Illustration
Image/text combinations are powerful tools of communication. The image instantly attracts the readers attention and leads him/her into reading the text. The advantage that illustration has over photography is that complex concepts can be visualized. Illustration has many tools at it's disposal to communicate a specific message and address a certain audience. an illustration does not have to repeat the message, but can offer an alternative visual equivalent. Otto prefers the imaginative to the literal.
Godart said complex messages should be set against simple images.
Short history
Otto began freelance illustration in 1991 after graduating at Bristol Polytechnic.
Since then he has come to specialise in political and economic subjects for newspapers and magazines, but has also worked for also clients in Design, Advertising and Book publishing.
Otto's image-making is derived from screen-printing which is digitalised since 1997. His technique is particularly affected by polish poster art and psychedelic designs of the sixties. The image composition is largely influenced by Russian Constructivist Designers, with their montage of photos, type and flat design elements. Baroque painting and sculpture has to a large degree informed Otto's treatment of the human figure.
Commissioning
Depending on the type of commission and size of budget Otto supplies a choice of roughs before artwork. The time needed to make an illustration can be anything between 3 hours for a daily newspaper and several weeks for a larger commission.
Fees
Fees are negotiable, and usually something can be arranged to suit the client's budget. Generally Otto's fees are within the industry standard. Illustrator's fees are made up of two components: 1. the effort in physically making the illustration (make fee), and 2. the license to use the illustration for a specific purpose (licence fee). For advice on commissioning illustrators, enquire at the Association of Illustrators, they'll be happy to help.