Bob Staake: An Illustrator’s Guide to a Creative Life

2024-01-14

Bob Staake’s superpower? Meeting deadlines. It’s how he was able to design the iconic New Yorker cover celebrating Barack Obama’s historic victory in the 2008 presidential election in less than 24 hours. Fueled by a self-drive (and the occasional bag of Doritos) to create, Bob’s curiosity has served as his motivation in a career that has spanned four decades, and which has seen his whimsical, playful, one-of-a-kind art fill the pages of the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles...

Fueled by a self-drive (and the occasional bag of Doritos) to create, Bob’s curiosity has served as his motivation in a career that has spanned four decades, and which has seen his whimsical, playful, one-of-a-kind art fill the pages of the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Wall Street Journal. He’s written or illustrated more than 75 children’s books (with another on the way). And he’s worked for a list of illustrious clients that have included the NFL, American Express, Sony, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Walt Disney, McDonald’s, Hallmark Cards, and countless others.

Despite his impressive career, Bob is never satisfied. His favorite project is always the next one. “If you’re not doing something better tomorrow, what is the point?” he says in this captivating conversation which reveals his endless obsession with creating art.

Learn more about Bob.

Today's sponsors:

Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5, The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate

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