Get to Know Baker: Bill Bruning

What is your job at BAKER? 

Illustrator, occasionally doing retouching and design.

Where did you go to school?

School… long story… I grew up on Long Island. I didn’t take an elective art class till my senior year. My art teacher said that if I was to take the arts seriously, fine or commercial, I should go to a college in Manhattan or RISD. I never considered the arts to be a career so I went to a small liberal arts college in Illinois (Rockford College) to explore any undiscovered interests. Nothing peaked my interest as much as drawing, so I earned a BFA, majoring in drawing and printmaking. The school mantra was, ‘don’t sell out and do commercial art’, but no advice given as to how to earn a living.

So what made you decide that illustration was something you wanted to do for a living?

I guess I’ve been drawing all my life. In first grade, I was asked to help art direct a class project, a landscape mural. Everyone wanted to either paint flowers or jet fighters dropping bombs. I think there were three suns. It was then I decided not to be an art director.

Notebooks and book covers were my canvases. I was always drawing cars, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth style. I thought I’d end up in California designing free-form bubble top cars like Darryl Starbird’s. Having seen my notebooks, my sixth grade teacher suggested I look into commercial art as a career. I didn’t care for him so I ignored his advice. My senior year I did take a commercial art class and one assignment/competition was designing a logo for an elevator company. Mine was chosen, it paid $50 which peaked my interest.

After four years in Illinois, I went back to Long Island and just drew. I started doing street fairs around the Hamptons and had several one man shows but no real income. I took a job as a key liner for a year. After stockpiling a little income, I moved to Minnesota to be a starving artist. After starving a few months, I put together a book of b&w drawings and went around to a few ad agencies looking for work. I started getting newspaper ads to illustrate. Eventually I joined three very talented freelancers out of MCAD, as Oasis Art Studio, adding airbrush and oils as mediums I used.

What were some of the challenges you had to overcome to make it as a full-time illustrator, and to get to the level you’re at? 

Coming up with a style that was rewarding, that was needed, that paid. As a freelancer there was never time off. Vacation was another word for unemployment. If I wasn’t working on a paid project, I was working on a promo piece. Saturdays and holidays were the same as any weekday. I did stop work at 5:00 pm so there was a bit of normality.

What brought you to BAKER? What do you love the most about your job?

I always respected Scott Baker’s illustration work, and BAKER is known as a high end design shop. Ten years ago, the stars that were lined up for me as a freelance illustrator started disengaging. Web sites replaced printed annual reports and the required illustrations. The growing abundance of cheap stock illustration cut in to the traditional illustration market. The number of illustrators was growing and my reps were getting out of the business. The economy was trailing off and 9/11 had its impact.

I touched base with BAKER and it’s where I’ve been employed the last eight years. The best aspect about BAKER, other than employment, is the high level of professionalism and quality of work throughout. Respect is abundant, and the challenge of illustrating everything — from hemorrhoid ointment to stock cars — is rewarding.

Are there any artists or teachers who were a major influence on your work? Where do you find creative inspiration? 

When I was 13, I was thumbing through an art history book. All classic paintings but of little interest to me, till I noticed a small black & white image by Yves Tanguy, a surrealist. It was an “aha” moment. I still reference his work for my oil paintings, as well as Alexander Calder for his free form approach. Brad Holland was a major influence for my editorial work. Creative inspiration? Music, the ocean, the ’64-’65 N.Y. World’s Fair … when the future depicted wasn’t necessarily practical.

Do you have any side projects or passions that you work on when you’re not at work?

During the winter I manage to get one or two oil paintings done. Other than that, maintaining the house and yard provide enough projects.

Where can we find you when you’re not at work?

On a road bike. Over 4000 miles in 2010. I’m hoping to reach 5000 miles this year.

4000 miles is a lot of biking. Where do you like to ride?

I live in the western ‘burbs and the roads are great for riding, I just take off from the house. I’ll also do organized century rides (100 miles), recently having done the MN Ironman century with 30 mph winds and 25 degree temps. Good times. Last year I did 3 centuries in four weeks. Riding is like playing a video game, dodging potholes, glass, cars, fishing lures, road kill, etc. but the results are real. Plus it’s good exercise.

Can you tell us a little about your family? 

Bette and I have been married 28 years. Three kids, Stephen 25, Bradley graduate, Colin 23, Drake graduate, Melinda 21, Mizzou junior (currently spending this semester in Vienna, Austria). All business majors (… with varying art interests on the side).

What is one thing that most people would be surprised to learn?

No surprises, I hope.