The Importance of Shows: Omer Hoffmann

We’ve asked several illustrators to comment on why they enter shows and in particular why they enter our 3x3 Shows. We’ll be sharing their comments over the next several weeks as we lead up to our show deadline.

“It seems that when it comes to exposure, and the world beyond the studio, the digital age has changed a lot of things for illustrators. As if on a daily basis my Facebook feed is being bombarded by artistic imagery and it’s impossible to stop the flood without un-friending some people. Sometimes it can give me a headache—not unlike eating too much in a short time.”

“I always wish that Facebook or Twitter employed some sort of an filter or editor who would watch my feeds—a professional that would do a decent editing job and make some sense out of this flood of imagery coming at me and my overflowed creative mind. This is one of the reasons I like shows. They have a curator; they have an agenda; they have a title that I can relate to and I think other people can make sense of it as well. Digital consumption of images is a great thing, it gives me ideas, it just doesn’t come at the expense of annuals, shows and such that have a story behind them.”

“As an artist, I love being recognized, ‘likes’ or ‘favorites’ still make my day—the immediacy of it all. Usually it tells me that people like me, though that’s not much of a professional input. Shows are very good at doing a much more precise job, targeting audiences that consist of people within the industry. Even better, judges that make up panels get to see my work. These individuals are usually potential high-profile clients and this is a great opportunity for me to show them my art. I might not get immediate feedback, but I can be assured that people that really mean business are reviewing my art and that’s a huge plus.”

“Shows are a fundamental part of my vocation as an illustrator. In the digital age, their role is more refined—it is a milestone that goes beyond everyday work. I have to look at my work—how do I want to summarize myself and my art best. It’s also what makes them one the few professional practices aside from actual work. It is a platform that gets lots of professional artists under one roof as they meet other, equally professional clients.”

www.ohoffmann.com