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First up on the list of contemporary illustrators / style icons is Jorge Alderete, born 1971 in Caleta Olivia, Argentina. He describes himself as a "pop illustrator, who uses trash culture, '50s science-fiction films, wrestling and surf-music imagery in [his] psychotronic illustrations, animations, and comics."
What I aimed for: (1) Sharp contrast and heavy outlines, (2) Head and shoulder portraits, (3) Delicately inked people, animals, and objects to fill out the portraits, (4) Bright, clean, digital color, (5) Complementary or near-complementary colors; limited color palate, (6) Pop art/comics-inspired half-tone dot shading, (7) Patterns, stippling, and color blocking, but very little shading or detail, (8) Playful incorporation of text, and (9) Establishment of a kind of narrative; Alderete's portraits evoke a strong sense of place.
In one interview, Alderete states: "My relationship with 'the portrait' changes substantially for me when the portrayed person ceases to be an unknown person, and becomes someone in my immediate surroundings."
Thus, this week's chosen subject matter: mentors and ghosts.
Literary Daddies: David Foster Wallace
Literary Daddies: Padgett Powell