There’s an image of President Carter standing between Egypt’s President Anwar el-Sadat and Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the Camp David summit. Rogers remembers seeing this as a student at Lake Placid High School during Carter’s presidency from 1977 to 1981.

Rogers recalls the way the American people started to reject Carter. They didn’t seem to think he was a strong leader, but Rogers disagreed.

“It was a leadership that was strong in peace,” Rogers said. “That’s something that struck me so powerfully about him — he was such a quiet leader.”

Jimmy Carter died at 100 years old as the longest-living former president. He lived for nearly two years on hospice and was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023. He was perhaps better known for his work after his presidency, however. The Carters co-founded the Carter Center in 1982, the year after he left office, with the stated mission to “wage peace, fight disease and build hope.”

A drawing of former president Jimmy Carter by Lake Placid illustrator and artist Nip Rogers. (Provided photo — Nip Rogers)

Rogers, whose varied career has included creating illustrations for the Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, has had a long-standing relationship with the Carter Center, partnering with them to create illustrations and designs for a few of the center’s annual reports. In October, he marked Carter’s 100th anniversary by reflecting on what he admires about the former president and first lady, particularly their humanitarian efforts.

“It’s just amazing how many lives this guy has touched,” Rogers said.

Through his work, Rogers has learned more about Carter’s humanitarian efforts. He has come to admire and respect the Carters’ persistent humanitarian work, commitment to peace, contribution to environmental protection and mental health advocacy. The Carter Center has led peace and health programs in more than 80 countries, according to the center’s website.

These are all things that Rogers himself believes in, and he appreciates the chance to work with people who feel the same way.

“All of these people that work there believe in the same things,” Rogers said, “and they’re working as tirelessly as he did.”

Rogers sees an opportunity to contribute in his own ways, through art. In all of his art, he tries to find ways to see humanity in everyone.

“(I’m) continually creating more art that has kindness in it, everyday situations that people can relate to,” Rogers said. “I think that’s a way for me to quietly lead, too.”