Frank Viva

Last week brought Toronto Illustrator Frank Viva to speak about his work and his journey as an artist.  His down to earth appraoch and real stories of early rejection, followed by years of tenacity and eventual establishment hit home for the audience.  His work ranges from  New Yorker covers to children’s books to advertisement and editorial illustration.  Consistent through it all is the finely tuned concept with the simple but eloquently illustrated image.  When asked about what he is looking forward in an artist he might hire, he responded, “Typography”.  A surprising but insightful answer for an illustrator. His clever website is here: http://www.vivaandco.com/