Martin French

Bio:

Martin French is an illustrator, designer and educator based in Portland, Oregon. His distinctive style, an interplay of marks, signs, and symbols spanning a diverse... media context—has been recognized internationally for its dynamic visual exploration of life and culture. His images have won awards from the leading visual communication organizations across the United States, including Gold Medals from the Society of Illustrators in New York and Los Angeles. Martin’s studio practice relies on traditional drawing in various dry & wet mediums combined with digital composition and design. This emphasis in maintaining a balance between two forms of art making gives Martin’s work an unusual sense of dynamic life. His command of the human figure and all its nuances as a tool of communication is central to his work. Color, texture, and his use of space consistently build a stimulating context for his energized imagery. Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, Martin has a BFA in Illustration from ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. He spent 8 years as a designer and design director at Microsoft before launching Martin French Studio in 1996 while based in Seattle. 10 years later Martin moved to Portland where he designed the BFA program in Illustration at the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). He is currently Dept. Head of Illustration, Chair of Design Arts and an Associate Professor teaching classes in Creative Professional Practice, Visual Thesis Development, and the intersection of Design & Illustration.Read More

Category:

Art / Illustration

Company:

Martin French Studio

Contact:

Awards:

American Illustration 42 / Selected American Illustration 30 / Selected Bolivia International Poster Biennial 2021 Bolivia International Poster Biennial 2019 Cervantino International Festival – Poster Exhibition 2023 / Guanajuato,... Mexico Communication Arts Illustration Annual 64 / Award of Excellence Communication Arts Illustration Annual 63 / Competition Judge Communication Arts Illustration Annual 57 / Award of Excellence Communication Arts Illustration Annual 48 / Award of Excellence Communication Arts Magazine Feature Article / March-April 2003 Communication Arts Illustration Annual 44 / Award of Excellence (2) Communication Arts Illustration Annual 41 / Award of Excellence (4) Communication Arts Illustration Annual 40 / Award of Excellence Communication Arts Illustration Annual 38 / Award of Excellence Ecuador International Poster Biennial 2020 Graphis Poster 2024 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2024 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2023 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2023 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2023 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2022 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2022 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2022 / Honorable Mention Graphis Poster 2022 / Honorable Mention Graphis Poster 2021 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2021 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2021 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2021 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2021 / Honorable Mention Graphis Poster 2020 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2020 / Honorable Mention Graphis Poster 2020 / Honorable Mention Graphis Poster 2019 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2019 / Merit Graphis Poster 2017 / Silver Award Graphis Poster 2017 / Merit Graphis Poster 2017 / Merit Graphis Social + Political Protest Posters / Merit Icons & Images: 50 Years of Illustration / Society of Illustrators 2008 Idea Design Magazine (China) Feature Article / February 2008 Illustrator Illuminated Feature Article / Adobe Press 2003 Luerzer's Archive 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide 2018 Luerzer's Archive 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide 2016 Luerzer's Archive 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide 2014 Mexico International Poster Biennial 2022 Mexico International Poster Biennial 2020 Mexico International Poster Biennial 2018 Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2023 / Call for Entries Poster Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2022 / Patrick Nagel Award for Excellence Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2022 / Merit Award (3) Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2021 / Institutional Bronze Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2021 / Merit Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2020 / Advertising Honorable Mention Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2020 / Merit Award (3) Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2019 / Institutional Gold Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2019 / Merit Award (2) Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2018 / Patrick Nagel Award for Excellence Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2018 / Merit Award (3) Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2017 / Advertising Silver Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2017 / Institutional Bronze Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2017 / Un-Published Bronze Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2017 / Merit Award (2) Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2015 / Institutional Silver Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2015 / Institutional Bronze Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2015 / Advertising Bronze Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2015 / Merit Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2013 / Merit Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2012 / Merit Award (2) Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2012 / Institutional Honorable Mention (2) Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2011 / Merit Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2010 / Advertising Gold Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2010 / Advertising Honorable Mention Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 2008 / Merit Award Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 1998 / Merit Award (3) Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 1997 / Call for Entries Poster Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Annual Exhibition 1997 / Merit Award (3) Society of Illustrators New York Annual Exhibition 2023 / Merit Award Society of Illustrators New York Annual Exhibition 2007 / Merit Award (4) Society of Illustrators New York Annual Exhibition 2002 / Merit Award Society of Illustrators New York Annual Exhibition 2000 / Merit Award (2) Society of Illustrators New York Annual Exhibition 1999 / Institutional Gold Medal Society of Illustrators New York Annual Exhibition 1999 / Merit Award (6) Society of Illustrators New York Annual Exhibition 1998 / Merit Award (3) Spectrum 13 Peru International Poster Conference 2022 / Best Artistic Poster Award Peru International Poster Conference 2022 / Finalist for Best Artistic Poster and Best Advertising Poster Peru International Poster Conference 2021 / Best Artistic Poster Award Revista Ilustrar (Brazil) / Feature Article / December 2007 Step by Step Magazine Illustration Annual 1 / Feature Article / May-June 2000 United States International Poster Biennale 2023 / Award of Merit (2) Warsaw International Poster Biennial 2021 Woodstock 50: A Piece Of My Heart Poster Exhibition / Museo Franz Mayer, Mexico City, Mexico 3x3 Magazine Illustration Annual 2023 / Merit Award 3x3 Magazine Illustration Annual 2017 / Merit AwardRead More