Miami Dolphins Football Illustration c. 1990

Jack Davis made this "Miami Dolphins Football Illustration" with ink and watercolour on paper. Look at how Davis lays down his lines – they're so immediate and full of life, aren’t they? You can tell art-making for Davis was a process of continuous discovery, like a stream of consciousness. The colour palette is pretty limited, mostly blues and oranges, but it’s how he uses them that's interesting. The paint is laid down in thin washes, giving it a transparent quality. Notice the way the water is rendered at the bottom of the image. The squiggly lines create the feeling of movement, like the dolphin is actually swimming. It’s so simple but effective. I am reminded of the work of Milton Glaser, another great graphic artist. These artists both show how important it is to embrace ambiguity, leaving room for the viewer to bring their own experiences to the table.