Who loves their cars and car culture more than southern Californians? No one... and Westways (the magazine of the Automobile Club of Southern California) has been around for over 100 years to prove it. In 1928 the magazine first began commissioning California artists to create striking paintings for their magazine covers. -click this link to read about the unique history of their art covers.
And in my particular case today, as an illustrator working on the opposite coast, the next best thing to getting a cover art commission from Westways, is working with the magazine's art director Eric Van Eyke on the their Drive Smart and Travel Smart columns nearly every month, creating fun little spot illustrations covering a wide range of topics involving cars and travel. From tips on buying a new car to finding the best weekend getaway, to traveling abroad, and everything inbetween.
Eric has been working in the design/publishing industry for over 16 years. The last 11 of those years have been at the Auto Club of Southern California as Art Director and Creative Director for Westways, the member publication.
"Steven's artwork is always first class. I can provide only a manuscript and get back quality concepts time after time. When I do provide concepts, he is able to take those ideas to the next level and put his own spin on it. It's always a pleasure collaborating with Steven, his sensitivity to deadlines and quality of work are always of the highest caliber." -Eric Van Eyke
-and I didn't even have to pay Eric a penny to say such nice things about my illustration work!
I have been working with art directors for nearly thirty years, and the indicators that you are working with a very good one is that they are organized, succinct in their communications, and they trust you to do your thing, but also understand your style and point of view so well that if you might sometimes struggle a bit to get a handle during the sketch stage, they can suggest an idea or angle, and it fits well with your thinking anyway. In other words they help get the best out of you because they understand your approach. Eric easily has all these qualities so working with him always feels seamless.
Gee, maybe with all these assignments involving cars it will finally prompt me to actually buy a car for my life here in Manhattan! (don't anyone hold their breath!)
Posted here are just a handful of the spot illustrations I have created for Westways over the past couple years...
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