Well, this is my first (of many more to come) posts on illustrators that inspired or continue to inspire me. Let me know what you think of his work, or if you find similar illustrators out there.

Political satire is one of the many popular media themes that is, unfortunately, vanishing and slowly fading away in today’s fast-paced viral world. From the great works of the past that used to inform and entertain us, and further inspired new artists of the genre, we can count many notable and accredited names. Even though the current times have been less than kind to such great and witty minds, we still retain to have modern illustrators carrying on the tradition… though maybe in a different light. One such professional is C.F. Payne.

C.F. Payne is a highly acclaimed and successful illustrator whose talent has been displayed on the covers of Time Magazine, Readers Digest, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times Book Review and Sunday Magazine, MAD Magazine, der Spiegel, U.S. News and World Report, The Atlantic Monthly, Texas Monthly, Boys Life and more. Payne has taken on jobs ranging from painting countless politicians, authors, entertainers, and even personal commission work. Among such requests was a series of postage stamps of notable singers for the United States Postal Service. On top of the seemingly ordinary commission work, he has illustrated ten children’s picture books, including The Remarkable Farkle McBride and Micawber, written by John Lithgow.

Following the tremendous personal career achievements, C.F. Payne’s artwork has been exhibited at The Cincinnati Art Museum, The National Portrait Gallery, The Norman Rockwell Museum, The Society of Illustrators Museum of American Illustration, The Selby Gallery at Ringling College of Art and Design and countless college and university galleries.

While I can continue to pore over his seemingly never ending success, lets finally take a look at his work. Payne has been noted to illustrate in both mediums, paint and marker. What is astonishing is the fact that he can achieve a painterly style with the use of previously mentioned markers. His work rarely if not altogether at all contains outlines. The colors interact with each other to create contrast, forming an implied line, much like in realistic works. The colors themselves seem to be subdued, a little dull, thus giving you the sense of a dated style, perhaps even “retro” at times. The realistic technique combined with the “dated” look are all a major part in Payne’s caricature and cartoon works. Perhaps this is the main concept for his exaggerated political satire work, the main reason for his success as a strikingly different style.
It is in this sense that I remarked earlier on satire and cartoon illustrations, that current illustrators have to shine the genre in a different light to continue to promote the hopelessly dying breed. Payne does just that. He goes beyond simple caricature. He gives his subjects a realistic aura complete with distortion of features. They appear alive just as we are, and yet their personality shines through without any words. It is in this sense that I find him a trendsetter in satire. The illustrations are not simple silly drawings but rather engaging and profound on human level; thus mastering communication between a metaphor, concept, idea and the engaged viewer.

While Payne’s work has trotted all over the printed media, his most significant contribution would have to be the illustrated children’s books. The fact that he has illustrated over 9 such books is impressive all by itself. Though, this particular work has been accepted and cherished by several publications that tend to praise Payne on his ability to bring the passages alive. One such testament is as follows:

Payne’s mixed-media paintings take on Norman Rockwell-like qualities as he portrays cheering teenagers gathered around radios and a glimmering Ebbets Field; it’s as if readers view the scenes through a soft-focus lens or the haze of distant but treasured memories. Just as effective are his portraits of the Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson sliding into first, and the Giants’ Bobby Thomson, who, with the crack of his bat, signals the end of the Dodgers’ season (Review of children’s picture book, The Shot Heard ‘Round The World).

This is simply one of many example of the careful interpretation and praise of Payne’s work for children’s books illustrations.

Payne did not simply focus on his hard earned skill, but he also expanded and became involved in the illustrator world by becoming one of the founders of The Illustrators’ Partnership of America. As well as helping to establish the illustrator’s partnership he currently presides as the Chair of Illustration at Columbus College of Art and Design. This notoriety and involvement is in no doubt contributing to upholding the traditional genre of political satire as well as the notion to forge a new era of the style.

C.F. Payne is not simply an exceptional illustrator, but an important trend setter who’s contributions as a creative do not outweigh his presence in the illustration society. It was a pleasure to do some much needed research on his experience and his work will continue to influence me in many ways. One such way will always be innovation and noted expansion of style.