Welsh artist and illustrator Ralph Steadman, 88, has had not one, but many careers. Known as “the godfather of Gonzo art,” he basically invented the gonzo style alongside his friend Hunter S. Thompson, having collaborated with the writer on Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and in Rolling Stone. One-time Observer illustrator Philip Burke has credited Steadman as a major influence, and indeed, the expressive octogenarian has also, from time to time, lent his talents to this very publication. See our interview with Ethan Hawke for one example of Steadman’s work in our pages or our interview with Steve Buscemi for another.

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Even if you don’t know his name, you probably know Ralph Steadman’s work. He’s the trailblazer of a distinctive splattery style that has influenced a whole generation of illustrators. What stands out about Steadman’s ink splatters and splotches is that they come first—he starts by intentionally splattering ink on the page and works the illustration around it. He didn’t always work that way, however. Early splatters were accidental but, as he explained to Observer, he learned to work with them.

“Don’t think about style; just think about drawing honestly, trying to express something about a particular subject, model or whatever it is you are drawing,” he advised. “Style will get in the way.”

Steadman’s work is the subject of a just-opened retrospective at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington, D.C. Titled “Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing,” the exhibition showcases more than 150 artworks from over half a century of artmaking, with early illustrations, collaborations with Thompson and portraits of authors like Virginia Woolf and George Orwell, and American presidents, from John F. Kennedy to Donald Trump. While he’s probably best known for his political and social commentary, Steadman’s children’s book illustrations are on view, too. Additionally, there’s plenty of ephemera from Steadman’s lengthy career: sketchbooks,........

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