The hottest Art & Illustration Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Art & Illustration Topics

Painting with Grains of Sand

Animation Obsessive β€’ 2152 implied HN points β€’ 08 Aug 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Techniques Artists Adaptations
  1. Caroline Leaf changed animation with her unique style, focusing on painting with sand instead of traditional cartoon methods. Her creativity has inspired many other animators since the 1970s.
  2. Her work, especially 'The Metamorphosis of Mr. Samsa,' was highly praised and showcased her poetic storytelling through visual art. It's considered a significant piece in the animation field.
  3. Many famous animators, including Kihachiro Kawamoto, regard Leaf's work as influential and beautiful, showing her lasting impact on animation culture.

Beautiful Monsters

Seven Senses β€’ 559 implied HN points β€’ 29 Jun 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Theory Morality Censorship Cultural critique
  1. It's tough to separate an artist's bad behavior from their art. Many people wonder if enjoying a piece of art makes them part of the artist's wrong actions.
  2. Our choices in what art we support reflect our values. Boycotting artists and products can feel empowering, but true change often requires focusing on the larger systems that let harmful actions happen.
  3. It's important to recognize that artists might be both good and bad, like 'beautiful monsters'. This complexity challenges us to think deeply about our feelings towards their work and our own behavior.

A Weekend of New Animation

Animation Obsessive β€’ 8252 implied HN points β€’ 02 Dec 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Storytelling Cinematography Visual Arts
  1. The London International Animation Festival (LIAF) showcased many interesting animation films from around the world, featuring unique styles and stories.
  2. Some standout films included 'Adios', which explores a father-son relationship in a beautifully crafted stop-motion style, and 'The Girl with the Occupied Eyes', which creatively addresses modern issues using vibrant animation.
  3. There is a notable trend of children's films at festivals tackling serious themes, suggesting that animations for kids can also tell meaningful and thoughtful stories.

Frost Flowers

Sarah Kendzior’s Newsletter β€’ 5231 implied HN points β€’ 12 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Nature History Memoir
  1. Visiting Mooner's Hollow in Missouri offers a mix of historical exploration and natural beauty.
  2. The complexity of the situation in Gaza highlights the importance of distinguishing between people and governments.
  3. The symbolism of frost flowers in Mooner's Hollow serves as a reminder of the delicate yet powerful forces at play in life.
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A Burning City

Animation Obsessive β€’ 8521 implied HN points β€’ 18 Nov 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Manga Illustration
  1. Katsuhiro Otomo's short film 'Combustible' showcases his unique storytelling style, featuring a deep emotional core and a focus on the Edo period in Japan. It's a departure from his earlier work like 'Akira', emphasizing a personal and experimental approach.
  2. The animation in 'Combustible' combines traditional art styles with modern technology, allowing for intricate designs and details that highlight the beauty of the Edo era. Otomo aimed for a blend of history and contemporary techniques.
  3. Despite its compelling qualities, 'Combustible' remains relatively obscure compared to Otomo's more famous works. Nonetheless, it proves that he is a versatile director with a wide range of creative capabilities beyond just 'Akira'.

AI Art Turing Test

Astral Codex Ten β€’ 10048 implied HN points β€’ 14 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Digital Art AI Art Visual Culture Art Criticism Interactive art
  1. There's an AI Art Turing Test happening, which is a fun way to see if you can tell the difference between AI-generated art and human-made art.
  2. Participants can take part by filling out a form, which takes about twenty minutes, and the results will be shared the following week.
  3. Don't peek at the comments until you're done with the test, as they might give away answers.

Day 14. Fun Lesson: HOW TO HAVE FUN... DRAWING (Closed Eyes, Alternate Hand)

DrawTogether with WendyMac β€’ 2928 implied HN points β€’ 14 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Drawing Community Creativity Lessons Challenges
  1. Day Drawing Habit involves fun drawing lessons with no tests or rules, encouraging experimentation and new perspectives.
  2. Drawing should be fun, and to keep it that way, focus on playfulness, connection, and flow while letting go of perfectionism and judgement.
  3. Having fun while drawing helps retrain the brain to focus on positive things, promotes wellbeing, and can replace the urge to seek entertainment on social media.

Kurt Cobain's Spiral Notebooks

Noted β€’ 5051 implied HN points β€’ 17 Apr 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Music Biography
  1. Kurt Cobain left behind spiral notebooks with personal thoughts and writings.
  2. Jillian Hess's newsletter, Noted, was featured on Substack Reads and gained new subscribers.
  3. Readers can access more content by subscribing to Noted with a 7-day free trial.

The Great (im)Balance

Endless Explorations β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 27 Sep 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Design Creativity Illustration Self-Expression Art Theory
  1. Everyone has a logical side and an intuitive side. The logical side helps us stay on track, while the intuitive side can inspire creativity and lead to new ideas.
  2. Balancing logic and intuition is important for personal growth. We often suppress our creative side, but letting it express itself can lead to amazing results.
  3. Everyone has an inner voice that deserves to be heard. Listening to this voice and nurturing our creativity can unlock opportunities for more fulfilling experiences.

Animating Out of Spite

Animation Obsessive β€’ 8700 implied HN points β€’ 21 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Cultural Commentary Visual Arts Media History
  1. Fyodor Khitruk created a 50-second animated film called Othello-67 as a response to a contest requirement that frustrated him. It humorously condenses Shakespeare's play into a fast-paced experience.
  2. The film critiques the idea of simplifying complex art into quick bites, showing that lots of meaning can still fit into a short time frame.
  3. Despite being a small part of Khitruk's body of work, Othello-67 stands out for its creativity and humor, proving that even short animations can leave a lasting impact.

Animating in Present Tense

Animation Obsessive β€’ 7355 implied HN points β€’ 25 Nov 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Visual art Film Music Cultural Commentary
  1. Sasha Svirsky is a self-taught animator who values improvisation over traditional rules. He creates unique animations by following his feelings, resulting in lively and often chaotic films.
  2. His work touches on important themes like oppression and the impact of war, often reflecting real-world events. Svirsky's art resonates deeply with viewers and highlights pressing issues.
  3. In animation news, the European co-production system continues to produce noteworthy films, such as 'Kensuke’s Kingdom,' which is a nostalgic adventure tale with a memorable score that emphasizes emotional storytelling.

Some Cartoons I've Drawn

Caitlin’s Newsletter β€’ 2156 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jul 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Comics Illustration Cartoons Visual art Satire
  1. The creator is exploring one-panel comics using pen and watercolor. It's a fun way to express creativity and share humor.
  2. One comic pokes fun at a social media post about a deceased Israeli soldier, critiquing how some people use such moments to gain support for a cause.
  3. There's a commentary on how some supporters of Israel sexualize female soldiers to attract attention, which the creator finds odd and worth laughing about.

Day 24. Visual Storytelling: SINGLE WORD STORIES

DrawTogether with WendyMac β€’ 2417 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual storytelling Drawing Creative Process
  1. Visual storytelling can be based on chance, creating unexpected and fun stories.
  2. Constraints in art, like using chance, can help spark creativity and collaboration with the universe.
  3. Examples like Ellsworth Kelly and Carson Ellis show how limitations and chance can lead to unique and captivating art.

My heart almost stood still

Letters of Note β€’ 2220 implied HN points β€’ 02 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Biography Music
  1. Helen Keller expressed gratitude to the New York Symphony Orchestra for the joy of 'hearing' Beethoven's Ninth Symphony through touch
  2. Keller described feeling vibrations and rhythms from different instruments, recognizing voices, and being enraptured by the music
  3. The letter showcases Keller's deep appreciation for music and the beauty and majesty she perceived through touch

Day 28. DRAWN JOURNALING

DrawTogether with WendyMac β€’ 2240 implied HN points β€’ 28 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Drawing Visual storytelling Artist Features
  1. Feedback and reflection are important for growth and improvement in creative practices.
  2. Drawn journaling is a practice that combines images and words to reflect on daily experiences or document them.
  3. Examples from artists like Maira Kalman, Raymond Pettibon, and Janice Lowry provide inspiration for experimenting with drawn journaling.

Death is the Mother of Beauty

Cosmographia β€’ 1837 implied HN points β€’ 21 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art
  1. The post discusses the concept that 'Death is the Mother of Beauty'. (Henry's quote 'Death is the mother of beauty' is intriguing and prompts reflection on the relationship between life's transient nature and its beauty.)
  2. The post is part of the 'Venus’ Notebook' series on Cosmographia. (The 'Venus' Notebook' series on Cosmographia explores various beautiful things and adds to the charm of the publication.)
  3. The content is for paid subscribers only. (This exclusive content is reserved for paid subscribers, indicating the value and depth of insights shared.)

Love

Cosmographia β€’ 1098 implied HN points β€’ 15 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Love Classic literature Quotes
  1. Love can be described in various forms through art, literature, and quotes. These expressions often capture the essence of deep emotions and connections.
  2. Famous writers and artists have beautifully conveyed the power and complexity of love through their work, offering insights into human relationships and sentiments.
  3. Love is portrayed as a force that transcends time and circumstance, exhibiting qualities of passion, devotion, and steadfastness.

No Viable Upgrade Path

The American Peasant β€’ 2235 implied HN points β€’ 11 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Craftsmanship Tools Woodworking Mentorship Quality
  1. Kale's story highlights the importance of having the right tools in woodworking that will last a lifetime without needing upgrades.
  2. Investing in high-quality, durable tools from the start can save time and money in the long run.
  3. Choosing tools based on functionality and quality over aesthetics or price can lead to better long-term satisfaction and efficiency in woodworking.

The Ring of Fire

Cosmographia β€’ 1697 implied HN points β€’ 25 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Poetry Literature Photography Cartography
  1. The post is titled 'The Ring of Fire' and is part of the Atlas' Notebook series on Cosmographia, focusing on art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography related to a specific place.
  2. The post is for paid subscribers only, indicating exclusive content for those who have subscribed.
  3. The author of the post is M. E. Rothwell, and it was published on February 25, 2024, with a link to their profile for further exploration.

The 1746 Rocque Map Of London... Now In Colour

Londonist: Time Machine β€’ 718 implied HN points β€’ 22 May 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps Color Cartography History London
  1. The 1746 Rocque Map of London is the first detailed map of the city, showcasing individual alleys, courts, and more in color.
  2. John Rocque used meticulous techniques for accuracy in his map, and aimed to record street names for detailed insight into 18th-century London.
  3. Adding color to the map helps reveal the complexity of land use, highlights water channels, and brings out details that were difficult to interpret in black and white.

Petra

Cosmographia β€’ 1557 implied HN points β€’ 03 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Literature Photography Cartography
  1. The post is part of the Atlas' Notebook series on Cosmographia, focusing on art, poetry, literature, cartography, and photography related to specific places.
  2. This post is for paid subscribers of Cosmographia, offering exclusive content for those who have subscribed.
  3. Samantha Childress, an American essayist living in Amman, Jordan, wrote a guest post featured in this publication.

Borobudur ꦕꦀ꧀ꦝꦢꦧꦫꦧꦸꦝꦸꦂ

Cosmographia β€’ 1198 implied HN points β€’ 01 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Literature Photography Cartography Verse
  1. Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple, remains a mystery in terms of its origins, being built with 1 million stones weighing 100kg each.
  2. The temple's construction in a Hindu area, far from Buddhist thought, and its sudden decline after completion add to the curiosity surrounding its purpose.
  3. Borobudur's significance goes beyond its structure, shedding light on the ancient Javanese society, their resources, and devotion to a peaceful philosophy.