Casually Elegant: The Art of Jack Hughes

 

The work of London-based illustrator Jack Hughes lives in the tradition of 1920s editorial work — his men, sharp and elegant, carry the crisp charm of J.C. Leyendecker‘s ‘Arrow Collar Man,’ a cultured vision of the contemporary man. His women, intelligent. At ease in their beauty and strength. His series of illustrations for Scottish whisky brand The Macallan paid homage to the golden age of travel, the passengers attractive and confident. No matter the environment or client, Hughes creates a world populated by people of purpose.

Hughes accomplishes a great deal with simple shapes — a bowed arm, the white dress, a flock of hair. Each a bare form of solid color. The elements spartan by design. There are a variety of experimentations in his portfolio, the artist pushes the negative space and reduces the color palette. His illustration for Finnish ferry company Eckerö Line‘s summer campaign, the colors stay bright, bold. He takes the central figure into a palette of soft grays, adding an edge of contrast to the concept. His spate of portrait illustrations for The Village Voice gave Hughes the opportunity to take a more painterly approach with his digital work. His version of Iggy Pop does not leave the reality of the star behind, but updates it through Hughes’ own refined lens.

Through the industry of fashion and editorial, Hughes gives us a vision of a perfect world. A place of dramatic love, casual elegance, and beauty in the everyday.