Roumieu for Nautilus Magazine

Graham Roumieu illustrated for the premiere issue of online science magazine, Nautilus. Each issue of the magazine reports on a single topic with the first issue – What Makes You So Special? – focusing on the mystery of human uniqueness. Graham's illustration provides a visual history of the nautilus namesake, from the first practical submarine to a Russian rock group to exercise equipment. Click the image to enlarge.

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Magnet Artists for American Illustration

We're pleased to announce that Magnet artists Graham Roumieu and Jungyeon Roh were recognized by American Illustration and will appear in either the AI32 annual and on THE ARCHIVE as part of American Illustration's website collection.

The AI32 book and THE ARCHIVE will launch November 6th-7th at American Illustration's two annual events – The Party and BIG TALK – in New York City.

Congratulations go out to all!

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SELECTED – Graham Roumieu

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SELECTED – Jungyeon Roh

Roumieu's Recent Editorial Work

Graham Roumieu's recent editorial work includes assignments for O Magazine, The New York Times and The Atlantic. His illustration for O, The Oprah Magazine deals with effects 'The Pill' has on memory, while his piece for The New York Times tells the story of the newly discovered – and nearly extinct – Gunnison Sage Grouse. A recent series of spots for The Atlantic attempt to answer 'The Big Question,' where some of today's great thinkers weigh in on what day most changed the course of history – from Batu Khan's return to Mongolia in 1241 to the day an asteroid hit the Yucátan Peninsula wiping out the dinosaurs.

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O, The Oprah Magazine

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The New York Times

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The Atlantic

GRAHAM ROUMIEU

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Toronto-based illustrator Graham Roumieu has worked with an impressive number of publications throughout North America and perhaps he has his offbeat - and often irreverent - sense of humor to thank. He has a unique ability to take the mundane and make seem it less so, eliciting laughter with a piece about cellphone roaming charges for The New York Times or the environmental benefits of a strong beaver population for The Atlantic. Whatever it may be, it's working, with regular assignments from The Wall Street Journal, The Globe & Mail, The Walrus, and Real Simple Magazine. 2012 saw a weekly spot with Josh Martz for The Globe and Mail (see all of them here) and a regular lifestyle feature in Canadian Business, offering unexpected solutions for life's little problems, such as using a pencil to fix a stuck zipper and tin foil to sharpen a dull paper shredder.

THE NEW YORK TIMES NewYorkTimesTop: Inheriting Travel Points Bottom from left: Roaming Charges While on Vacation, Robo Right to Speech, Happy New Years from the Future

In addition to editorial and publishing illustration, Roumieu has worked on a number of successful print and online ad campaigns and websites, including an out of control squid character for HP's "Ink Amnesty" campaign, peer pressure illustrations for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada's "Early Bloomers" campaign, and OOH work for the "No Peeking Event" launched by Sears. He completed several online commissions in 2012, including The Walrus Laughs, a digital project from The Walrus Foundation and Stella Artois, where members submitted and voted for the funniest videos, images and prose. Other projects included the website for writer and producer, Kathryn Borel (www.kathrynborel.com), and another for Two Hours North (www.twohoursnorth.com), a Toronto-based travel services company. For the 2012 holiday season, he created a series of illustrations for North American ad agency, The Hive. The illustrations were part of The Silent Night Playlist, a tongue-in-cheek project aimed at offering some much-needed respite from the stress of the holiday season. Users could download the playlist and enjoy some much-needed peace and quiet with silent tracks such as 'Shortbread Baking' and 'Snow Falling: Extended Mix.'

ONLINE PROJECTS OnlineProjectsTop: Illustration for The Hive's Silent Night Playlist Bottom: Illustrations for writer and producer, Kathryn Borel

In the past year a number of products debuting that featured Roumieu's artwork, including a tote bag for long-time client, The Walrus, and a series of greeting cards for Whigby, debuting at last year's New York International Gift Fair. Toronto-based business, Good Egg, also commissioned him to illustrate a tote bag for them, later inviting him to create a mural for their Kensington-market storefront. The quirky kitchen supply and gift shop have been long-time fans of his work, carrying his books and a selection of original, framed watercolors. Their website boasts "We've erected a shrine to local writer-illustrator Graham Roumieu at Good Egg. We... welcome you to visit the shop to pray to the artist known as Roumieu."

PRODUCTS Product2From left: Tote bag for The Walrus; Cat & Helen greeting card for Whigby; tote bag for Good Egg

Roumieu was commissioned to create a series of illustrations for philosopher John Perry's book, The Art of Procrastination: A Guide to Effective Dawdling, Lollygagging and Postponing, for Workman Publishing. The book explores something called "structured procrastination" - a phenomenon where one manages to complete a number of smaller tasks as a means of avoiding another, larger chore. The witty illustrations can be seen at the start of each chapter, demonstrating the various ways people engage in the "art of procrastination," from watching cat videos on YouTube to artfully stacking billy clips. He also illustrated the covers for a series of books by politician and author, Shashi Tharoor, for Penguin India.

PUBLISHING WorkmanPublishingAbove: Illustrations for The Art of Procrastination by John Perry (Workman Publishing)

Another recent book project, Highly Inappropriate Tales for Young People for Random House Canada, is a "kooky collaboration" with renowned Canadian author, Douglas Coupland of international bestseller Generation X fame. Coupland contacted Roumieu after becoming a fan of his Bigfoot books and it didn't take long for the project to begin taking shape. Composed of seven hilariously improbable tales with characters like Donald the Incredibly Hostile Juice Box, Hans the Weird Exchange Student and Brandon the Action Figure with Issues, the book is not really intended for children. Roumieu says "I guess this would be R-rated. [Although] I don't know whether one juice box stabbing another juice box in the head with a bobby pin necessarily constitutes R anymore." The book has received great reviews with talk of a sequel being batted about. Michel Basilieres of the Toronto Star says the tales "match perfectly the loose, surreal and imaginative images Roumieu revels in. It seems as likely that the stories were written to match the images as the other way around." Click here to read Communication Arts' glowing review for Highly Inappropriate Tales and here to read even more praise. You can watch an animated trailer for the book here.

HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE TALES InappropriateTalesAbove: Illustrations for Highly Inappropriate Tales for Young People by Douglas Coupland (Random House Canada)

In all he has authored and illustrated six books: 101 Ways to Kill Your Boss (Plume), Cat & Gnome (Blue Q Books), and his cult classic Bigfoot series. In 2003, Roumieu published the first in this series of Bigfoot autobiographies, In Me Own Words: the Autobiography of Bigfoot. Written from the perspective of a jaded, egomaniacal ex-legend whose hobbies include terrorizing forest critters and composing screenplays, the books Me Write Book: It Bigfoot Memoir and Bigfoot: I Not Dead (Plume), have quickly become a cult favorite. Bigfoot's antics have inspired readers to write Bigfoot songs, make Bigfoot dolls, and even bake Bigfoot cakes. The very hairy leading man has thousands of followers on Twitter, where he regular charms fans with sayings like, "Secret to great smile is use Lee Press On Nails as veneers" and "Wearing two sashes and a cummerbund. It just feel right."

THE GLOBE & MAIL GlobeMailAbove: Home Porn Bottom from left: Crazy Cat People; Sinister Canada; Queen

Bigfoot's charm stems from a stubbornly juvenile outlook that is by turns abrasive and endearing. In one chapter, Bigfoot admits that his less-than-eloquent speech patterns made him the target of bullying in high school. His confession accompanies a flashback of teenage Bigfoot tearing down the opposition (literally) at a high school debate. A decapitated head lies on the linoleum as two recent amputees cower in a pool of their own blood. Red ink, smeared and spattered throughout the page, vividly relays the relish with which Bigfoot dismembers his competitors.

Roumieu's wildly energetic, and sometimes gleefully gruesome, brushwork sometimes seems at odds with his underdog sensibilities. In a recent interview, he says, "I think I have a tendency to gravitate to subjects that are sweet, naive and innocent in nature because it gives more impact when I inevitably throw them into situations that are bizarre, human and dire." With Bigfoot, Roumieu has combined all of the above, producing a creature whose displays of ego rival only his bouts of crippling insecurity.

MAGAZINE WORK Magazines2Top: The Wrong Wedding Singer for American Way Bottom from left: Hecklers for Print; Leave It to Beavers for The Atlantic; Unreliable for Institutional Investor

Roumieu's 101 Ways to Kill Your Boss has been universally applauded and published in many countries worldwide. Imagine eviscerating your boss with a giant laser pointer, quitting your job via ninja courier service, laying a trap by way of urinal guillotine. Roumieu takes office politics to the next level with increasingly extreme tactics for boss-icide. His illustrations find the bizarre and the funny in even the most mundane office environments. Linked together by a deep yet twisted look into the human psyche, Roumieu's work continually surprises viewers with its insight and its ability to elicit gut-wrenching laughter.

AWARDS AwardsRealSimpleAbove: Illustrations for the Real Simple Guide to Social Media Sites for Real Simple magazine

His work has been honored by American Illustration, Communication Arts, Society of Illustrators, Applied Arts, the HOW International Design Awards, the Advertising & Design Club of Canada, the Coupe International Design Competition, the SPD Spots Annual, and the National Magazine Awards. Most recently, he received a merit award from The Art Directors Club of New York for the Real Simple Guide to Social Media Sites for Real Simple Magazine. The series, which was also chosen for inclusion in 2012 Print Regional Design Annual, takes a comical look at the world of Facebook and Twitter, offering tips on navigating them both. In January 2012, his novelty Twitter feed for Bigfoot was named one of HOW Magazine's Top 10 Websites for Designers. When he's not illustrating, Roumieu teaches at OCAD University, Canada's largest and oldest art and design school.

Click here to read our previous spotlight on Graham. Click here for downloadable items - desktop wallpapers and a high-res printable letter sized promo.

Q&A with GRAHAM ROUMIEU

How has your work changed since your days as an art student? How do you see your work progressing in the future? If someone were to look at all of my work over the last ten years or so, I think they'd see a steady growth of technique, thought, and personality. As for the future, this work has been a part of my life for so long now that I can't imagine engaging and understanding the world through means other making pictures, so I hope that it is always very much a part of what I do day-to-day. And through continuing to do that, I hope to continue to get better - hopefully in ways I couldn't possibly imagine now.

What's the first thing you do when you’re stuck on a project? What are your best sources of inspiration? Getting up and moving around and doing something else and talking to people or reading pretty much will solve any blockage quickly. Or, imagining that if you don't get the work done everyone you know and love will die horribly. I don't actually use this technique, but if you are having troubles, try it. It might work if you aren't heartless and lazy.

In an ideal world, you would have an infinite amount of? Awesome dance moves, perfect for any occasion or non occasion. FYI I am a terrible dancer.

Use three words to describe your style. Best I got?

What is a typical work day like for you? Pretty standard and disciplined, actually. Morning coffee, check email, read newspaper, maybe eat breakfast, shower, dress, sit at my desk, draw pictures, write stuff or do paperwork, maybe break for lunch, more afternoon work, bits of domestic household fixing and washing if needed which sometimes helps my thinking, and then my day is over, and what I do on my own time is no one's frigging business (greyhound track, eat pizza in parking lot, fall asleep in park).

What is your ideal assignment? Oh I love all sorts of different challenges that come with different assignments, so I can't say one is better that the other. Unless they come with challenges that make me hate the world. Those assignments are the worst.

What is your favorite part of living and working in Toronto? The giant hawk that perches himself on top of the CN Tower every day and makes everyone frightened. He keeps things real. I can't believe it doesn't draw in more tourists.

Do you have a favorite movie? Being There

What are some sites you have bookmarked in your browser? Jillian Tamaki's Super Mutant Magic Academy http://mutantmagic.com/ New York Times http://www.nytimes.com Atlas Obscura http://www.atlasobscura.com/

What's the best and worst part of being an illustrator? Upside: Usually my Pictionary opponents run out of the room sobbing. Downside: Usually my Pictionary opponents run out of the room sobbing.

You have 24 hours to live the life of one fictional character. Who do you choose? R2D2. Gets to be a part of amazing things, really doesn't have to do much.

Best way to end a long day of work? Skipping in circles giggling and clapping with delight as someone sprays me with Champagne.

Roumieu + Ramsay Inc. Win ADCC Award

Graham Roumieu's collaboration with Toronto design agency, Underline Studio, for Ramsay Inc. recently received a merit award at Directions 2012, the Advertising and Design Club of Canada's 63rd annual show. The website for speechwriter, book editor, and communications strategist, Bob Ramsay, was honored in the Corporate Identity category. Winners were announced at Koerner Hall at the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning this past November in Toronto. Congratulations go out to Graham, Mr. Ramsay and everyone at Underline Studio!

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Roumieu's Recent Editorial Work

Graham Roumieu’s recent series 'All I Want For Christmas' for Real Simple's holiday issue illustrated five heartfelt (and funny) personal holiday wishes expressed by five writers. 'The ability to unitask' and 'No more worry' are not gifts that can be wrapped up, but they’re pretty desirable and Graham made the concepts shine.

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He also illustrated for an opinion piece in The New York Times about wedded bliss and it's relatively short shelf life.

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Another piece for The Wall Street Journal offers 'guerilla shopping tips' for holiday shoppers.

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Roumieu for Toronto Businesses

Long-time Toronto resident, Graham Roumieu, recently illustrated for two Toronto businesses. His illustrations can be seen throughout the website for Two Hours North, a local business specializing in cottage rentals for the city-dweller looking for some r&r, while a mural for quirky kitchen supply store, Good Egg, can be seen on their Kensington Market storefront.

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Roumieu + the Art of Procrastination

Graham Roumieu's illustrations can be seen in the just released title The Art of Procrastination: A Guide to Effective Dawdling, Lollygagging and Postponing. Written by philosopher John Perry and published by Workman Publishing Company, the book explores what Perry calls "structured procrastination" – the art of getting a lot done as a means of avoiding doing other things. Available now from Amazon.

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SUMMER READING

This summer, we're presenting a selection of our artists' favorite books. From dark, to funny, to just plain strange, this summer reading list gives you a peek inside each artist's life, likes, and literary predilections.

 

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ELEANOR GROSCHThe Road by Cormac McCarthy. "Disturbing, horrific, and somehow hauntingly beautiful." The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. "Really fun with a nice dark quality."

HennieHaworth

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HENNIE HAWORTHCall the Midwife by Jennifer Worth. "Recently I've been enjoying reading a book called Call the Midwife. It's the true story of a midwife working in London's East End in the 1950's. Having just had a baby in East London, it had a particular interest for me, but it's a very popular book and was recently made into a TV show by the BBC (but the book's much better). It's really startling how much life and medicine has changed in such a short space of time."

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BELLA PILAR20th Century Travel: 100 Years of Globe-Trotting Ads. "There is always a Taschen book on my list of favorites. And this is my latest fave. Travel through the history of travel ads. I am beyond inspired by the gorgeous colorful artwork filling these pages - the images, design, colors, its the total package. These colorful ads are filled with storytelling imagery that remind me how big the world is outside my little art studio. They will make you look at a train, plane, and automobile in a whole new light." 100 Years of Fashion Illustration. "Always one of my faves. Beautiful artwork to gaze over. And a fact filled blurb of info on each page. What a treat to look at the history of fashion presented this way. Each fashion illustration tells its own little story. It's fun to see the progression of style and trends (fashion and art) over 100 years all wrapped up in one little book."

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GRAHAM ROUMIEUThe Bet by Arthur Bradford. "One of my favorites is just a short story from a McSweeny's but is probably the funniest thing I've ever read."