The 2016 Summer Sketchbook Invitational concludes with Edel Rodriguez, who hopped a flight to Europe after sharing his thoughts with DART:

I started my travel sketchbooks while I was in college at Pratt Institute. The first time I traveled abroad was at that time, when I went to study in Venice for the summer; I also traveled to Paris, Nice, Barcelona, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, and Milan.

The entire trip was very eye-opening for me. I was able to see places where many of my favorite artists had painted from in the past. This was very inspiring and I fell in love with the idea of carrying a sketchbook wherever I went.

After that trip, I kept on drawing most of the places I've visited, including Bali, Moscow, Cuba, and many other parts of Europe and Central America. Over the years, I've worked in a variety of mediums, from watercolor to markers, pencils, and paint.  

My sketchbook imagery has also led to assignments for a variety of clients, including Chanel, Columbia University and The New Yorker. Sketching keeps me thinking of new ways to bring ideas and techniques to my regular studio work. I teach at SVA and Pratt and always encourage students to stay active in their sketchbooks as I see them as a reference and point of departure for bigger paintings and illustrations. This Summer I am traveling in France and Portugal and will be drawing there as well.

Edel Rodriguez is a Cuban American artist who has exhibited internationally with shows in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Havana, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Spain. Throughout his career, Rodriguez has received commissions to create artwork for numerous book publishers, advertising agencies, and editorial publications. He is a regular contributor to the The New York Times Op Ed page and The New Yorker magazine. He has created over a hundred newspaper and magazine covers for clients such as TIME Magazine, Newsweek, The Nation, Businessweek, The New Republic, and The Village Voice. He has created dozens of book covers for clients such as Simon & Schuster and Peguin Random House. Rodriguez has illustrated nine children’s books, two of which he has written. He has also created several stamps for the U.S. Postal Service and has illustrated poster and advertising campaigns for many operas, films, and Broadway shows. Rodriguez's artwork is in the collections of a variety of institutions, including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., as well as in numerous private collections.  
Info:
www.edelrodriguez.com
instagram: edelrodriguez
facebook page: Edel Rodriguez
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