The power of reportage drawing is in the immediacy of the images that are created and the feeling of the illustrator's presence on location. Comparable in some ways to photojournalism, reportage illustrators are acting as visual journalists, proactively creating narrative work about issues and subjects, translating what they witness into handmade imagery. There is evidence that illustrations connect to people in powerful ways whether they are drawings created while embedded with troops in Afghanistan, documenting during a courtroom trial or recreating the energy of the crowd at a rock concert. This area of applied illustration also provides career opportunities for students and takes them out of the classroom and into different environments and situations. With practical information about tools, techniques and coping in various situations as well as inspirational interviews and advice from reportage artists working in the field, this book will fill a gap in this growing market.
Chapter 1: What is Reportage Drawing
Background
The rise of reportage and the influence of the war artist
The camera and the eye
Case study: George Butler/Syria
Interview: Jill Gibbon
Chapter 2: Materials, Media and Methods
Choosing the right materials
Technology and digital media
Case Study: Jenny Soep/ Capturing a live event
Exercise: Drawing a live event
Box: Checklist of materials
Interview: Julia Midgley
Interview: Tim Vyner
Chapter 3: Developing a Visual Language
Individual approaches
Case Study: Jedidiah Dore/New York City
Case Study: Sue Coe/Elephant Nature Park
Exercise: Developing your visual language
Interview: First Hand Reportage Collective
Interview: Olivier Kugler
Chapter 4: On Location
Beginning a project
Case Study: Gary Embury/ The Bristol Bike Project
Interview: Lucinda Rogers
Interview: Jenny Soep
Chapter 5: Capturing a sense of place
Case Study: Veronica Lawler/Mystic Seaport
Checklist
Tips and techniques: On location
Case Study: Luisa Crosbie/ Her Majesty's Theatre, London
Case Study: Anne Howeson/ Drawing and Memory
Interview: Bo Soremsky
Chapter 6: Creating a Narrative
Developing the story
Story selection and developing content
Tips and techniques
Outlining your story
Interview: Louis Netter
Interview: Chloe Regan
Exercise: Creating a story using a fixed viewpoint
Chapter 7: Becoming a Visual Journalist
Creating a digital portfolio
Tips in preparing your portfolio
Editing your portfolio
The world of work
Finding work
Speculative work
Working through a gallery
Direct calling and arranging interviews
Responsibilities
Human ethics and professional practice
Tips and checklists
Case Study: Mario Minichiello/Weekend Financial Times
Exercise: Developing a reportage illustration brief
Conclusion
The future of reportage
Interview: Martin Harrison
Contacts
Credits
Index
