Name Brian Stauffer | Known for Illustration | |
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Born May 20, 1966 (age 57) ( 1966-05-20 ) Prescott, Arizona, United States Education Yavapai College
BFA The University of Arizona, 1989 | ||
Lecture by brian stauffer
Brian Stauffer (born May 20, 1966 in Prescott, Arizona) is an American artist, and illustrator.
Contents
- Lecture by brian stauffer
- Early life and education
- Influences
- Work
- Book illustrations
- Notable poster work
- Awards
- References
Stauffer is recognized for the concept-driven approach to the topics he illustrates. The artist begins works with hand drawn sketches, then incorporates painted elements and scanned found objects. The final works are digital, but often the hand drawn elements remain as part of the finished works.
Early life and education
Stauffer was born in Prescott, Arizona, and attended Prescott High School. Early memories of the artist were that his parents would take him along when they did volunteer work at drug rehab centers and inner-city preschools. Both parents were fine artists.
Stauffer attended Yavapai College as a music major, and during the artists second year Stauffer discovered his passion for the graphic arts; a discovery he credits to Yavapai instructor and color theorist Dr. Glen Peterson Stauffer went on to attend The University of Arizona where he received a BFA in 1989.
Before taking on illustration as a full-time career, the artist worked as an art director at New Times in Phoenix, The Miami New Times, and for Starmedia. While working at The Miami New Times, Stauffer sent a few of his illustration samples to Fred Woodward at Rolling Stone magazine who, with Gail Anderson, gave him his first freelance assignment for a movie review.
Influences
The artist cites the work of John Heartfield, who was a pioneer in the use of art as a political weapon, as being a major influence. Stauffer also credits Alexander Calder with inspiring his own personal work ethic.
Work
Stauffer gained wide recognition early in his illustration career for his November 13, 2000 cover for The Nation, titled Alfred E. Bush, which depicted President George W. Bush as Alfred E. Neuman, the fictitious mascot and cover boy of Mad Magazine. In 2005, the cover would be selected by the American Society of Magazine Editors as number 23 of the top 40 magazine covers in the last 40 years.
The artist has been featured as a cover illustrator for magazines such as The New Yorker[1] ], The Nation, and Worth Magazine. In 2010, the Society of Publication Designers recognized the work of design director Dean Sebring and Stauffer for their Worth Magazine covers. Writing for SPD, Robert Newman said that the artists cover art was the "signature look of the magazine".
Stauffer is also recognized for his contributions to smaller, alternative publications such as his award winning work for SF Weekly, and cover illustrations for the Dallas Observer, Seattle Weekly and others.
The artist's work is frequently cited by the Cover of the Day section of the Society of Publication Designers web site.