Jon Sack
Summary
Accomplished and versatile illustrator with 15+ years of professional experience in the industry. Internationally recognized for published works, including fiction and non-fiction graphic novels. Proficient in hand-drawn and digital art, demonstrating technical ability and great knowledge of visual story telling. Excel in collaborative approaches and capable of working independently for extended periods when necessary. Can work under pressure to consistently meet deadlines.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Freelance Illustrator
Komics Initiative
08.2024 - Current
- Illustrating Volume 4 of CCAS's Une Histoire des Solidarités; to be published in France by Komics Initiative 2025
Freelance Illustrator/ Project Manager
Graphix Project
10.2022 - 06.2024
- Created an illustrated adaptation of the award winning book The Water Defenders (Beacon Press, 2021); to be published by Ohio State University, summer 2025
- Creative advisor of a core team developing a start up human rights NGO
Freelance Illustrator
Upcal Productions
10.2016 - 08.2022
- Illustrated the graphic novel My Fairy Godfather in collaboration with writer Robert Mailer Anderson (Fantagraphics 2024; in France by Komics Initiative 2023)
- Illustrated the graphic novel Windows on the World in collaboration with writer Robert Mailer Anderson (Fantagraphics, 2020; Komics Initiative, 2022)
Freelance Cartographer
UNDP
10.2021 - 09.2022
- In collaboration with the UNDP and African Borderlands Center, developed and created a series of high quality illustrated maps featuring key economic activities and other data of border regions throughout Africa
- Created and delivered a training manual and online workshop to teach students at the University of Nairobi how to make these maps, delivering a total of 106 maps of every border region in Africa
Freelance Illustrator/Cartographer
Conciliation Resources
09.2018 - 03.2021
- Produced illustrated maps of borderlands for Accord: Borderlands and Peacebuilding - A View From the Margins
- Produced illustrations for a report about the reintegration of former extremist combatants back into their communities in Nigeria
Freelance Illustrator
Each Other
02.2020 - 03.2020
- Produced illustrations for the animated video 'Hear us: young people on UK inequality'
- Produced illustrations for the documentary film 'Excluded' about excluded students
Freelance Illustrator/Writer
Frontline Defenders
03.2012 - 03.2021
- Author and artist of the non-fiction graphic novel La Lucha: The Story of Lucha Castro and Human Rights in Mexico (Verso, 2015); published in Mexico and integrated into secondary schools' human rights curriculum; published in Italy, Spain and France (2025)
- Author and artist of 'Mongolia' – a graphic story of anti-mining activists in Mongolia (Cypher Comics, 2021)
- Author and artist of 'Peru' – a graphic story of anti-mining activists in Peru (Cypher Comics, 2022)
Freelance Illustrator
On the Record
08.2018 - 11.2018
- Created narrative illustrations for Fighting SUS publication, about reflections of activism in the 1980s against UK SUS laws
Freelance Illustrator
KCRW Santa Monica (NPR)
02.2016 - 03.2016
- Illustrated The Peacemakers about community activism in southern LA and Tasers: A First Hand Experience, for KCRW's website
Freelance Illustrator/Writer
Red Pepper Magazine
05.2013 - 06.2016
- Wrote and illustrated the non-fiction comic The Physio about Syrian refugees convalescing in Turkey; reprinted in The Globe and Mail
Illustrator and Writer
Voices in the Wilderness
01.2007 - 09.2007
- Created a 30 page comic book about the history of oil in Iraq called Iraqi Oil for Beginners
Education
MA - Near and Middle East Studies
SOAS, London
01.2017
MFA -
Goldsmiths College, London
01.2006
BA - Fine Art
University of Washington, Seattle
01.1997
Skills
- Character Design
- Storyboarding
- Inking/Penciling/Lettering
- Layout Design
- Cover Design
- Digital Illustration (Photoshop, Procreate)
- Project management
- Deadline management
Timeline
Freelance Illustrator
Komics Initiative
08.2024 - Current
Freelance Illustrator/ Project Manager
Graphix Project
10.2022 - 06.2024
Freelance Cartographer
UNDP
10.2021 - 09.2022
Freelance Illustrator
Each Other
02.2020 - 03.2020
Freelance Illustrator/Cartographer
Conciliation Resources
09.2018 - 03.2021
Freelance Illustrator
On the Record
08.2018 - 11.2018
Freelance Illustrator
Upcal Productions
10.2016 - 08.2022
Freelance Illustrator
KCRW Santa Monica (NPR)
02.2016 - 03.2016
Freelance Illustrator/Writer
Red Pepper Magazine
05.2013 - 06.2016
Freelance Illustrator/Writer
Frontline Defenders
03.2012 - 03.2021
Illustrator and Writer
Voices in the Wilderness
01.2007 - 09.2007
MFA -
Goldsmiths College, London
BA - Fine Art
University of Washington, Seattle
MA - Near and Middle East Studies
SOAS, London