Scott Bakal
Scott Bakal graduated from the School of Visual Arts in NYC in 1993 and since, has been creating art for print and exhibition. Over a decade later, he received a Masters of Arts from Syracuse University and received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Hartford. At the University of Hartford, he received the Hartford Art School Regent’s Honor Award for Graduate Students, the highest honor given to master’s students throughout the University.
You may have seen his work in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Family Circle, O Magazine (Oprah), Yoga Journal, Businessweek, Discover Magazine, Smithsonian, Runner’s World and the Vancouver Opera as well as book covers and e-books published by Harper One, Schwartz & Wade and Tor.com and in many other publications and media.
Scott has won awards from the Society of Illustrators (Silver Medal), 3×3, The AltWeekly Awards, Association of Education Publishers, HOW International Design Competition, Spectrum, Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, Society of Publication Designers, American Illustration, Creative Quarterly (Gold and Silver Medals) and Communication Arts and receiving the honor of being published as one of the 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide by Luerzer’s Archive.
Scott has worked with the United States Air Force Art Program and has been sent on missions to document the men and women of the Air Force. His recent work with the Air Force, being sent to McChord AFB in Washington produced a series of six pieces which won awards from all the major illustration competitions and is also included in the Best 100 from Creative Quarterly and Luerzer’s 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide Annual. I’m not a military person by any stretch of the imagination but it is a world that I am keenly interested in. It takes a special type of person to join the armed forces. Being able to meet interesting people and talk about their experiences and life is really an honor. I hope that my work documenting it, gives the servicemen the honor and respect they deserve. The piece I did for the 52 Reasons to Love a vet project is my reaction to what the service men and women may be going through after their experiences in combat. Death potentially looms around every corner and this surely affects them in one way or another. I want people to see that the threat of death is real but also, what it can do to someone’s psychology and personal life. More needs to be done to help veterans and I hope my small contribution can raise awareness.”
Scott Bakal’s Website