Bankrupt Nation (Cover)

For your enjoyment, here is the second installment of sketches and artwork from the previous commission. As a brief refresher, the artwork was for an article addressing concerns that the United States is still in economic trouble despite the stimulus package and the bank bailouts.

Sketches:

Heh, I really liked this sketch! I think it was the lighting; seems like it would have been fun to take to final. However, I think it was a bit too much for the art director; also, my girlfriend said it was a little over the top. Well, you should have seen it before I photoshopped out the blood. I have yet to illustrate a piece with a snake! This has to happen at some point.

And the same could be said for this sketch. I was really happy with my body language on this one as well as the hanky in his pocket. Was a bit too violent? But it's metaphorical violence! No? Ok...

This is the sketch that the art director chose, and I can understand why. In the previous post about this article, I cited how the art director thought I had a way of delivering concepts in a dramatic but palpable manner. This sketch is subtle and still dramatic, an approach I think is often best. As such, I try to offer a sketch of this type in every assignment.

Initially, the sketch was just Sam, and I added the reaching hands at the end as I felt it just needed something to represent the middle class victims (you and me) of the economic storm. I also like the play of scale between such small figures and a giant Uncle Sam that cannot help them.

Just to be clear, I was happy to illustrate any of the above sketches; I think all illustrators have their favorites when submitting concepts, and I am always happy to take any of my ideas to finish!

Final Artwork:

I slightly adjusted the cover art :) The masthead was overlapping Uncle Sam's head, and I reversed it for sake of the portfolio. Thanks for reading!

Enjoy the Day,
Chris