Keith Negley

The illustrations of Keith Negley can be seen as an example of Abstract Expressionism having an influence on contemporary illustration. We may draw links between the painterly and textural quality of non-representational shapes in these two images and the action painting of Jackson Pollock. As with Abstract Expressionist art, the visual quality of this illustration aims to communicate a feeling to the audience, provoking an emotional response. It is vital to consider, however, that this method of visual communication is working in combination with figurative aspects of the image to put across its complex message. It is in the combination of these two contrasting methods of image-making that Keith Negley communicates both a concept/idea and an emotional feeling to his audience. Unlike Atelier Bingo, this work is featured in highly communicative and functional contexts, such as editorial. Does this demonstrate a new form of visual communication? - and that taking influence from different art forms can lead to new and innovative methods of image-making?