Jay-Z Decoded

[deadhead16mb]

Hey guys, it's been quite a while since I posted any work. This past summer I received my first freelance book illustration job, and it was quite a doozy. I was hired by Rodrigo Corral Design to illustrate Jay-Z's memoir Decoded which just hit bookshelves this week. Here are some of the originals next to their respective pages in the book. All of these were done in graphite. More to follow soon.

[thescala]

nice work dude. when I see stuff like this I wonder, why not just take photos of the person, wouldn't it be cheaper for the publisher.

[deadhead16mb]

thescala - Thanks man. Yeah, I wonder that sometimes as well, but as long as I get paid I'm not complaining haha.

[Mex]

I like how it looks with text.

[goldilockz]

What an incredible opportunity! You did a fantastic job on the illustrations.

[Pavel Sokov]

Oh wow, fantastic work! I will be grabbing that book soon I'm sure.
Why is the font gigantic on the last photo?

[insanelight]

Truly impressive, great work man!

[vigostar]

that 2nd to last drawing is breathtaking.... Stellar works

[OmenSpirits]

Damn!

Can they make the book without the words...and the title...and no mention of Jay-Z at all with it just being your work (guess that would make it an art book of just your work) OH WELL!

[creativehigh]

wow nice pencil dude

[andre matos]

uohhh !!

[Elwell]

Sweet gig.

[Verithin]

nice work dude. when I see stuff like this I wonder, why not just take photos of the person, wouldn't it be cheaper for the publisher.

Because these have more life, more personality in them... the mark making set's them apart from the photo and elevates them. IMHO.

So... kudos to the publisher/editor for letting us all experience these beautiful pencil works.

[Elwell]

Because these have more life, more personality in them... the mark making set's them apart from the photo and elevates them. IMHO.

Also, it's a way of visually/stylistically tying together images from many different sources.

[Verithin]

Also, it's a way of visually/stylistically tying together images from many different sources.

Thematically for sure... good point.

[psychoboy]

Cool. Loved the Buddha hair do drawing.

[Maginnis]

photographers are more expensive than artists, more equipment, travel issues, insurance plus you gotta pay the celebrities to travel and pose for the photos. Photographers always have assistants too, and need to rent studios.

these are fantastic, it's not too often you get to see such solid graphite work in this digital age.

[thescala]

true to all. just curious, what exactly is thisd book about...

[gustavo desimone]

very solid very good drawings