Clarence Porter, for those of you who haven’t been introduced, is a very close friend and illustration guru, who showed me the ropes as I entered the big world of freelance illustration. Clarence has mounds of talent and boundless energy, leaping from one medium to another without missing a beat.

But the landscape of commercial illustration has changed a lot in the past ten years. Stock art, technology, and a barrage of new illustration schools flooding the market have driven prices down, even as the number of publications shrinks. Some experienced freelancers are leaving the biz. It’s cold out there.

So what is Clarence up to? While he hasn’t entirely abandoned the computer for freelance work, where he’s heading is portraits, and an early love: pastel on paper.

A couple of Clarence’s latest are in a Open Juried Exhibition at the Art Gallery of Hamilton from now until late January.

Take a look at these:

You can find more of Clarence works, past and present, at these sites:
Drawer of Pictures
Pastels
Pastel Artists of Canada
Portfolios.com
Yet another site

Rock on, Mr. P!