We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Elmo Cooper. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David Elmo below.

David Elmo , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I find my greatest happiness as a creative and educator, a challenging but intensely fulfilling path that allows me to live my dream illustrating picture books and mentoring students at Pratt, SVA, and FIT, while serving the professional community through organizations like the Society of Illustrators and the Society of Publication Designers (SPD). The thought of a “regular job” surfaces only in moments of intense pressure. Juggling students at multiple schools, illustration deadlines and family responsibilities can be intense and in that exhausted moment, the stability and predictability of a 9-to-5 is very appealing. However, the desire is to escape exhaustion, not a genuine desire to abandon the work. The immense challenges, the late nights, the revisions, the pressure, are simply the necessary cost of pursing creative freedom and contributing to the next generation, a trade-off I’m proud to make.

David Elmo , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m David Elmo Cooper, a creative professional from Brooklyn, New York. My career spans two disciplines: I am an illustrator and an experienced photo director and educator.

My love for visual storytelling began early—reading and drawing comics as a kid, and exploring graffiti as a teenager. I studied Communication Design with a focus on Illustration at the Pratt Institute.

My professional life kicked off in publishing. Starting as an art assistant, I built a successful 25-year career as a Photo Director, honing an editorial eye while managing visuals for national publications. I developed my illustration career simultaneously. My editorial work has appeared in respected outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe. As my illustration work expanded, particularly in projects like Kevin Hart’s “Marcus Makes a Movie” and Carole Boston Weatherford’s, “The Doll Test: Choosing Equality”, I transitioned my focus into illustration and education, teaching at institutions such as Pratt, SVA, and FIT.

My background as a Photo Director gives me a deep understanding of editorial goals, deadlines, and budgets. I excel at translating complex or abstract text into memorable, accessible, and emotionally resonant images.

What sets me apart is the fusion of creative vision and industry experience from the other side of the desk as commissioner of illustration and photography. I am an illustrator who understands the publishing machine. I am most proud of using my art for meaningful societal conversations, especially in children’s books like The Doll Test.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My current work in children’s publishing is driven by a clear mission, the preservation and communication of essential Black history for future generations. I’ve had the privilege of working on meaningful non-fiction stories, including The Doll Test: Choosing Equality by Carole Boston Weatherford, and am currently collaborating on Don Tate’s forthcoming book about the Tuskegee Airmen. In the face of political efforts to minimize or erase this history, I see my role within non-fiction children’s books as an act of historical preservation and education.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the opportunity to craft work that sparks critical thought, educates the public, and enriches the cultural conversation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.davidcooperart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidcooperart/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-cooper-ab3297b/

Image Credits

Head Shot Photo by Ari Michelson