Bill Mayer Named Show Chair for Annual No. 15

We’re pleased to announce this year’s show chair is Bill Mayer. The ever-consummate illustrator, Bill will tell you, “I’ve always been attracted to that line between humor and horror from an early age.” The range of Bill’s work runs from editorial, character design, children’s books to posters, stamps and these tiny gouache paintings that have the look of times past. I’m personally amazed at the range you see coming from Bill. Perhaps, it’s because Bill will tell you he bores easily. In between those paying assignments he’s constantly experimenting with new subject matter, new media, new surfaces and new ideas.

A true son of the South, Bill was born in Birmingham, Alabama, moved to Memphis as a child (and then New York) before settling in Atlanta, attended Florida’s Ringling School of Art and now resides in Decatur, Georgia. But his work is anything but regional. Ringling gave him his really strong foundation in drawing and painting and the fact that their museum has one of the best collections of rococo and baroque art this side of Italy had its influence as well. But don’t call Bill a fine artist—he bristles at the suggestion—he’ll tell you that sounds a bit pretentious. The mastery he has with paint recalls an earlier time though with a modern slant; there’s a certain mystery and allure to the work where you want to spend time with the image. And you want to hang it on your wall. Bill says, “I am drawn to traditional paintings from the romantic period. Partially because I find it an interesting paradox between the humorous and sometimes creepy subject matter. Actually I don’t find them that creepy, but I have heard enough other people say it, so I have come to accept it.”

Visit his studio as 3x3 did in Issue No .21 and you’ll see an eclectic collection of dead things, a cow’s head on the wall with a varsity hat and a chain of oval carabineers around his neck like a gold chain, there’s a stuffed dog on the floor and the head of a seal next to it. He’ll tell you he and his wife Lee have always been drawn to carnival freak show atmosphere.

No stranger to recognition Bill has received multiple gold and silver medals from the Society of Illustrators in New York, gold and bronze medals from SILA, a silver medal from 3x3, a gold medal from the National Addy awards, the Patrick Nagel Award for Excellence, the Joseph Morgan Henninger Best of Show award and the list could go on. His clients include Mattel, Hasbro, DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, Levi’s for Women, Jose Cuervo, Time Magazine, PlanSponsor, IBM, Delta Airlines to name a few.

Bill is rounding up a great selection of judges from around the globe and we’ll be introducing them shortly.

The show will officially open for your entries on January 29. This year’s deadline is March 23, late deadline is March 30. Enter our Professional, Picture Book and Student shows with multiple categories for published and unpublished work.

3x3 International Illustration Annual No. 15
Deadline: March 23, 2018
Open for entries: January 29, 2018

www.3x3mag.com