy with a cigar, but time was of the essence. Very quick turnaround.
ReplyDeleteYou are so good!
ReplyDeleteward, it looks FANTASTIC!
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic, Love IT!
ReplyDeleteits been a while since I've visited your blog, your work is amazing as always!
ReplyDelete-Brun
http://www.bruncroes.blogspot.com
Thanks, guys! Glad you like the illustration. It was a lot of hard work, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteNate and Brun - dudes, it's such a great compliment to have you guys comment here - thank you! Love your work, both of you!
Great! Reminds me of the parties my parents gave, when I sneeked down the stairs to have a look at all the fashionable women in the room (way back in the sixties ,when I was a little girl).
ReplyDeleteit is beautiful. kudos. i cant wait for the premier on Sunday. cheers
ReplyDeleteI looked all over for your cameo in it. Not this time? Did the thought cross your mind?
ReplyDeleteNow now, Jeope, you know I wouldn't disappoint you! I'm in here - check the two guys looking at albums in the back there. I've got a full beard in the illo, even though I have just a goatee right now.
ReplyDeleteReally great, Ward!
ReplyDeleteawesome! looks like a dream job for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm glued to the 4th season of mad men right now.
I love it!!! congrats!
ReplyDeleteJoanna