Alcorn was an artist versatile by nature and prodigiously prolific and his influence extended to every aspect of print media. A steady stream of book covers, award-winning children’s books, editorial illustrations, posters, logos, and even billboards advertising icons of pop consumer culture flowed from his multifaceted hand.
Although his work followed the prevailing fashions and modes of his time, these were then processed with a fresh and witty touch and the result was never repetitive. A fear of lapsing into mannerism ensured that he thought of style not as an end to itself, but rather as a means to an end. This, coupled with his commitment to accord each assignment a form adapted to its particular needs, pushed him to expand his visual vocabulary.
Looking back on the evolution of his work, one is struck not just by the variety of mediums and styles he employed, but by the range of sensibilities he expressed. He was right when he claimed not to possess a style in the conventional sense of the word. Every single project was created having in mind the needs of its commercial purpose and the client’s guidelines, all combined with the aesthetic sense of the artist himself.