America's favorite past time taking up too much time?

Here is a recent illustration I completed on the length of Major League Baseball games. A couple of weeks ago, I had the Yankees game on in the background while I worked on a drawing for one of my monthly gigs. I realized that I ended up finishing up my illustration from start to finish, before the game was over! I am a huge fan of baseball (used to be obsessed), but I can't help but think about how long the games are now. The pitchers, batters, coaches, all of them take too much time! Anyway, that's my little rant - enjoy!

Car and Driver Feature!

A couple of months back, I got a call from Darin at Car and Driver to do a few illustrations for a feature story written by PJ O'Rourke. Darin wanted a series of drawings of PJ driving around his home town of Toledo, OH in a Jeep Rubicon. This job was amazing because I love drawing people, places, and telling a story while doing it. I get so excited when a client gives me the opportunity to do a full spread because I love to work with the designer to make the most interesting opener possible. Thanks to Darin for the great assignment! Enjoy!

Law and Order SVU!

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit is one of my favorite shows on TV right now (especially love those USA Marathons they have). This is a piece that I was able to do on the SVU cast. I have really been trying to push my color lately, using the opposite of my first instinct. I was really happy with how I was able to play around a bit, and thrilled with the outcome.

Keep your eyes open for some new work soon! I will post as soon as the new stuff hits print! Enjoy this for now...

American Illustration 29

So I am very excited to say that my Mafia Hit illustration has been "chosen" by American Illustration 29. It's great to have a personal piece get some good feedback like this. I did this illustration based on a book I was reading at the time on the mafia in Brooklyn in the 1950's - present. This particular part of the book was describing Mafia Boss Anthony Casso's first commissioned kill in a bar in Bensonhurst Brooklyn, 1970s.

Thanks to the judges! Enjoy

Beautiful illustrations from the 60's

Yesterday (Easter Sunday) my girlfriend and I went to her mother's house in New Egypt, NJ. A couple of doors down from the house is an amazing used book store that my girlfriend has been raving about. I figured it couldn't be better than the Strand in NYC, but boy was I wrong. In the back left corner were piles and piles of old Saturday Evening Posts, Boy's Life, Collier's, and Fortune Magazines from the 40's-70's. I rummaged through for over an hour, promising my girlfriend "one more, just one more" before calling it a day. I picked up a few that caught my eye with some great illustrations. Below are a couple of the beauties I was able to get my hands on. I chatted a bit with the owner, George, telling him that I am an illustrator and have been in the Saturday Evening Post and others. He told me next time I come in to bring him a print signed of my work, and he'll "take care" of me. I can't wait! This is a new hobby of mine - and I'm going to end up broke.... Until then - enjoy a couple of the beautiful oversized illustrations below!


Saturday Evening Post, April 1962














Boy's Life, January 1968

Some new and unseen work

So I haven't posted in a while. First off - I am now on twitter! So follow me there to get more frequent updates on here and elsewhere! http://twitter.com/BrettAffrunti

Below are some new images and an oldie that I never posted. Here is a portrait of Jeff Bridges for the post-Oscar mania, a half page for Car and Driver, and an old one that I never posted for Guitar Center Center Channel Magazine. Thanks to Darin and Todd. Enjoy!

ARTS cover for the Hartford Courant

I always get excited when I get a call from the Hartford Courant because I love to work with them. One of the designers that I work with often, Elizabeth, called a few weeks back about doing an end of the year ARTS section cover, but unfortunately it was right before the holidays and I was on my way to the airport to visit family. Thankfully, she called back a couple of weeks later and asked me to do this cover for the Winter ARTS cover. The section would cover an overview of upcoming events, concerts, museum openins, etc. I had a blast with this job - especially drawing Lady GaGa. Thanks as always to Elizabeth, always a pleasure working with her. Enjoy!

2010 brings new work!

Happy New Year everyone! With the new year comes some new work! Below is a Cover and Spread illustration I worked on for Common Ground Magazine. This story is about how common it is for a new home buyer to purchase a home in a new development, and all of a sudden the developer runs out of money. The home buyers find themselves in a beautiful new home, but in the middle of nowhere - with suspended construction, overgrown landscape, etc.

Special thanks for Cori the great project and wonderful collaboration!

Happy Holidays from NYC

The Holidays don't kick in for me until I take the trip up to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree and beautiful lights. I took a ride up there late last week, but it was absolutely freezing and extremely crowded - really hard to get any drawings done. Today I was able to sneak over there for a couple of hours and enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery. I was able to get this drawing done - and now I'm in the holiday spirit! Happy Holidays everyone!

Illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post!

Here are some illustrations that I completed for a story in the Saturday Evening Post! These were done for a fictional story about a young priest who worked a miracle to save a young boy's life - and all of the backlash (good and bad) that comes along with working such miracles. These were done as one full page and two spots. Enjoy!