In this continuing series, Utne Reader Art Director Stephanie Glaros explains the
process behind an Utne Reader
illustration.
Once in a while, an illustrator comes to my attention whose
style is unlike any other I’ve seen. Although I can’t recall how I first came
across Keith Greiman’s work, I knew instantly that he was someone who I wanted
to get into the magazine. His characters are really fun, and I especially appreciate
his use of color. I recently commissioned Keith to illustrate the article “The
Gospel According to…,” which describes a bible without God. I knew Keith would
have fun playing with the idea of mixing secular and Christian elements.
Indeed, his final art includes the coolest version of Noah’s Ark I’ve ever
seen, and the surrealistic colors made this piece one of my favorites in the
whole issue.
Since its inception in 1984, Utne Reader has relied on talented artists to create original
images for stories that express powerful emotions, brilliant new ideas, and
humorous storytelling. Browsing through back issues of Utne Reader is like a tour of “Who’s Who”
in the illustration world. Artists like Gary Baseman, Brad Holland, Anita Kunz,
Bill Plympton, and Seymour Chwast have graced our pages over the years, to name
just a few.