TAD Faculty: Sterling Hundley

[Sterling Hundley]

I pride myself in visual problem solving. My ideas drive the end aesthetic.

Each of my fulfilled ambitions can be traced back to the education that I received from the Illustration Academy, and the lifelong friendships that I’ve made with TAD’s faculty of historically significant artists. I couldn’t imagine better company to keep.

[Jason Manley]

Great stuff Sterling. You can always tell when an artist cares about what they are doing and that much is clear in your work.

[Ian Barker]

Stunning work.

[Sterling Hundley]

Jason and Liffey,

Thank you both for the kind words and support.
Jason, I know that you and I both have been handed the recipe for success from all the folks teaching at TAD and Discovery. We just had to apply the hard work, ambition and dedication. Here I am posting at 2am, and I'm teaching at 9. I still have a long night ahead. It looks like you are always burning the midnight oil yourself! Back to work...

[zimfin]

I love your work Sterling. Though I couldn't make it to the live session I picked up the Roundtable class with you On Demand and it was awesome. A real pleasure learning from you as well as all the others. You are all superbly talented artists and an inspiration to us all.

[Brent Watkinson]

Sterling's images make me want to look at them. I mean really look at them. His "second-reads" way inside the idea are amazing.

Sterling, you are scary-good.

[anitakunz]

Sterling was one of our students at the Illustration Academy. He was really good then and has gone on to be one of the best young artists around today. He's talented, passionate, inspiring and always ready to help students.

[Sterling Hundley]

zimfin- I couldn't be more flattered. Thank you for the kind words, and for taking the time to support me, and what we are trying to do here.

Brent and Anita- Reading such sincere words from my Mentors is the highest compliment a creator can hope to receive. Thank you both for all of the support over the years. I'm honored to be here.

[Sterling Hundley]

zimfin- I couldn't be more flattered. Thank you for the kind words, and for taking the time to support me, and what we are trying to do here.

Brent and Anita- Reading such sincere words from my Mentors is the highest compliment a creator can hope to receive. Thank you both for all of the support over the years. I'm honored to be here.

[Fvallejo]

Hi Sterling!

I have not seen the first picture or the maze one before...they knocked me off my chair!!! Such inspiring work.

I've been fortunate to have Sterling as my teacher twice at the Illustration Academy. Not only is he one of the most talented and smart artists working, but he is one of the field's most thoughtful teachers. Anyone that has been lucky enough to learn from him knows that he pushes you to make the best pictures you are capable of, but also pushes you to be the best person you can be. He teaches responsibility as an artist and person, and your duty to work hard to discover your own personal voice.

One of my favorite stories is this summer over the Academy....It was time for Sterling's demo and he asked a few of us what we would like to see. Someone yelled out "something crazy." So without much preperation Sterling began his demo with a technique he made up as he went. He began with a marker transer of a charcoal drawing xeroxed on regular paper. He worked on top of that with pastel, oils, everything. He was confident with his technique and knowledge of picture making enough that he could invent a new working method and make it work in front of a room full of students and instructors. All while giving some of the best advice possible. I always remember this when I am searching for my own voice.

Count yourself very fortunate to be able to learn from Mr. Hundley.
-francis

[el coro]

been a fan of this guy for a while....your pictoral design and use of patterns always blows me away...delicious!


c36

[John English]

I love this maze piece!

This could have been a very uninteresting image, but Sterling's ability to design with beautiful shapes makes this a very compelling image. Look closely at the figures, shadows, windows, walls and notice the attention Sterling gave to their shapes! These objects have all been redesigned by Sterling to look the way he wants them to look. This image had to be approached totally from imagination and the composition has the effect of a well done abstract painting.

Great work!

John

[Sterling Hundley]

Francis,

Thank you. The two pieces that you mentioned are from my last two projects- The Saturday Evening Post and Deloitte Review. I enjoyed working on both immensely, and I hope that came through in the finals. Speaking of "knocking socks off", your sketchbooks on the VLP are amazing. Very professional, timeless work.

I'm fortunate that our paths have crossed in the past. You are one of the industry's most talented young stars, and your ambition, ideas, and problem solving leave no doubt in my mind to the success of your future endeavors.

Thank you again for your moving commentary.

[Sterling Hundley]

Coro,

It's amazing that our groups haven't had more contact in the past. We all have so many mutual interests, friends, and ambitions. Your name and work have come up time and time again, "as the guy with the goods". I know that working in a creative field takes a huge amount of energy- I'm amazed that you still find the time to produce personal work, such as Transient Man, after pouring your hear out at Massive Black. I'm looking forward to meeting in person!

[Noah Bradley]

I've never seen an artist quite as brilliant with visual problem solving as you. The intelligence you imbue into every piece you do inspires me to attempt the same (though not always with nearly as successful results).

Thanks for all you've taught me already, and all you still have yet to teach me.

[J Love]

There is no other artist who has had a greater impact upon my growth as an artist (and as a person) than Sterling. Having had the opportunity to study with him at the Illustration Academy and then as his apprentice for the last 6 months I have grown by leaps and bounds. I am constantly amazed at his ability to make relevant, intelligent work with a highly opinionated personal point of view, yet still have that special something to it that punches you in the gut and makes you say "Wow!" Sterling is a consummate professional and gentleman, and has helped me see that one can enter the cut-throat world of art with a moral center and still succeed. He is an exceptional, sought-after teacher, and The Art Department would be hard-pressed to find an instructor of higher caliber elsewhere.

[Louise Smythe]

Hey, Sterling!

Sterling is ridiculous. In a good way. His work is a consistent inspiration. He's an artist who really takes the time and care to make a good idea a genius idea. His compositions always blow me away, and hearing him speak about art and the issues of the illustration world is like listening to really, really good poetry. I remember one day I was listening to him talk, and i became so overwhelmed with how perfectly he was putting everything about the issue of "style" and honesty and truth in one's work. It was a good thing. He's a great example for any artist to follow - constantly challenging himself and not letting fear stop him, Sterling is a pioneer.

[hherrick]

Sterling is a force. The moment you meet him, things are never the same again. His work at the first read demands your full attention, yet upon the second the entire story begins to unfold and makes you want to find those gems hidden all over the place. The two new pieces are definitely proof of that!

Sterling, you are an amazing all around human being. You're the artist's artist. The work that you're able to do makes me think twice as hard when I turn back to my own, and your natural ability to relate with students is beyond me. You're a gifted teacher, and an illustrator to boot! I hope that our paths will once again cross.

[Montalvo Machado]

I was lucky enough to attend the Illustration Academy in the same year Sterling was there, as a student, in 1998.

We had a great affinity since day one, and right from the first assignment I knew I was in front of a very, very talented artist. He blew us away in every single piece he did, and deserved the prize offered by the IA at the time, which was the printing of postcards for the student that showed an outstanding performance during the training weeks.

I saw Sterling not only as dedicated and restless student, but as an admirable, open hearted and intelligent person that quickly became one of my dearest friends until this day.

It didn't take too much thinking for anyone to foresee he would be one of the greatest illustrators in America, in a very short period of time.

It was really great to see you again last year, Sterling, and with the great news your daughter was just born a few weeks before the Academy.

What you said about my sketchbooks is tatooed on my mind, and I really hope to see you sometime soon, here or in the US.

Bye, and take care.

All the best for you and your family.

Montalvo

[Carl Dobsky]

I just want to know if we can stick a spicket in this guys brain so we can have hot and cold running inspiration.

Awesome work!

[Mr.Blonde]

Cody miles showed me sterling's work when we were roommates. I've kept up with his work since. I love his sense for abstraction and pattern and his sense of design. (especially composition)

You rock sterling! looking forward to sitting in on your classes and learning from ya

[Craz]

Sterling Hundley interview on Sidebar:
http://www.sidebarnation.com/my_webl...g-hundley.html

[Pavel Sokov]

oh man, your art is incredibly clever!
Some intense perspectives, gotta love it.

[Sterling Hundley]

Noah,

Having seen your work, your pursuing your own ambitions. Thank you for what you've said- it means a lot. I feel that each step of the image making process introduces the opportunity to interject personal point of view. The weight of my interest in working lies on the front end, problem solving. A perfect day for me is my sketchbook, a problem to solve, and a coffee shop.

[Sterling Hundley]

J Love- you know this already. This past six months, you may very well have saved my life (you and Les). Thank you for all the time, effort, and especially thought, that you have dedicated to our mutual endeavors.

[Sterling Hundley]

John,

Thank you for seeing past the visual solution in the work. The problem that I was presented with for the Minotaur/Theseus illustration was:

A structure set of guiding principles that would serve as a framework for Corporate CEOs, and would help them avoid the dangers and pitfalls inherent in the world of business.

Tough assignment, but I enjoyed finding a parallel with the Greek mythology of Theseus and the Minotaur. I used the thread given to Theseus to help guide him from one side of the composition to the other- avoiding the Minotaur.

John- couldn't have gotten here without the IA.

[Fenrysk]

I think one of the highlights of my last semester in school was being able to attend the demo you did at SoCA.

the ideation process as well as the working process afterward was very inspiring and it definitely challenged to me to be more diligent in the conceptualization stage of imagemaking

[George Pratt]

Sterling,
I'm kicking myself because I thought I'd responded to your post early on. What can I say? Your work is so incredibly inspiring and always makes me wish I was more of a conceptual illustrator. Your solutions are so intelligent and thought-provoking, demanding the reader also put some time in.

Nothing beats watching you draw! Too much fun!

And you're a normal guy. You know how to let your hair down when it's time. You prank with the best of them.

Great artist, great husband, great father, great prankster... what's left?

George

[Kenny_Callicutt]

Man the new images really got me excited.. especially the maze.

[Sterling Hundley]

Louise- Thank you very much for taking the time to post; and such flattering words! I've really enjoyed watching you progress through our interaction on the Visual Literacy Program. You have much to offer the world- ideas, talent, ambition.

Haylee- It's hard not to get emotional when you read that you've impacted anyone's life- let alone those that are gifted, ambitious, and capable of doing extraordinary things. I find great satisfaction in knowing that my work fits into the legacy and heritage of what we are passing on from those who have taught us.