Each year Greg Manchess, Dan Dos Santos, and I ask a dozen artists to create a 5×7 painting of their choosing. These miniatures are exhibited at the Society of Illustrators and then placed on auction with all proceeds going to the Society’s student scholarship fund. I’m excited to say that the auction is now up on ebay and will run until the evening of Sunday, May 6th. Here is an opportunity to own artwork at an affordable price and help some young illustrators at the start of their carreers.
Bidding is taking place here.
Chris Rahn, seen above.
The Society Scholarships are among the illustration industry’s toughest awards. This year, over 8,000 entries were examined by 25 judges. Just over 200 students will be accepted into the exhibit, and about half will earn cash awards. Not only do these awards help subsidize students financially, they also go a long way to boost the confidence of young artists (and their nervous parents) by proving their voices stand out amongst thousands of others. It’s never long before you start seeing the winners on their way to becoming the field’s biggest names. John Jude Palencar, James Jean, Tomer Hanuka, Dan Dos Santos. and hundreds of others have become noted illustrators since the Scholarship’s inception in 1981.
I would like to thank the artists involved for their generosity. The illustration community is incredibly supportive. Not every profession would donate time and energy into supporting their future competition.
Irene Gallo is the Art Director for Tor Books.