After moving to San Diego in 1986, Douglas Schneider started making the transition from fine art to illustration. Doug ended up being a packaging illustration specialist, but before he became established at it, he worked on a wide variety of projects.
This presentation focuses on the various editorial, publishing, merchandising, and advertising projects from 1986 through approximately 2003.
In 1993, Douglas Schneider painted cover illustrations for the Cooking Section of the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper. The two illustrations shown here are for "Cooking With Coffee" and "Get Crackin'".
During his early years of illustrating, Doug relied more upon photographic reference, rather than the free style rendering that he is known for now. Here are two examples of still lives that were set up and photographed.
In 1990, the city of Palm Springs, CA asked Douglas Schneider to paint an illustration for their annual Harvest & Wildflower Festival. They wanted the painting to be in the retro, orange crate style, and depicting fruit with a dessert in bloom. The illustration was used for their poster, advertising, and merchandising.
In 1995, Bath & Body Works, from Columbus, OH, asked Douglas Schneider to paint six Valentine illustrations for their company, Victoria's Secret. The illustrations needed to feel like an old-fashioned, romantic, Victorian Valentine. The illustrations were used for Victoria's Secret advertising and display signage.
In 1997, Wells-Rich-Greene, from New York, NY, chose Douglas Schneider to paint illustrations for a Clairol Natural Instincts television commercial for the US and Canada. Doug painted spot illustrations of herbs, and also segments of chamomile that would be morphed into the word Clairol. This was one of the earliest and most primitive digital animations.
In 1989, San Diego Home Garden Magazine asked Doug to paint botanical illustrations for their magazine.
In 2001, Meyers Advertising, from San Antonio, TX, chose Douglas Schneider to paint 12 illustrations for Riviana Foods' print advertising. Riviana Foods is the parent company of Mahatma Rice and Carolina Rice.
From 1988 through 1991, San Diego based Figi Graphics chose Doug to paint 10 botanical watercolor paintings in the style of 19th Century botanical artist Pierre-Joseph Redoute. With the success of these paintings Figi expanded Doug's repertoire to other subject matter. He continued to paint another dozen paintings for them.
From 1994 to 1995, Rubber Stampede, from Oakland, CA, asked Douglas Schneider to create ink stipple drawings for their rubber stamp collection. The dot pattern had to be small and less dense than normal, so that the ink wouldn't fill in. He drew over 40 illustrations.
From 2000 - 2001, North company, of Lawrence, KS, chose Doug to paint six cover and divider illustrations for Cookbook Publishers. The series shown here depicts a summer backyard motif.
From 1998 through 2000, Douglas Schneider painted over 30 illustrations for FIRST For Women Magazine.
From 1996 through 2003, Douglas Schneider painted three cover illustrations for Rodale Gardening Publishing books, as well as numerous illustrations for their garden magazine, Organic Gardening.
In 1999, the design studio T3, from Austin, TX, asked Douglas Schneider to paint thirteen illustrations of letter shaped food items to spell out words for Central Market billboards.
While living in San Diego, Doug painted many architectural illustrations for San Diego developers.
From 1987 through 1999, Doug painted hundreds of textbook illustrations for numerous book publishers. He painted spot, 1/4 page, 1/2 page, full page, and cover illustrations with a wide range of subject matter.
In 2002, Doug's illustration of a Peace Dove was used on a plate for the United Nations.
In 1992, one of Doug's earlier fine art paintings was chosen for the cover of a cat calendar.
