Congratulations to Nicolas Delort for winning a gold medal at the Society of Illustrators for his scratchboard image on the Tor.com story, “A Rumor of Angels” by Dale Bailey.
“A Rumor of Angels” is a lyrical dust-bowl era novelette. Here’s what Delort had to say about reading the piece for the first time:
What really struck me here was the heavy, raw and burnt out atmosphere. Images of harsh light, scorching heat and swirling dust came to me as I was reading it and that’s what I wanted to transcribe in this piece… I tried to keep the composition simple and straightforward so I could focus more on the lighting and the movement and tried to achieve a “decisive moment,” as Cartier-Bresson would call it.
Delort’s piece is indeed every bit as haunting as the story it is illustrating. Illustration lifts itself to art when a piece can answer the problems of the assignment and stands on its own and still be affecting. And this piece becomes better and more haunting the longer you look at it.
The Society of Illustrators Annual Awards are one the premiere showcases for outstanding work created worldwide throughout the year. Thousands of entries are received and juried by a team of illustrators and art directors. It is truly an honor to be selected for the annual, and a great honor to be one of the few chosen for a medal. Congratulations to Nicolas. Thank you for making us look good!
