Blog

Map Mania

Our clients seem to have an insatiable need for maps. Capable of providing direction on a global or small scale, maps serve an important role in our lives. Publications, universities, resorts, and games all use maps. Leave it to illustrators to invent unique ways to show us where we’re going. We’ve selected a cross […]

Last week, with the passing of Stephen Hawking, Daniel Baxter posted his tribute to who the Gaurdian described as “scientist’s brightest star.” The portrait was shared by artists, industry leaders like the Workbook, but also by many celebrating the life of Hawking, showing the power in portraiture. Daniel’s uniquely styled portrait reminds of how there […]

Richard Mia was entrusted to illustrate the personal stories of ordinary Rotary Club members for their monthly publication of Rotarian Magazine. Mia said he thought of this assignment, “As if an author had to render their experience with a picture.” The stories vary, but they are held together with Richard’s thoughtful, intelligent work. After looking […]

The Harvard Business School is still considered by many to be the pinnacle of advanced business education. We are proud to say that three artists from RappArt have been admitted….to the alumni bulletin as contributors. Taylor Callery, Dan Page, and Jonathan Carlson created the illustrations for the December feature stories. The images are excellent […]

Work Happy Editorial is dedicated to the amazing assignments with magazines and newspapers that made our artists happy in 2017. Occasionally the story, the designer, and the artists’s concept all come together to create an inspired work of art. Each artist has written a caption explaining why they chose their happy image. Check out […]

2017 was a turbulent year for many of us for a variety of reasons. Through it all, Rapp illustrators found projects that brought happiness. Some commissioned, some self-initiated. Below you will find a curated virtual gallery of each artist’s most happy image from 2017 along with a brief explanation of why it made them happy. […]

We received many excellent concepts for our 2018 tote bags and these are our winners. The bags accompany our printed illustration catalogs that are distributed during the first couple months of the new year. Anna Godeassi uses a lovely moment between fall and winter birds to show love, diversity, and tolerance. Traci Daberko hopes her […]

Campus publications continue to tap into our deep roster of amazing illustrators with so many different style choices. Digital, pen and ink, CGI, and photo-collage are featured below highlighting several recent University publication articles and covers. Check out the work of Dan Page, Sean McCabe, Laszlo Kubinyi, Jean Francois Podevin and Taylor Callery. Dan Page‘s […]

Hasbro’s “Stranger Things” Inspired Board Games

In anticipation for the release for Season 2 of “Stranger Things”, Martin Ansin and Hasbro teamed up to create the new Stranger Things themed Monopoly and Ouija package designs. The almost instant cult classic debuted as a Netflix original in July of 2016, and fans have been not-so-patiently waiting for the new season, which premiered on […]

Greg Mably’s Illustrations for BP’s Wellness Program 2017

BP’s 2017 Wellness Program is all about focusing on what you should be doing for your body, as well as what to avoid. It covers a range of topics, such as fun activities to keep you moving, which health assessments to complete, and how to incorporate mindfulness into your every day life. Greg’s graphic and […]

College and University publications are a vital part of a school’s communication strategy, and our illustrators continue to receive interesting assignments. However, universities’ creative needs go beyond editorial to include permanent installations, promotional and advertising campaigns and interactive media. Two recent projects by Rapp artists John Jay Cabuay and Daniel Hertzberg are excellent examples of […]

Stunning Concept Art for Deloitte University Press

The design team at Deloitte University Press has the challenging task of creating compelling imagery to work with academic research papers relating to technology, healthcare, finance, and energy. With our range of world class talent, RappArt is a “go-to” resource for Deloitte (thank you). Our latest blog post features some of our most recent assignments. […]

First Interstate Bank commissioned John Dykes for their new ad campaign! First Interstate is a regional bank in the western US and they wanted to use the maps to tell the story of banks’s interactions with the people and culture of each state. John created three large map illustrations of Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana, […]

Jeffrey Smith has been busy at work for the March 2017 issue of The Atlantic! Jeff created a cover and two article openers for the magazine featuring Donald Trump in his new role as President. These articles explore in detail how Trump can become an authoritarian and how civil society can fight back. Jeff’s dramatic watercolor […]

No matter which team you’re on for pronouncing the word, (hard G or jif like the peanut butter) you’ve probably seen these fun animations popping up all over the internet. Several of our artists have followed trend, and made GIF animations in their unique styles. These GIFs are used for web versions of editorial stories, logos, […]

Once again we asked each of our illustrators to submit their favorite piece from the past year. We are honored to represent such an amazingly talented group of artists and are proud to present this yearâs collection of work. The images are grouped by theme so be sure to make your way all the way […]

Each year we send out 4000 custom designed tote bags, along with our printed catalog full of great images. We ask the artists in our group to submit ideas for the bags, and this year we had too many good ones to choose from! After multiple rounds of deliberations, we chose the following fun images […]

Everyone has their own way of eating Oreos, but there’s no doubt that Oreo’s perfect match is milk. Aldo Crusher was recently commissioned by 360i to create a series of dunking images! These images were featured on Oreo’s social media to inspire people to get creative in their dunking techniques. Hang gliding dunk! Sky […]

Village Voice Creative Director Andrew Horton is a long-time advocate of illustration as a means of illuminating stories. Since his arrival at the Voice, the paper has a fresh new look, and is filled each week with work by many of the top artists working today. We are delighted that Andrew and his team have […]

We’d like to recognize the design firm of 2Communiqué and creative director, Kelly McMurray for their dedication to illustration and the frequent use of our illustrators. 2Communiqué was recently commissioned by two of their clients, AACSB and the University of Tampa to redesign their publications, BizEd and UTjournal, respectively. BizEd is a publication for business school deans and faculty and is read along with […]

We at RappArt are deeply saddened by the passing of Jack Davis, who quietly left this world at age 91 on July 27th. Jack began a long and close relationship with our agency in 1979, but his achievements and influence spanned several generations. We expect he will continue to inspire young illustrators for years to come. Jack continued […]

The award winning design team at Deloitte University Press (Emily Koteff Moreano, Kevin Weier, Joanie Pearson, Sonya Vasilieff, and led by Matt Lennert) is a great supporter of illustration. The Deloitte team utilizes many of the top conceptual illustrators to help represent the firm’s business research in the areas of economics, science, technology, innovation, and […]

It is always a nice honor and testament to our group when RappArt talent is selected for virtually all the illustration within a single issue. Stanford Alumni Magazine’s Summer issue features four of our artists, led by an amazing cover and opening spread by Ryan Huddle. Be sure to scroll down to see Margi Kimball’s […]

The National Pastime Museum (an online-only collection of baseball artifacts, info and memorabilia) recently commissioned 19 of our artists to interpret and create work based on the poem “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest L. Thayer which was originally published in the June 3, 1888 issue of San Francisco’s The Daily Examiner. The artists were given […]

The RappArt Guide to Political Illustration

While the 2016 election cycle may seem like an endless loop of one of the Real Housewives series, this show has many months to go before it is cancelled. Each day brings new stories and opinions that require some kind of visual content. RappArt offers a wide array of fantastically talented illustrators to bring the […]

Icons and infographics continue to trend as popular design choices in editorial, advertising, corporate communications, and motion graphics. Approximately 20 of our artists have iconic/infographic work in their portfolios. Six of those artists are particularly successful and we’ve compiled samples from each. If you’d like to see all our icon/infographic talent go to: http://rappart.com/?sfid=6739&_sft_specialties=icons Greg Mably Audubon […]

Teaching Tolerance, a publication from Southern Poverty Law Center, makes wonderful use of illustration. The publication is devoted to diversity, equity, and justice in education, and includes many thought-provoking articles. Teaching Tolerance hires some of the country’s best editorial illustrators and we are regular contributors. Thank you! This issue features four Rapp artists. Peter Horjus was […]

We are back with our artist curated Best of 2015. The artists were asked to select their favorite pieces from this past year. If we do say so ourselves, it’s an impressive body of work! Please take a few minutes to look for some 2016 inspiration.

We are very thrilled to share our new tote bag designs for 2016! This year’s wonderful illustrations are by Shaw Nielsen, Greg Mably, Andy Ward, and Traci Daberko. 2016 is the year of the monkey in case you are wondering about the monkey designs. Let us know your favorite. Traci Daberko Shaw Nielsen Greg […]

Rapp Artists for Deloitte University Press

Deloitte University Press is a publication of Deloitte, the largest professional services firm in the world. DUP’s primary goal is to publish the firm’s best thought leadership and demonstrate its expertise in a wide variety of business categories. Matt Lennert, the Creative Director, and his team of designers, Kevin Weier, Joanie Pearson, Sonya Vasilieff, and […]

Three Cheers for the Wall Street Journal!

The Wall Street Journal is a huge supporter of illustration, and the paper is much more than articles about mergers and mutual funds. Personal Journal, Off Duty, and other sections offer interesting features on wine, books, health, sports, real estate, etc. Rapp artists are regularly asked to illustrate these articles as well as financial and investment […]

It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of one of our longtime illustrators, Robert de Michiell, who lost his battle with cancer at age 57 on October 12th. He is survived by his husband, theatrical manager Jeffrey Wilson. Robert began his relationship with Gerald & Cullen Rapp in 1994. For […]

A couple of weeks ago we asked our artists to complete the classic first week of school assignment, what they did on their summer vacation. We think Hal Mayforth and Bruce Morser best capture the highs and lows of summer. Camping, beach, and work seem to be the most popular activities. Take a minute to check out your […]

We are excited and flattered when a client chooses to use several of our artists for all of their illustration needs within a single issue. Doreen Manning, the editor of Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s beautifully designed alumni magazine, did just that for their summer issue. Ryan Huddle was chosen to create an illustrated history of the […]

Comic Con has become a huge pop culture event, and this year, two Rapp artists, Asaf Hanuka and Michael Cho, were on the scene in San Diego to sign copies of their graphic novels, participate in discussions and meet their fans! Entertainment Weekly devoted an entire issue to the event, and commissioned an illustration from Martin […]

RappArt is well known for it’s strong portfolio of conceptual artists suitable for editorial projects. But many of the same artists have completed terrific publishing assignments. We have a range of possibilities led by graphic novel influenced artists Michael Cho and Asaf Hanuka. Assignments have included covers for trade fiction, YA, and fantasy. Check out […]

Once again RappArt is well represented in the prestigious Communications Arts Illustration competition. CA received 4300 submissions with only 163 winning selections. RappArt artists received 6 awards. Special recognition to Nigel Buchanan who won 3 times! Other winners are Brad Yeo, Richard Mia, and John Reinfurt. These artists are among the best in the field, […]

Many of our artists have gone “back to school” at some of the country’s finest institutions of higher learning. Their homework has been doing plum assignments for university, college, and prep school publications. The subjects vary from broad (analyzing the country’s healthcare system) to celebrating specific achievements on campus. And the styles range from graphic […]

Daniel Hertzberg’s Taco Bell “Breakfast Defectors” Campaign

Daniel Hertzberg recently completed a series of 22 portrait illustrations for Taco Bell’s “Breakfast Defectors” campaign. The propaganda-style likenesses were reproduced as small posters that were mailed in special kits to a select group of social media influencers – consumers who successfully spread the word about Taco Bell’s new breakfast menu items. The recipients were […]

We’re excited to announce that four Gerald and Cullen Rapp artists played a huge role in the success of USC Dornsife’s award winning Fall 2014/Winter 2015 Food issue! USC Dornslife received a gold medal for best periodical and Rappsters Stephanie Dalton Cowan, Nigel Buchanan, Peter and Maria Hoey and David Brinley used their diverse skills […]

In the spirit of awards season, we’ve decided to create our own: The Artists Choice Awards. The idea is simple: it’s the image that each artist believes is their best of 2014. No micromanaging from the agent peanut gallery. It’s not always readily apparent why some images were selected, but we’re sure the artists have […]

Saturday Night Live just celebrated their 40th year on the air! To commemorate the occasion, Amtrak’s Arrive magazine commissioned Nigel Buchanan to create four cover images of SNL’s most iconic sketches: The Blues Brothers, Gilly, the Spartan Cheerleaders and Wayne’s World. Nigel does a great job capturing the essence of these characters. Now check out these classic illustrations […]

Yesterday’s attack in Paris has horrified all of us but it has extra meaning for artists, after the terrorists targeted cartoonists exercising their right to free speech. Several of our artists have responded on their personal web sites and social media platforms. We have gathered the images below.

Finally, tote bag season! We are very excited to unveil our latest collection of tote bags for 2015! This year’s innovative designs are by Jean-Manuel Duvivier, Gwen Keraval and Peter and Maria Hoey. We’d love to hear your favorite, so please, let us know what you think!

American University commissioned John S. Dykes to create an expansive series of illustrations commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The work is particularly timely and thought-provoking given the renewed debate on American race relations. John does amazing work over a cover and three and a half spreads in a sketchbook style, […]

Thanksgiving marks the official beginning of the holiday season. Virtually all Americans celebrate Thanksgiving using a familiar recipe of family, turkey, football, and of course pie. We’ve devoted this blog post to a few images that capture the spirit of this festive occasion. Alison Seiffer: A lot of thought and preparation goes into creating the […]

Rolling Stone Magazine is a great supporter of illustration. Every issue features a compelling opening illustration for it’s album review section. The designers have great taste, using some of the world’s top artists. Over the past couple of years, several of the Rapp artists have been selected, most recently with Raul Allen in the October […]

Perhaps the largest and most famous 4th of July celebration in America, this year’s Macy’s poster was designed and illustrated by our very own Richard Mia. The poster design and lettering was a collaborative effort with the Macy’s design team. Numerous sketches and revisions were completed until the illustration was perfect. Make sure to scroll below […]

Summer is hot and so is our new collection of warm weather-inspired illustrations! We thought it would be great to show off artwork motivated by our favorite summer activities: relaxation, reading, fireworks, the beach. Oh did I mention relaxation? Check out an assortment of illustrations below by many of our talented Gerald and Cullen Rapp […]

Most people know Peter and Maria Hoey as one of the most accomplished info-graphic studios in the world. They have also won awards from The Best American Comics and American Illustration for their graphic novel work as Coin-Op Studio. Peter and Maria, have been publishing their own comic books since 2008, perfecting their skills in […]

It may still feel like winter, but spring is in full bloom thanks to Sean McCabe’s dazzling illustrations for Macy’s annual Flower Show. Sean’s dynamic compositions are the hidden treasure behind this year’s theme, “The Secret Garden.” Sean created the featured illustration for Macy’s Flower Show poster, as well as 27 additional images for the […]

Universities are producing well designed, high quality publications as a means of staying connected to alumni, faculty, and students. Much of the content focuses on noteworthy alumni, prestigious faculty research, and student life. University publications regularly use our artists because we offer a variety of styles ranging from portraits (great for alumni donors) to process-oriented […]

It’s finally that time of year! The 2014 tote bags are being shipped to our favorite clients. This years designs are illustrated by Raul Arias, Traci Daberko, and Peter & Maria Hoey. Each bag includes a vintage-inspired hang tag designed by John S. Dykes. Please take a look and let us know you’re favorite–we would love to […]

Happy New Year everybody! We are continuing the tradition of asking our artists to select their favorite work from 2013. This year we have a fantastic collection with a little something for everybody: newspaper pieces for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post; magazine work for Rolling Stone, Time, Scientific […]

Daniel Hertzberg: Behind the Scenes at Bryant Park

Daniel Hertzberg had the amazing honor to work with Hill Holiday on branding and illustrating this year’s Bank of America’s Winter Village at Bryant Park. His illustrations were used for entry pillars throughout the park, dasher boards that surrounded the ice rink, light towers, entrance gates, barricade covers, and numerous promotional materials, including Bryant Park’s […]

Gerald and Cullen Rapp is Brewing Creativity

With Halloween just around the corner, we’re excited to share a collection of mysterious, bizarre, and spine-chilling illustrations. We asked our artists to submit their favorite images that relate to the season. It’s a fun collection of work that we hope you enjoy.

We are thrilled to introduce a young new artist who gravitates toward traditional media. Danny received his BFA from the prestigious Syracuse University in 2010, and developed a passion for figurative narratives. He creates detailed paintings, working in graphite and acrylic washes, inks, and whatever he thinks is best for the piece. The final art […]

Over the years, Martin Ansin has brought his own perspective to feature films. Martin has created incredible images for popular movies including Taxi Driver, Man of Steel, Iron Man, and Frankenstein. He’s currently putting together a number of poster illustrations for an upcoming exhibition at Alamo Drafthouse’s gallery in Austin. While Martin is busy preparing for […]