Ken Grossman Portrait for Worth

I got this new Hero fountain pen from China, a reproduction of an old, hook nib, artists nib pen, and used it for the first time to illustrate Ken Grossman, the CEO of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, for Worth Magazine. 

The "Jerry Garcia" of Arizona Politics - Mark Brnovich

I illustrated this psychedelic portrait of Attorney General Mark Brnovich for the Phoenix New Times, because, evidently, the AG followed the Grateful Dead, back in the day.

Art Director Peter Storch suggested we illustrate him to look "extra groovy, so I gave him some "Greg Brady" hair, muttonchops, and a eye popping tie dyed background. I get all the fun assignments!

After the cover published the AG's office called to say Brnovich thought the portrait was funny. Glad to hear he has a good sense of humor!

What a long strange trip it's been, indeed!

Twitter Shaming illustration for Boston Globe

Twitter Shaming - Graham Smith

The Boston Globe asked me to illustrate some current events for the Sunday Arts section. It was so much fun illustrating a bunch of awful people who have said terribly racist, or homophobic remarks in public recently, and drawing the writer that shames them via twitter wearing pink slippers, was the icing on the cake.

In case you haven't been keeping up, here's what the mounted heads said, that got them is so much trouble:        Read the article in the Boston Globe.

Donald Sterling (Clippers owner)

"It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you're associating with black people"

Janelle Ambrosia (Dollar store racist lady)

"I called you a n****r. You're a n****r. Nasty f*****g n****r."    Watch the video.

Justine Sacco (pr executive)

"Going to Africa. Hope I don't get AIDS. Just kidding. I'm white!"

Clint McCance (Arkansas school board member)

"I like that fags can't procreate. I also enjoy that they often give each other AIDS and die...I would disown my kids they were gay."

Janice Daniels (former mayor of Troy Michigan)

 "I think I am going to throw away my I Love New York carrying bag now that queers can get married there." 

Cliven Bundy 

“I want to tell you one more thing I know about the Negro.”

Wall of Shame - illustration process from Graham Smith on Vimeo.

Pencil sketch - Graham Smith

Illustration Process: First, I sketch the idea really roughly, in pencil. Then I refine the sketch, trying to get the scribbles to look like the people I 'm drawing. That's the refined sketch above. Next step, I've been doing a little differently than the traditional old school method of tracing on a lightbox. Instead, I scan the sketch, and print it onto nicer paper. In this case, Strathmore Smooth Bristol paper. Then I ink the print, which is below, and color the illustration digitally.

ink drawing - Graham Smith

Cliven Bundy (detail) - Graham Smith

Donald Sterling (detail) - Graham Smith

Janice Daniels (detail) - Graham Smith

The Twitter shamer (detail) - Graham Smith

Twitter desk (detail) - Graham Smith

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John Pritzker for Worth Magazine

Drawing billionaire John Pritzker for Worth Magazine, in good ol' pen and ink.

Ohio's Top 7 Influential Leaders portraits

Cover illustration detail

Inside Business Magazine just published their Top 100 Most Influential Leaders in the state of Ohio this month, and asked me to illustrate the cover and interior portraits for the feature story.

Combining bold graphic shapes that contrast the delicate penmanship creates a look that balances between traditional and modern. 

Art Director: Chris Valantasis Illustrator: Graham Smith

Cover design by: Art Director Chris Valantasis. Illustration: Graham Smith  

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Pen and ink on Strathmore drawing paper. Digital color.

Drawing the CEO of Audi

Drawing Scott Keogh from Graham Smith on Vimeo.

Scott Keogh, CEO Audi America. Worth Magazine. 

Art Director: Valerie Sebring. Illustrator: Graham Smith

Kim Jong Il - Death of a Dictator

Kim Jong Il - Graham Smith

Kim Jong Il, 69, died from a heart attack today after "dedicating his life to the people." The North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il was the son of Kim Il Song, the founder Communist Nation and had been in power since 1994.

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See More:

Hosni Mubarak
Amedinejad

HealthLeaders: Portraits of the Editors

Ed Pruitt - Editor of Healthleaders

Jim Molpus - Interim Editor of Healthleaders

 Ed Pruitt and Jim Molpus are the Editor and Interim Editor at Healthleaders magazine. I was commissioned to illustrate their portraits for the Editor's Letter page by award winning Art Director Doug Ponte.

You can see the size of the drawing and the kind of pen nib I use to draw with. The bigger thick to thin strokes are drawn with the pen nib in the standard position. The really thin lines are drawn with the pen nib held upside down, using the thin, forward edge of the nib's foot.

Each person is drawn quite a few times until the portrait is figured out. I spread the inked portraits out on my desk to decide which best suits the assignment.

The Editor's portraits were destined to print small, so I illustrated the portraits about twice the print size, which was still pretty small. I have to be "hold-my-breath" careful when drawing small portraits, where the thickness of the line makes a big difference.

Sometimes, I think my nose is going to touch the paper, I get so close to the work. This is what the drawings looks like from that perspective!

Ed Pruitt: Detail, Black Cat India ink and General's non-repro blue pencil: Graham Smith.

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