For my first cover for the redesigned NY Observer, art director Lauren Draper asked for a portrait of the mayor of NY, Bill DeBlasio, feeling triumphant after his signature agenda item, pre-kindergarten for all NY children, passed the legislature. Thanks to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running THIS year (and maybe again next) this will be done without a tax hike. It is a moment to savor for the new mayor . . . and for our kids.
Here is the genesis of this cover.
Many thanks to Lauren, who would take every sketch and try it in layout for me. There was a rare back-and-forth that resulted in good communication all round.
Also great fun to be on board with David Heasty and Stephanie Wagner of Triboro Design who took the peachy paper and re-imagined it as a mag. This is the third one since the re-D. What they have kept is their appreciation of illustration. Ken Kurson EIC, and Jared Kushner Publisher very responsible for that and so much else.
The first idea was to have BDB huge behind a small desk. Not quite right.
Then there was the BDB rearing back with a big smile and a blackboard with my bit of copy on it. This was approved and then edited. The copy would be more straightforward and have my line in at the end.
Then there was this finished sketch sent to Lauren via cell phone camera.
Later on, I sent a more finished image. Thanks to Lauren this is the first sense I had of how this might look.
Here, then, is the cover that will be on stands tomorrow. Illustration is a hardwork/greatfun thing.
