02. Stereotyping
Made for Each Other
© SPCK Books 1995, Acrylic and Watercolour. Book jacket design.
I was asked to produce this image, which is based on an illustration by another artist. The editors at SPCK Books liked the Henri Rousseau style of this artist but not her figure paintings. I used Lucas Cranach the elder's Adam and Eve painting of 1538 as inspiration in this image. One week after this painting was accepted by the art director I was asked to increase the saturation of the colours in the painting. I was not paid extra for this work. SPCK Books should have paid me extra as the changes were decided upon after the art director had accepted the artwork. I pointed this out but they refused to budge. I had not yet been paid for this job and felt unsure of what to do. I swallowed the bile that was rising in my gullet and complied. Publishers plead poverty when it suits them. The art director promised me more commissions they never came. Remember never trust anyone in this industry until they have earned that trust.