This week I'm sharing the art of illustrator Jack Unruh, and I want to begin by encouraging readers to click on Jack's images to enlarge them. Unruh's art is so detailed and intricately textured that it really merits closer inspection.
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| click to enlarge | CA, 1977 |
Above is the earliest example I have of Jack Unruh's work, a poster he created in the mid 70s for the State Fair of Texas. It has two earmarks of much of his later work — decorative borders and what I will term "subsidiary drawings."
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| click to enlarge | CA, 1984 |
Another Unruh trademark is his use of distinctive calligraphy and hand titling, as seen in the image above and directly below.
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| jackunruh.com |
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| click to enlarge | CA, 1984 |
This is a detail of a poster for "The Great American Race," which pitted pre-1942 cars against each other for a $235,000 prize.
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| click to enlarge | CA, 1978 |
Undoubtedly it was his fine illustrations of nature — like the one above — that brought Jack Unruh to the attention of
National Geographic Magazine. Below is an illustration Unruh did for a series of
National Geographic articles entitled
1491, America Before Columbus. Do click on it.
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| click to enlarge | National Geographic Magazine, 1991 |
Here, members of the Abenaki tribe kidnap women from the Otstungo tribe, a common practice amongst tribes that had lost members in battle or to disease.
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| a detail from the same illustration |
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| click to enlarge | Graphis Magazine, 1993 |
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| click to enlarge | nymag.com |
Unruh creates masterful portraits, like this image of New York's governor, Andrew Cuomo.
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| jackunruh.com |
In 2006, Jack Unruh was inducted into the Illustrators Hall of Fame. To read his biography and to see more of his portfolio, visit his own site by clicking
here.
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Hello Mark, It is interesting how Unruh creates focal points to guide the viewer within his complex compositions. In the Indian one, the use of color is very subtle. The small tree with yellow leaves both attracts attention and draws one into the woodland scene, and we are further pulled by the orange in the background, and the effects of light along the sides.
ReplyDeleteI also like the humor of the "vapor trails" of text in the bee/honey one.
--Road to Parnassus
Hello, Jim,
DeleteI might have started this posting with the National Geographic Indian illustration because it's not just a masterful composition, but also a brilliant piece of story-telling. Any other artist might have put the emphasis on the struggle taking place in the foreground, but Unruh puts the emphasis on the suspense of the struggle about to happen. Brilliant!
Just fantastic artwork! I see lots of movement in these dynamic illustrations. The detail in the Native American piece is really incredible - not overly done, but enough to let the viewer's imagination fill in. Thank you for sharing Jack Unruh's work here.
ReplyDeleteHi, Loi,
DeletePerhaps you know that to be chosen as an illustrator (or photographer) for National Geographic Magazine is actually a huge honor, because they are renowned for their rigorous standards.
my Jack Unruh file begins with the same poster illustration from CA in 1977. Thanks for the reminder of all of his wonderful work.
ReplyDeleteHello, Ms. Wis.,
DeleteCA (Communication Arts for other readers) has been a source of inspiration for me over the years, and because they spotlight the very best in contemporary illustration, the standard to which I have worked. Thanks for visiting!
Dear Mark,
ReplyDeleteJack Unruh has an unusual style. I am quite taken with the partially coloured works. They attract the attention.
I had never heard of this artist before so thank you for introducing him to us.
Kirk
PS
We have gone from cool and wet to hot and humid. It was 32c today and will be 34 tomorrow. I am not sure what that is in imperial but all I can say is that it is HOT!
Dear Kirk,
DeleteIt is hot and humid here as well, but I don't consider that summer has officially arrived until the day that I step outside and my glasses instantly fog up!
Dear Mark, Unruh...German, can not rest. Maybe Unruh could not rest until everything on his mind, at that particular moment, or whatever was relative to the central design, ended up in his art piece. A very talented artist and also a very fine draftsman.
ReplyDeleteDear Gina,
DeleteThanks for the translation, which does seem apt. Judging from his website, Jack Unruh is apparently still a very popular and very busy man. But I hope he's able to rest!
Dear Mark - the first illustration reminds me of the work of my neighbour, Tony Meeuwissen, whose work you featured on a post some time ago. It also has the feel of an illuminated manuscript in the way that he has put so much detail into the margins around the main work.
ReplyDeleteThe illustration of America before Columbus is particularly striking. I like the way he takes your eye to the central theme by cleverly adding delicate paint work to the middle of the picture only. He certainly packs a lot of detail into his work.
Dear Rosemary,
DeleteYes, I love that coloration, too. And the degree of detail suggests that the original drawing might be quite large. I'd love to see it in person.
Lucky you to live near Tony Meeuwissen! I hope he exhibits in your area occasionally.
They are all amazing .. the beautiful greens and shapes of the the vegetation in the alligator one.
ReplyDeleteThe Ram in the Texas poster reminds me of the Giant Merino ..a very large sculpture in Goulburn, New South Wales , south of Sydney.
To my mind though, the General from Graphis is my favourite..Mr U can draw anything it seems
Hello, smr - The general is one of my favorites, too. I like its almost panoramic perspective and the stylized vegitation.
DeleteI love Unruh's work. Gorgeous. It reminds me a bit of Alan E. Cober - remember his style, Mark?
ReplyDeleteGreat post. SO interesting to see Unruh's work close-up.
Dear Yvette,
DeleteI certainly do remember Alan E. Cober (I've done a posting on him), and I agree that Unruh's work might be influenced by Cober. The auto image that I've posted here is also reminiscent of Ken Dallison's car illustrations. I find that Unruh's illustrations are more textural than the other two, and the work that he has done for National Geographic is more detailed.