Visiting Professional | Scott Bakal

Unmasking the Mad Bomber
for Smithsonian Magazine

NOTES FROM TALK

• Was always involved in many forms of creativity; music, photography, video, art.

• Separated being an artist and illustration, as they are often two different things

• After graduating, tended to create work to satisfy a particular market. Got commissions from law and finance magazines, who often asked for variations of the same image. Was getting work, but wasn't proud of what was being made.

• Being part of an artistic community is important. Took a few years after graduating to integrate with a creative group again; joined societies, took part in events.

• Experimentation is a space for figuring out your practice. Time for mixing mediums and techniques is important as you can find new ways of working. 

• Alongside more commercial work in editorial and advertising, still took the time to set up exhibitions and group shows and even publish zines and such.

• Work usually features some form of research, especially the editorial pieces. However this gives the work much richer content and meaning (e.g. Robert Johnson works, historical pieces...)

1 of 4 postcard designs
Mary I for Liberty Magazine

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

• After the talk, Scott also gave out postcards. Not only were these nice images/objects to keep, they also would remind people of him/his work/the talk. Something to also consider for myself.

• A copy of his portfolio was also available to look at. I really enjoyed the publication format of this portfolio, almost like a magazine for his own work. I have been thinking more about my own promotional material and feel this could fit well with my practice.

• The publication format could also mean that I could be more playful with layouts and page ordering, as opposed to a very traditional definition of a portfolio.

Memoirs of a Revolutionary's Daughter
for The Baffler