I had the honor of illustrating this years “Call for Entries” poster for SILA’s annual illustration competition, Illustration West.

Each year an artist is selected to create a poster that celebrates the art community and captures the spirit of the exhibition/competition.

This year’s Call For Entries poster’s theme of “rebirth” naturally led to a classically-styled still-life vanitas painting. Traditionally associated with death, vanitas paintings serve as reminders of mortality and the fragile nature of existence. Memento mori: “Remember, you must die.” In the age of AI, physical media is more impactful than ever. The art supplies represent a rebirth of the hands-on creative process, and also serve as a reminder of how easily the knowledge, disciplines, and creative faculties that define artistic practice can be lost.

This idea of rebirth felt especially relevant today. Rebirth isn’t about creating something new, its about carrying forward whats worth preserving. keeping it alive by continuing to bring life to it.

The process started like normal with a few (too many) thumbnails. There were so many good ideas and I was so inspired by the assignment and its themes that I ended up completing three whole paintings. Any of them would be a fantastic poster, but we landed on the Skull as it carried the strongest conceptual weight and had a layer of depth to its meaning.

The vanitas still-life style represents the way we hold onto the past traditional ways of doing things. (through curated relics, symbols, and images rather than actual methods and practices)

The pairing of life and death represents the uncertain future of traditional art. Will it be preserved? Will it be destroyed? Will it be reborn?

Alternate Illustration for:
Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles’ “Illustration West 65” Call for Entries Poster. Bill Mayer © 2026

Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles’ “Illustration West 65” Call for Entries Poster by Bill Mayer © Bill Mayer 2026

Big thanks to Dale Stephanos for the fantastic guiding hand as Art Director, and to the whole SILA team for allowing me to illustrate this years poster.

This was a ton of fun, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to create something with impact and meaning that will represent so many artists, their careers, their talents, and the work they tirelessly pour themselves into. Best of luck to everyone entering the show!
Illustration West 65 Call for Entries is LIVE! https://illustrationwest.org/65/

-Bill