Tom Richmond does a few illustrations a year for Penthouse, "which I have no qualms about doing so long as I am not asked to do anything pornographic."

The September issue has a full page illustration Tom did for a humorous article about why guys have “sex on the brain” i.e. it’s all some guys think about. Initially the art director wanted Tom to do an image of a guy with his brain coming out of his skull, and all the bumps on the surface forming intertwining bodies and female forms.

"That was a little borderline for me," says Tom. "While I followed through on that in a sketch, I also suggested something a little more classic looking… the same open skull but with tiny female figures popping out all over. Here are the sketches:

Sketch based on original idea

A different approach…

The art director liked the look of Tom's second sketch.

"I thought the cartoony treatment of the naked female figures sans nipples or other realistic anatomical details gave them a 'Barbie' doll look that was tasteful in this context. Here is the final art:"