03. A New Vision
Vietnam
© Karl A. Foster 1998, Acrylic and Watercolour. Magazine article illustration.
Short story about two mixed heritage Vietnamese children. The result of the US invasion of that country in the 1960's. The art director was very precious about this commission and felt that it was not painterly enough and too specific in content. The qualities that this art director desired were hard to meet. She is from the "when I see it I will know what it is I want" school of thought. I think this approach is fairly unhelpful. An illustrator could spend many hours adapting their work for a chance result. I think that my years as an illustrator helped me to become a good art director myself. In my teaching practice I try to put myself into the role of the learner. It is the learner who knows what they want, not me. Art Directors could go a long way I think if they access this part of their thinking.