Brendan Monroe, Demetrius May and Ronald Kurniawan
Of all the role models one might expect an ambitious young illustrator to tap for inspiration, Jay-Z hardly qualifies as one of the usual suspects. But unpredictability, in all its forms, has always been imperative to the outlaw mentality embraced by each of the panelists at “Most Wanted: Young Guns of Illustration,” this month’s lively discussion, featuring Illustration alums Ronald Kurniawan, Demetrius May, and Brendan Monroe. The three young mavericks enthralled the crowded Ahmanson Auditorium discussing the work in multiple sub-markets and the various facets of the industry. And, yes, the hip-hop mogul’s name was invoked, when May cited his sage advice to young entrepreneurs — “I’m not a business man, I’m a business, man…all of you are your own business.” – as a useful mindset vital to anyone determined to stand out in today’s crowded creative marketplace.
The panelists also stressed the importance of joining the ‘maker’ revolution. “I consider [Illustrators] as picture makers. You have to be a designer. You have to be able to create everything and anything out of your head. You have to be flexible,” said Kurniawan, an Art Center graduate (with honors), currently working at Dreamworks, whose work has been inspired by ideograms, letterforms and syllables. Kurniawan has a wide array of experience in feature and television animation, visual development, character design, advertising, and book illustration – both in-house and freelance. With extraordinarily realistic lighting and interplay of color, Kurniawan’s work is a feast for the senses. Kurniawan’s clients include Sony Pictures, LACMA, LA Weekly, Mattel, Inc. and Disney Consumer Products to name a few. His work has been recognized in several publications including Communication Arts, American Illustration and Society of Illustrators.
May, on the other hand, insisted that making a name for oneself is just as important as the act of making itself. “Each and every one of you are a brand, you have to brand yourself. ‘Cause no one is going to do it for you,” said May, who took the audience on a journey — his journey — from his humble beginnings as a graffiti artist to his current position as design director at Junk Food clothing in Los Angeles. Having graduated from Art Center with honors, his work has steadily evolved in ways even May never dared to imagine. May has launched his own men’s line, The Neighborhood Thieves, under the Junk Food umbrella, for which he oversees everything from the fabric to the packaging. May has also dabbled in everything from branding and logos to display art (store fixtures and pop-up shops).
Monroe, the final panelist, spends most of his time painting and sculpting for exhibitions and occasionally takes on illustration commissions. Monroe is versed in editorial and packaging illustration, sculpting, self-produced zines, comics, and printmaking among other sub-genres. With a keen aesthetic and whimsical approach, the lines of his work merge and converge with intricate swirls of miscellaneous color. Monroe’s work has been featured in The New York Times Magazine and is currently on display at the Richard Heller Gallery in Santa Monica, as well as at the Galerie L.J. in Paris, France.
These young mavericks are supremely aware of the ever-shifting changes in the industry. The evening culminated with them cheekily advising students to ‘fake it ‘til you make it.’ Of course, the caveat here is that any faking must be done with a brandable flair and distinction.
