The results include Gov. Gavin Newsom, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi — as you’ve never seen them before.
Ohman, a Sacramento institution in his own right, has carved out a storied career, most recently for The Bee. He drew 18 different California political figures to mark the official launch of the publication’s expansion at a party in Sacramento Tuesday night that will feature a fireside chat with Newsom.
For decades, Ohman has been a leading purveyor of a dwindling artform, with national outlets across the country syndicating his acerbic and insightful political cartoons. After starting his career in Minnesota, he worked at the Detroit Free Press and The Oregonian, while also contributing to ABC’s Nightline, Foreign Policy and Money magazines.
Ohman began work for The Bee in 2012, where he went on to win the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for “cartoons that convey wry, rueful perspectives through sophisticated style that combines bold line work with subtle colors and textures.” He also did a significant amount of writing for the opinion pages.
Since he and two other McClatchy editorial cartoonists were laid off in July, Ohman has been drawing attention to the importance of his craft, which combines cutting editorial commentary with masterful artwork. He stood in for POLITICO editorial cartoonist and founding member Matt Wuerker, who is on a sabbatical.
Enjoy this sneak peek at three of the 18 figures POLITICO commissioned, plus Ohman’s thoughts on the process.
On drawing Newsom: “I was at an event the other day, and who walks into the kitchen but Gov. Newsom. I said, ‘Well! I was just drawing you!’ I enjoy drawing him, but he’s very tall and his head shape (in cartoons) is elongated, so he’s always a composition problem. I key in on his forehead, hair and jawline. He’s disturbingly good-looking, and cartoonists hate that.”
On sketching McCarthy: “McCarthy always looks like he’s going to sell you a tasty deli sandwich or a used car. He’s a conventionally handsome dude, with Republican hair so I focus on his teeth and mouth. He’s rather lantern-jawed, so that’s a major element of his caricature.”
On capturing Pelosi: “If I can get Pelosi in her sunglasses and the red Max Mara coat, that’s a good day for me. She’s a very attractive woman, and she’s very petite and fine-boned. I tend to focus on her intense eyes and mouth.”
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