Illustrator Edel Rodriguez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1971. Nine years later, during the Mariel boatlift, his family immigrated to Miami. He graduated from Pratt Institute in 1994 and began working regularly as an illustrator for the New Yorker, TIME magazine (where he was an art director from 1994 to 2007), and a variety of other clients. His work has been featured on the cover of the 2004 Communication Arts Illustration Annual and regularly selected to appear in the American Illustration, Communication Arts and The Society of Illustrator’s annuals. Edel's artwork has appeared on Broadway show posters, U.S. postage stamps, product designs and in ad campaigns. He has illustrated six children’s books, two of which he has authored and is a recipient of a Gold and a three Silver Medals from the Society of Illustrators, and a Bronze Cube from The Art Director’s Club for his theatre posters.
12.15.09
A Working Knowledge of Anatomy
If you have a degree, in what field is it? I have a BFA from Pratt Institute and an MFA from Hunter College, both in painting.
Have you always been able to draw or was it a skill you learned in college? I’ve drawn since I was a child and developed the skill throughout my life. I picked up a lot of skills in college, ideas about gesture and a better knowledge of human anatomy. While in art school, I learned a lot of things while drawing from human cadavers through a program with the Columbia University Medical School. My work has changed over time, more graphic and direct perhaps, but having that working knowledge of anatomy has always helped.
What was your first paid assignment? It was a portrait of a band for The Village Voice newspaper, done while I was still in school. I ended up delivering two final pieces of art because I was so nervous about the whole thing.
Which illustrator (or fine artist) do you most admire? Pablo Picasso, for his ability to experiment and change throughout his life. I saw a recent show of his late paintings in New York and was in awe of his ability to keep a solid structure underneath what at first appears to be a collection of random brushstrokes and paint splatters. I also admire his work ethic, the way he just kept working and working right until the end.
What would you be doing if you weren’t an illustrator? I thought of being an architect for a long time when I was in high school. I was good at math and physics and didn’t want to waste the time I had spent in those classes. Architecture seemed like the right career for someone with an interest in math and drawing. Coming from an immigrant family, I felt like I should do something more tangible with my career than art so, I took an internship in an architecture firm my senior year of high school and promptly lost my interest in architecture as a career option. It just wasn’t as interesting or personally fulfilling as art. During college, I became interested in design and was an art director at TIME magazine for many years. So if I weren’t an illustrator, I’d probably still be an art director or teaching painting at an art school.
From where do your best ideas originate? From my experience and history. If it’s an assignment, and I can feel empathy for the subject, it usually results in the best ideas. Traveling has been very important for me, it gives me a real sense of places, people, their customs and their art. Trips to places like Turkey, Egypt, Cuba, Morocco, Spain and other parts of Europe have been invaluable in developing my work.
How do you overcome a creative block? I usually try to draw myself out of it. I just keep putting down marks, shapes and writing words until I find a solution. I look through my sketchbooks or my photographs and try to find a direction from them. Sometimes I go do something that’s more labor intensive like landscaping the yard or painting the house and it triggers ideas. When all else fails I take a shower to try and snap out of it.
In one word describe how you feel when beginning a new assignment. Caffeinated.
Do you have a personal philosophy? It’s gonna be alright.
Do you have creative pursuits other than illustration? Yes, but they all involve art in some way—photography, sculpture, painting, design. I should take up kayaking or archery or something so I have an interesting answer when I’m asked these things. I had a student ask me what I do with my free time and my answer was “draw.” Just pathetic.
What music are you listening to right now? I listen to just about everything… Radiohead, Wilco, Classical, Cuban and African music. Though sometimes many days go by in the studio where I forget to turn on the stereo. Silence can be good too.
What’s your favorite quote? I once told my daughter I was busy working and she said “You’re not working, you’re drawing.” I try to remember that every day.
Do you have any advice for people entering the profession? Do the work you want to do and the rest will follow. Don’t follow trends. Look for inspiration from art history and museums. Ideas are very important, good thinking skills and problem-solving will allow you to stay relevant over the long haul. Read, not just art books, but about world history and get more educated about current events. An illustrator has to have a wealth of knowledge to tap into, you never know what the subject of the next assignment will be, so it’s good to be aware of as many things as possible. Respect and value your work. Don’t settle for small fees or bad deals. Many times illustrators are hired based on published work, so always continue to work on your own drawings and paintings, it helps keep your work moving forward. Work, work, work.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career? I wish I had taken the time to learn to play a musical instrument. That would be cool.