ejnord.com | Matt Dorfman, A Lot To Wonder About

Occasionally, while reading the New York Times, I find myself wondering about the artists whose work accompanies showcased articles. And I wonder about the process behind each piece.

In general, the NYT’s “editorial” art is excellent, especially considering the difficult task of making art that is clever, and yet appropriate to a particular article. Let’s face it, editorial art is intellectual art. The artists can employ playfulness and quirkiness to connect with the reader — as they often do — but the work must be in sync with articles that are often hyper-analytical and/or depressingly serious. Trust me, it’s not an easy job. And I should know… I read the articles.

A few months ago, I was skimming the NYT and came across some rather striking editorial art: against a red background, President Obama gasping for breath while being smothered by his own contradictory statements. Not only did I grab the image and toss it in my “inspiration” folder, but I also looked up the artist, Matt Dorfman.

And thus I discovered that, in addition to his being a go-to guy for NYT editorial art, Matt is also an illustrator, publisher, and designer of book covers. And through his Metalmother blog, he gives insight into the processes behind his work.

It is rare for an artist to be both insightful as well as open about the creative process. And I personally appreciate both his creative output as well as his transparency.

Plus his art is rad too.