CLIENT: CBS - "Elton John: I'm Still Standing - A Grammy Salute"
AGENCY: The Zinman Company
ROLE: Illustration / Animation
This was an exciting project that went through a number of iterations. I was on the road when the assignment came in: creating an original portrait of Sir Elton John that depicted him in the 1980’s that would be sent directly to the legend himself to be approved, AND I only had one night to do it. I explained I only had a sketchbook with me, no computer, but that I would make it happen. So I stayed up until 4 am in a cabin with a flickering light in rural New Mexico, and did my best to make something original and flattering. Then I waited nervously. I got the approval a couple days later. Elton John liked my work!
Then as the wonderful team at The Zinman Company started working on creating a cohesive, beautiful program, the idea changed and we decided a simple silhouette would be more in line with the rest of the pieces, which were largely graphic. So I switched gears and worked to make something original, yet recognizable of the icon himself, able to fit on the uniquely shaped screen. The result was shown behind another musical great, John Legend, while he paid tribute with the unforgettable “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”
