Elwood's World Elwood H. Smith
Flat vector illustration of a vintage television set in muted cream, dusty rose and deep navy tones, with a soft, calm and slightly nostalgic mood

Elwood H. Smith — Humorous Illustration

Illustration Portfolio

A collection of recent high-grade humorous illustrations, drawings and animated pieces by Elwood H. Smith.

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Recent Work

Latest Illustrations & Artwork

The portfolio gathers Elwood's newest pieces — the cartoons, spot drawings and illustrated scenes that arrive in the studio each week and that readers of magazines across the country have been seeing in print.

Flat vector illustration of a lone cowboy figure against a wide open plain, in dusty rose, cream and deep navy, with a quiet and gently melancholic mood

Western & Lone Figure Work

Character-based drawings built around a single expressive figure in a wide, spare landscape.

Flat vector illustration of a figure juggling many hats at once, in dusty rose, cream and deep navy, with a playful and comic mood

Comic Set Pieces

Visual jokes about overcommitment, timing and the chaos of too many hats.

Flat vector illustration of a breakfast table scene with a scattered crowd of characters, in dusty rose, cream and deep navy, with a warm and busy morning mood

Scene & Ensemble Cartoons

Busy group compositions that reward a second look, with a gag tucked into every corner.

Flat vector illustration of a small circus ring with performers, in dusty rose, cream and deep navy, with a theatrical and whimsical mood

Story & Theatre Pieces

Narrative illustrations for story-driven features and magazine departments.

Flat vector illustration of a monkey playing an accordion, in dusty rose, cream and deep navy, with a lively and humorous mood

Editorial Cartooning

Loose, quick ink cartoons in the classic editorial style for columns and op-eds.

Flat vector illustration of a crowded shelf of generic objects, in dusty rose, cream and deep navy, with a wry and slightly deadpan mood

Spot & Small-Drawings

Compact spot drawings sized for columns, sidebars and illustrated lists.

Elwood's World is the online home of humorous illustrator Elwood H. Smith, a place built to showcase a wide portfolio of cartoon drawings, spot illustrations and animated pieces. The work gathered here reflects a long-running practice of visual comedy: single expressive figures, spare western settings and jokes that land through gesture rather than words. Magazine readers across the country have encountered these pieces in print for years, and this site collects them in one calm, editorial arrangement.

The design leans on a deep navy and charcoal foundation paired with crisp white and a warm rose-gold accent, letting the artwork carry the color while the page stays restrained. Full-bleed photographic sections alternate with solid color fields, and thin hairline rules divide content instead of boxed cards. Sharp square corners, minimal uppercase buttons and generous whitespace give the portfolio a quiet, print-inspired feel, so illustrations remain the focus rather than interface decoration.

Within the portfolio, categories help visitors browse by mood and subject. Western and lone figure work centers on character drawings placed in wide, spare landscapes. Comic set pieces explore visual jokes and absurd scenarios, while other sections present the latest illustrations and animated work emerging from the studio each week. Navigation and small labels are set in a clean geometric sans with wide letter spacing, and an elegant script monogram adds a personal signature to the top of the site.

Beyond the gallery, the site offers a brief introduction to Elwood's background and an About Elwood page, giving context for the humor and craft behind the images. A Back Home link returns visitors to the welcoming front page, where a new portfolio is announced alongside the artist's latest work. Together, the portfolio and supporting pages form a compact showcase: a humorous illustrator's collected output, presented with the clarity and restraint of a well-designed magazine spread.

Flat vector illustration of a friendly cartoon character holding a drawing, in dusty rose, cream and deep navy, with a warm and welcoming mood

A Note on the Work

High-Grade Humorous Illustration

Elwood H. Smith is an award-winning, internationally known humorous illustrator. His drawings are built on quick, readable characters and a strong sense of timing — work drawn for editors who needed a picture that carried the joke on its own.

Alongside the cartoon work, the portfolio also holds his animated pieces, including seasonal pieces and a Greenbelt Land Trust project. The Animations section covers those in more detail.

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Where the Work Appears

Featured in Major National Publications

Elwood's illustrations have appeared in TIME, Newsweek, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, American Heritage, Forbes and Fortune.

Selected Venues
Publication Type of Work
TIMEIllustrated features and cartoons
NewsweekEditorial illustration
The New York TimesSpot and editorial drawings
The Washington PostEditorial cartoons
The Wall Street Journal & Barron'sBusiness-page illustration
Forbes & FortuneFeature and cover-adjacent drawings
American HeritageHistorical and cultural cartoons

Elwood has also created advertising campaigns for SONY, Inglenook Wine, Land's End, The Wisconsin Humane Society and TGI Fridays.

Keep Exploring

More of Elwood's World

Wander around: read the biography, check out the books, look through the animations, or drop into the community forums.

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