October is known for many things, but if you’re in the illustration world, it’s synonymous for Inktober. If you’re new to the annual tradition, the premise is simple: during each day of the month, you ink something! There are 31…
October is known for many things, but if you’re in the illustration world, it’s synonymous for Inktober. If you’re new to the annual tradition, the premise is simple: during each day of the month, you ink something! There are 31…
I first met Hayley Powers Thornton-Kennedy when I visited the MFA Illustration Practice program (MFA ILP) as a guest critic and lecturer. In their cozy, well-lit studio, she showed me a selection of signage she had created for the Women’s…
If you peruse Aimee Bee Brooks’ Instagram, you’ll find that her sketchbook is full of delicate drawings with a retro sensibility. In particular, I’m fond of the illustrative ladies who don vintage hairstyles and fashions. Created with a light hand,…
Earlier this fall, Anja Sušanj shared a series called City, based on a book by Alessandro Baricco. The text influenced her greatly through the years, and was part of the inspiration for these drawings. “City is also the name of…
We all have our own ways of achieving ~zen~, and for me, it’s witnessing the beauty of grandiose natural landscapes. The vast, seemingly never-ending horizon reminds me of just how big the world is, dwarfing whatever worries occupy my brain.…
Sometimes, it’s the most simple approach that makes the biggest impact. Edda Gimnes, aka EDDA, has created a line of clothing that combines the energy and spontaneity of a pencil sketch with avant-garde fashion. They’re drawings brought to life! Edda produced this…
Last fall, illustrator Rose Wong had a show called Consider Death at Grumpy Bert in Brooklyn. The works included are poignant and beautiful in their simplicity —Rose mixes bold floral elements with geometric forms, inserting a contemplative figure among them. This character, devoid…
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—I love a good pencil drawing. There’s something so satisfying about seeing a collection of marks. It looks very meditative, and even therapeutic? Italian illustrator Monica Barengo incorporates this style of drawing…
Normally, I gravitate towards illustrations that are full of color. But today, I find myself attracted to the line drawings of Ryn Frank. They’re beautiful in their simplicity, consisting of mostly thin outlines with a few filled areas. This style lends itself well…
Not every artist can make their sketches appear like finished works, and vice versa — not every finished piece can have the qualities of a sketch. Mathilde Vangheluwe is an illustrator who rides this fine line, and she colors her drawings…