One of my very first clients was also one of the worst. Mostly because I was new to design, so I was over-worked and under-paid. They commissioned me to draw groups of children doing different activities and without any thought, I drew children of all different races, skin and hair color. The first criticism I received after sending the first draft was "Can you make the children more white? Like with blonde hair and blue eyes?" I was appalled. This was a large company and the project would be displayed in public. I understood that most of their clients would be blonde haired/blue eyed, but why shouldn't the art represent all people? Why should their clients (mostly children) only be surrounded by images of people that look like them?
This is a problem. This is racism. I've vowed ever since to add diversity to my illustration work. I would like to offer something to help combat racism. Down below you can download the illustration I did of little Ruby Bridges for FREE. The challenge is to print it off and hang it in your child's bedroom or in a visible area of your home. Talk to your family about Ruby. Talk to them about racism. Talk to them about how wonderful it is that God created this world with all kinds of different people. I believe that one of the biggest ways we can help combat this disturbing reality of racism is to start with our children. The more they see and interact with people of all races, the more tolerant they will be--the more likely they will grow up seeing people for who they are and not the color of their skin. It's a small thing to do, but it's a start.
This is a problem. This is racism. I've vowed ever since to add diversity to my illustration work. I would like to offer something to help combat racism. Down below you can download the illustration I did of little Ruby Bridges for FREE. The challenge is to print it off and hang it in your child's bedroom or in a visible area of your home. Talk to your family about Ruby. Talk to them about racism. Talk to them about how wonderful it is that God created this world with all kinds of different people. I believe that one of the biggest ways we can help combat this disturbing reality of racism is to start with our children. The more they see and interact with people of all races, the more tolerant they will be--the more likely they will grow up seeing people for who they are and not the color of their skin. It's a small thing to do, but it's a start.
| citrusandmintdesigns_rubybridges.jpg |
