Local artist has illustration covered

Jorge Colombo’s medium is digital

By Adriana Serafino | Manor Ink

Narrowsburg, NY – People see dozens of illustrations every day, whether on billboards or posters, in animations, books, newspapers or magazines. Illustration is such an important art form for society, because as the saying goes, one picture is worth a thousand words.

Narrowsburg artist Jorge Colombo has created illustrations since he was in high school, and now, as an adult, he has employed his talents in a career as a successful illustrator. His impressive website is a showcase of his illustrations, photography and graphic designs. Readers may have even seen some of his work on covers of The New Yorker magazine.

“There’s something grandiose about re-creating reality with your own hands,” said Colombo. He uses a program called Procreate on an iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil to create his drawings, though most of his early New Yorker cover illustrations were created using an iPhone.

When Colombo was in high school, he would knock on artists’ doors to ask them for advice on his work. At that time, he made posters for events while trying to learn the business. Though he spent time after high school attending an art school, Colombo found he was already skilled at illustrating and knew enough professionals on the art scene that he could leave school and begin working himself.

For a couple of years, he illustrated a section of The New Yorker titled “Bar Tabs,” featuring reviews of local bars, tiki bars and taverns in New York City. He would go to the venues to get the general spirit before creating their illustrations.

Colombo advises beginning artists to create art illustrations not just once but three times or more in order to get better. He also says it’s important to “find your tribe, people who are on your wavelength.” Those are people that understand and can help young illustrators with their art.

One way Colombo finds inspiration is on Instagram. There he can look up artists that he likes, and then see artists that they like. “This is an excellent tool to see what people are creating right now,” Colombo said.

To learn more about Jorge Colombo, visit thejorgecolombo.com or @thejorgecolombo on Instagram.