About

The Craft

Howard Pyle, the father of American illustration, was not only an iconic illustrator and author — he also taught. One of his first pupils was Harvey Dunn who, like his mentor, taught illustration almost as a religion. Dunn taught Dean Cornwell, known as “The Dean of Illustrators.” Cornwell taught Frank J. Reilly, who taught at the Art Students League of New York for twenty-eight years until his death in 1967. Basil Gogos and James Bama studied under Reilly, as did Frank Hoffelt, who went on to become the Dean of Illustration at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio.

Hoffelt taught Jeff Preston, who graduated from CCAD in 1985 receiving his BFA in Illustration with honors. It’s that rich legacy he is aware of every time he sits before his easel.

The Work

With clients ranging from Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, Miller/Coors, Captain Morgan, Dark Horse Comics, and Cintas the uniform company, his four decades of work has been as diverse as his clientele.

When asked to sum up the past 41 years he just says, “it’s a nice start.”

The Philosophy

Jeff Preston treats each assignment as if it were his last. As he works he asks himself: if it were all to end now, is this the illustration he would want to be his legacy? More than technique and professional polish, the one word that best sums up his illustration is “passion.” That’s something that cannot be put on with a brush or rendered in with a pencil. It’s the one thing that connects with the viewer — the heart that goes into the illustration. It’s there or it isn’t; there’s no middle ground.

Beyond the Easel

In 2006 he was inducted into the New York Society of Illustrators, where he also serves on the membership committee. Apart from illustration, he also plays the banjo — holding the distinction of being the only illustrator to ever play “Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony” on the 5-string banjo at the Society of Illustrators.