For New York–based artist David Elmo Cooper, freelance illustration represents an opportunity to expand his mind and sate his natural curiosity. “I’ll usually go beyond the manuscript and dedicate significant time to visual research and reading, seeking a deeper understanding of the subject,” he says. Having earned his BFA in communications design from Pratt Institute in 2000, Cooper had an initial foray into editorial illustration with Steven Heller at The New York Times Book Review and then shifted into publishing, working as photo editor and then photo director at Parents magazine, Siempre Mujer magazine and Health magazine until the latter’s closure in 2022. “Throughout this time, I never stopped illustrating, so this unexpected change enabled me to focus on it full time,” he explains. Now, he finds that he can focus on creating work that expresses his values, a facet to which he attributes his recent illustrations’ profound depth and emotionality. “I truly believe that, beyond the necessity of making a living, the subjects I work on must engage my passion,” Cooper says. “Given the opportunities I’ve been fortunate enough to have, I aspire to create work that inspires, encourages dialogue and raises awareness about social issues. For me, client-based commercial illustration doesn’t have to lack warmth; it can be a balance of client needs and personal reflection of culture and identity.” Alongside his freelance illustration career, Cooper is a visiting instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Pratt and the School of Visual Arts. “I really love sharing my experience with my students and helping them develop their ideas and voices in illustration,” he says.