March 2024 Newsletter

A futuristic theme this month, as we ponder the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the illustration industry and creativity as a whole. Luis Mendo offers his thoughts on the divisive subject in EP21 of our Podcast.

Our latest projects have one eye on the future too, as Andrew Joyce completes a six week series for the Guardian, exploring the topic of electric vehicles in a bold new set of illustrations.

Meanwhile, Dakarai Akil created artwork to launch the new Netflix sci-fi series, The Three Body Problem, and?Marianna Tomaselli brings us back down to earth with illustrations for the hit show, One Day.

Rothko vs The Robots

How I learned how to stop worrying about AI.

We've had a great response to this?thought piece by Handsome Frank?co-founder Jon Cockley , inspired by a recent trip to Paris. Originally hosted by Creative Boom and illustrated by Paul Blow.

In case you missed it, read on...

"As an illustration agent, the question that I’m constantly asked at the moment, is am I worried about Artificial Intelligence? What does it mean for our industry? Is it an end of the world scenario for artists? Obviously, as we’re a business built on illustration, we have some concerns. But the more I learn about it and think about the role of an artist in art, the more optimistic I feel, and here’s why…"

"A few weeks ago, I visited the Mark Rothko exhibition in Paris. As a stood in the rain, with hundreds of others who had bought tickets and made the journey to the Louis Vuitton Foundation, I asked myself a question. Will people ever flock in numbers like this to look at art created by a computer? Will the AI artwork of tomorrow, be revered and hung in galleries in half a centuries time?

Read the full piece here.

The Guardian

Andrew Joyce

Andrew Joyce has completed a run of six editorial features for The Guardian and Autotrader, centered around the electric vehicle industry.

Each complex scene is bustling with action, while Andrew also pushed into a futuristic and bold colour palette to make that newsprint pop!

The Handsome Frank Podcast

Episode 21 with Luis Mendo

In a Paris hotel room, beneath the Eiffel Tower, we finally tracked down the wonderful Luis Mendo. Join us for a ranging conversation, taking in a career designing magazines in 90's Amsterdam, a life changing decision to relocate to Tokyo and how his work as an illustrator was born from a language barrier.Trigger warning, contains mentions of AI that artists may find refreshing.

Go on, give your ears a treat...Listen at?Apple,?Spotify?or?Amazon.

If you haven't seen it yet, you can watch our 'Little Film About...Luis Mendo' in full,?here.

Netflix Queue

Dakarai Akil

Dakarai Akil produced stellar new work for Netflix Queue - A print and digital publication that celebrates the people, ideas, and process behind creating great entertainment on Netflix and beyond.

Their latest 'book to screen' feature looks at the adaptation of the award winning sci-fi novel, ‘Three Body Problem’ by Liu Cixin. The writers behind Game of Thrones are on board to turn this futuristic story into the next big series.

Marianna Tomaselli

Marianna Tomaselli?also contributed to a Book to Screen digital cover story, as she illustrated scenes from the Netflix Series 'One Day' adapted from David Nicholls’s novel to critical acclaim.?

See more from our artists at www.handsomefrank.com