In this continuing series, Utne Reader Art Director Stephanie Glaros explains the process behind an Utne Reader illustration.
In the article “Retiring Minds Ought to Know,” the author argues that retirement as we know it is becoming obsolete. It’s the kind of subject matter that, while thought provoking, is challenging in terms of providing a visual. Thanks goodness I have access to the minds of illustrators like Jesse Kuhn . He is great at tackling abstract subjects, and comes up with visual solutions that are conceptual without looking corporate or cliché. He submitted some great options with his sketches (below), and we decided to go with the idea that the end of the rainbow might not be exactly where we expected.
Since its inception in 1984, Utne Reader has relied on talented artists to create original images for stories that express powerful emotions, brilliant new ideas, and humorous storytelling. Browsing through back issues of Utne Reader is like a tour of “Who’s Who” in the illustration world. Artists like Gary Baseman, Brad Holland, Anita Kunz, Bill Plympton, and Seymour Chwast have graced our pages over the years, to name just a few.
