Brian Stauffer

Brian Stauffer (born May 20, 1966 in Prescott, Arizona) is a American artist, and illustrator.

Stauffer is recognized for the concept-driven approach to the topics he illustrates.^[1] 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.^[2]

Early life and education

Stauffer was born in Prescott, Arizona,^[2] and attended Prescott High School.^[3] 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.^[4] Both parents were fine artists.^[5]

Stauffer attended Yavapai College as a music major, and during the artists sophomore year Stauffer discovered his passion for the graphic arts; a discovery he credits to Yavapai instructor and color theorist Dr. Glen Peterson^[3] Stauffer went on to attend The University of Arizona where he received a BFA in 1989.^[2]

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,^[4] 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.^[5]

Influences

The artist sites 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.^[6]

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.^[7]

The artist has been featured as a cover illustrator for magazines such as The New Yorker ], The Nation, and Worth Magazine.^[5] 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".^[8]

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 artists work is frequently sited by the Cover of the Day section of the Society of Publication Designers web site.^[9]

Book illustrations

• Art by Karen Salmonsohn, Random House (2003)
• Fashion by Karen Salmonsohn, Random House (2003)

Notable poster work

• Savannah Music Festival (2013)
• Death of a Salesman, Soulpepper Theatre Company (2010)^[10]
• What The Butler Saw Soulpepper Theatre Company (2010)
• The Barber of Seville Vancouver Opera, Queen Elizabeth Theatre (2012)^[11]

Awards

• Gold Medal for editorial illustration, Society of Illustrators (2010)^[6]
• Gold Print Editorial Award, International Design Awards IDA, Winner with Andrew J. Nilsen, Worlds Apart (2012)
• Gold Medal (with Dean Sebring, Worth Magazine) Society of Publication Designers (2010)^[12]
• Silver Medals for Advertising and Institutional Digital Evidence and Smoking Gun, Society of Illustrators (2012)
• Silver Medals (2) Worth Magazine covers, The Art Directors Club (2012)
• First Place illustration Good Cop Bad Cop for Phoenix New Times, AltWeekly Awards (2010)^[13]
• First place illustration 7-Up vs. Coke, Part 2 for Riverfront Times, AltWeekly Awards (2009)^[13]
• First Place illustration The Suitcase Murders for Miami New Times, AltWeekly Awards (2008)^[13]

References

External links

• Artists personal website
• Artists personal blog at Drawger
• Society of Publication Designers - Brian Stauffer