Creative Nonfiction at Court: How Isabelle Brourman Artfully Sketches the Trials of Donald Trump, Luigi Mangione, and More
Artist Isabelle Brourman’s courtroom illustrations have a twist: her own interpretations. Photo by John Taggart.
Artist Isabelle Brourman does her best work at court. Amid the chaos of high-profile trials with Donald Trump, Luigi Mangione, Johnny Depp, and the like, Brourman sets up shop with watercolor and sketchpaper, at the ready to capture the fusion of politics and theater that unfolds before her. Unlike most courtroom illustrators, however, Brourman colors her sketches with her own interpretations. She calls it “creative nonfiction.”
Brourman doesn’t simply illustrate Trump’s facial expressions and body language, she also fills the page with subtle judgments in the margins and layers of expressions on her subjects to create a sense of temporality. For the viewer, it is as if the moment becomes a theatrical scene; even a maelstrom.
Where a judge can’t display bias, a court reporter is allowed to weigh in. And Brourman doesn’t hide her political affiliations — she openly voted for Kamala Harris in 2024. Yet she has received praise from Trump for her work, and even secured an invite to his Mar a Lago office to paint him in his subtropical element. In the portrait, she managed to capture his wounded ear, which had been grazed by a bullet a few weeks earlier. His camp worried she might depict him in an unsavory light — she assured them this was her Mona Lisa.
Here, Brourman takes us inside her typical workday, sharing what it’s like to get ready for court; the artists that shake her soul; and the one unique thing about her process that takes her work to the next level.
Brourman captures that which is larger than life. Photo courtesy of Brourman.
How do you spend your mornings?
I wake up pretty late these days because I am back to my painting schedule, which keeps me in the studio until around midnight or 1 a.m. During court, I wake up around 6 a.m. to get ready: makeup, coffee, choose my outfit, and ready my portfolio for another day. I drive to court, which is wonderful because it is right across the river from me. During the drive, I put on a playlist that began as a gift to my aunt for a summer drive but has devolved into a lengthy receipt of every new song I am addicted to. Right now I start my morning with “Bam Bam” by Sister Nancy, followed by “Heart of Glass” by Blondie, “Ignorance is Bliss” by Kendrick Lamar, and then “So It Goes” by Mac Miller. The drive to and from work demands different songs.
What do you wear to work?
Oh this is the fun part. Dressing is my passion. I have a lot of clothes lent to me by Janelle Best of Desert Star Vintage, and Mia Vesper of Vesper Obscura. The look is camp court — and it varies depending on the trial and the witness on the stand for the day. I wore a vintage D & G tabloid suit for David Pecker’s testimony, the king of tabloids. I heard a rule about no messaging once during the Trump trial because members of the public came in with Trump hats, but I went for it anyway. I use clothing and nails as messaging; no matter what, I don’t think it can be avoided: what we choose or don’t choose to wear is perceived in each space we enter, might as well have your fun and thicken the concept. I love to style my old Lululemon zip-ups under a shoulder pad blazer just to keep it real, maybe add my tattoo tights. I always have my Loeffler Randall Swarovski headband on, it’s a glamorous practicality — keeps my hair from my eyes while I look down on the work. I have these gorgeous flower petal hand-warmers from my favorite store, Mix Ann Arbor. I bring my Shane McGowan bandana gifted to me by Gerry O’Boyle as a protective talisman. I layer myself in perfume and lip liner and head out. I have my nails done by Mei Kawajiri, she’s a sweet and brilliant star. All of my fashion girlies have become sisters and I consider them my gifted collaborators.
Brourman fervently illustrates the moments that define a person’s life. Photo courtesy of Brourman.
How do you structure your workday?
If it is a trial, the art is the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think of at night. On an off-day, I try to find time to speak to friends and family (I am an avid caller and Face-Timer if they’ll answer). If I have time, I will have fun doing my makeup and then I usually get juice and a coffee before heading to the studio. Breakfast and lunch sometimes do not happen, dinner happens kind of late. I always wash my face and to calm down, I stretch, read the news or listen to it, scroll, and/or watch a movie.
Do you have any playlist favorites?
Bob Dylan and Lana Del Rey raised me. Amy Winehouse and Aretha Franklin see me through breakups. Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman” is one of the best songs that was ever pulled down from heaven and up from hell to be on Earth. I love Colter Wall, he is young, I think around my age, but he howls and grumbles like Johnny Cash and I don’t say that lightly, and he writes from a wise place as well. I love lyricism and I love rhythm. Jimi Hendrix’s “Star Spangled Banner” from Live at Woodstock is the real national anthem. If I hear something I love, I will Shazam it, but I would rather ask. My best friend, Jenny, made me a playlist on Spotify called “Like Damn (For Izzy, Wherever She May Go),” and it has everything from Howling Wolf to Black Sabbath, Eminem to Buffy Sainte-Marie. I love music and I don’t think this is a fair question. I believe live music is one of the strongest kinds of medicine. I just got to see Finneas play at The Paramount, it was really great! I didn’t realize how much I needed it.
When it comes to fashion, Brourman ignores the courtroom rules. Actually, it’s the same with the other courtroom rules, too. Photo by Lila Barth.
What are the tools of your trade?
My drawing board. I have had it since my first trial (Depp v. Heard). A Uniball Vision Elite black and blue rollerball pen to smudge with water, and Micron pens that don’t move even if you use watercolor. Tweezers, funny enough, to remove thin layers of paper. Paper! Napkins (free paper). Water color markers and pencils I absolutely love, and then a paintbrush to dip in either my used coffee cup or a water bottle. I use everything, even my makeup.
Describe your dream studio.
Huge ceilings, lots of light, conversation couch, clean brushes, connected to a spa, part of a larger dream. Painters need hand massages and neck massages, I want to see that reflected in my health insurance.
One unique thing about your work process?
I never start with an idea I must see through, I like to surprise myself and lay bare a bit of that struggle to find the art. I also will travel and love to travel and immerse myself in the spectacle of my subject for my work. I have figured out a ticket to ride, “making an adventure out of it” is a big part of my process.
Do you have a mantra?
Sworn to awe.
