Illustration: Jillian Tamaki's arresting work goes large across The New York Times

Date
25 July 2013

It must be an incredibly satisfying endorsement of your talents when a publication with the heavyweight clout of The New York Times decides to use your illustration in a completely new and challenging fashion. Jillian Tamaki’s already a big hitter in the US illustration world, but even so the paper’s recent decision to paste her imagery wide across the centre of a double-page, broadsheet spread is testament to the power of her illustrative skills and ability to communicate swiftly and wordlessly.

But no wonder really. A quick glance at the image tells you all you need to know about the elegance of Jillian’s work. Even when she’s communicating ideas as hard-hitting as the ecological decline of our planet there’s still room for beauty in there. Meanwhile articles that illustrate retirement plans have room for careful aesthetic consideration; the end result something you’d happily have hung on your wall. There’s not many editorial illustrators out there with such a delicate balance of intelligence and craft, which makes Jillian a valuable part of the visual landscape.

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Jillian Tamaki: You Can Take It With You

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Jillian Tamaki: Wood Kid – The Golden Age

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Jillian Tamaki: Wood Kid – The Golden Age

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Jillian Tamaki: Wood Kid – The Golden Age

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Jillian Tamaki: Aesop’s Leopard for The New York Times

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About the Author

James Cartwright

James started out as an intern in 2011 and came back in summer of 2012 to work online and latterly as Print Editor, before leaving in May 2015.

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