The hottest Illustration Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

The Yakverse Chronicles

Breaking Smart • 19 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. Volume 3 of the Art of Gig series, titled The Yakverse Chronicles, is now available for free online. You can read it at the Art of Gig website.
  2. The Yak Collective, inspired by these stories, has been running for five years and is a rewarding community project. If you're interested in contributing, you can join and show your interest.
  3. AI tools, like ChatGPT, were used to simplify the self-publishing process for the new volume. This makes it easier for authors to publish their work without complicated setups.

It's Kadigan Weather

Timeless & Timely • 176 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. The world of comics has its own unique rules and language.
  2. Cartoonist Mort Walker's book 'The Lexicon of Comicana' explores this special language.
  3. Walker's book not only names common items in comics but also reveals universal illustration techniques.

Z & Walker Behl: Storm the Capitol

Do Not Research • 39 implied HN points • 29 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. The 'Insurrection in a Box - The Big Edition' game by Z & Walker Behl transforms the hit game 'Storm the Capitol' into a life size sculptural installation.
  2. The game involves moving avatars around the Capitol Building to find items like senator hostages and AOC's shoes, with the objective of reaching Trump's helicopter first.
  3. Using art to explore image power and its impact on politics, social media, and global capitalism challenges us to envision a new future, united in questioning established institutions.
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Super Sundry, Vol. 3

Chartography • 157 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. Data visualization talks emphasize importance of narrative and visual elements in making impactful charts.
  2. Illustrators showcase intricate and detailed works of art depicting Earth's geography and historical maps.
  3. Exploration of unique historical maps reveals the fascinating intersection of design, geography, and data.

TITLES & Lucky The Golden Goose

SÖREN JOHN • 59 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Illustration
  1. Creating is often influenced by our childhood experiences and the encouragement we received from our parents. These memories help shape what we pursue as adults.
  2. New tools and AI models are changing how artists can create and monetize their work. They can now use their own styles to produce content and earn from it.
  3. There's a growing need for better ways to manage ownership and compensation for artists in the digital world. It's important for them to retain control over their creations and benefit financially from their work.

Creator Interview: Javi Martinez

Pizza Party • 56 implied HN points • 16 Jul 25
💥 Comics Illustration
  1. Javi thinks that every comic script is unique and his writing process adapts with each project. He used to write prose first but now enjoys storyboarding more.
  2. Having conversations about tough topics, like the connection between religion and politics, is really important. Javi believes we should listen and understand each other instead of just arguing.
  3. Art can be fun and doesn't always need a deep message. Sometimes, it's just about telling a silly story and enjoying creativity, like his parody on Evil Dead.

🦕 in pursuit of an angry-enough dinosaur

vrk loves paper • 119 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. Working for yourself can be really enjoyable and fulfilling, even if it's only been a short time. The freedom to set your own schedule can lead to a lot of excitement.
  2. Balancing social time can be trickier than expected. Meeting friends and networking is fun, but too many meetings can drain your social energy.
  3. Working on creative projects, like printers or art pieces, can be a great way to explore new ideas and keep yourself engaged while enjoying the process.

Processing: How David Small Illustrated and Wrote The Werewolf at Dusk

Counter Craft • 168 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. David Small creates art that shows big feelings and fears, often inspired by monster movies he loved as a kid. He relates to the giant creatures and uses them to express those feelings in his work.
  2. When deciding on colors and styles for his illustrations, he chooses what fits the mood of each story. For example, he picked bright colors for one story to match its lively vibe, while another used darker colors to create a more serious tone.
  3. Small emphasizes that in graphic novels, visuals are very important. Writers need to trust artists to bring their stories to life without over-directing them.

Welcome to The (Im)Posture

On Looking • 239 implied HN points • 05 Apr 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. The newsletter 'The (Im)Posture' aims to offer a critical space for illustrators to engage beyond common industry narratives and delve into the complexities of the field.
  2. The author emphasizes illustration as an expertise and a critical practice, encouraging questioning and reflection on topics like creativity, capitalism, and ethics.
  3. Unlike most newsletters, there is no extra content for paid subscribers; the focus is on creating valuable work without monetary barriers, with an option for readers to support if they find the content adds value.

Forté #8

SJF • 58 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. Discover new inspirations from music, animations, and books.
  2. Appreciate the value of mindfulness in reading at places like the British Library.
  3. Improve personal growth and writing skills by practicing the art of noticing small details in everyday life.

Something fun...

Sunday Letters • 219 implied HN points • 18 Jul 22
🕹 Technology Illustration
  1. Using DALL-E as a creative tool can really enhance storytelling. It helps generate images from ideas in a fun and quick way.
  2. Iterating on images rather than expecting a perfect result on the first try is key. It allows for creativity and collaboration between the user and the AI.
  3. Continuity in style matters when creating a series of images. Curation and refining outputs can help achieve a more consistent look.

Introducing Vittles Prints

Vittles • 84 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Illustration
  1. Vittles is launching six new art prints in a collaboration with two artists, Sing Yun Lee and Michaël Protin.
  2. The prints feature vibrant illustrations and photos related to food and culture, adding a unique visual element to the Vittles brand.
  3. These prints are available for purchase, and the team plans to expand their selection in the future.

Trying to Do Right: Part 2

Speak Up • 39 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Illustration
  1. Being homeless is not easy, especially with additional challenges like federal probation.
  2. Living on the streets exposes one to various hardships and dangers.
  3. Despite the difficulties, there are moments of support and solidarity found even within the homeless community.

Guest Post: Baale and Mugudu

The Story Birds • 39 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. The story of Baale and Mugudu is a cautionary Tulu folktale about a brother and sister who turned into fish, emphasizing the consequences of breaking promises.
  2. In Tulunad, festivals like Keddasa are celebrated to honor Mother Earth and mark the blooming season with festivities.
  3. The tale highlights the importance of honoring traditions and following certain rules to lead a healthy and prosperous life.

The Cat in the HatGPT

Data People Etc. • 124 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. The Cat in the HatGPT offers a unique perspective on the balance between excitement and responsibility.
  2. It highlights the clash between hype beasts who thrive on trends and cynics who resist change.
  3. Ultimately, the story prompts reflection on the influence of external pressures and the role of love in navigating the hype cycle.

Reviews

The Lifeboat • 91 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. The story features Illarion Illarionovich, a filmmaker facing criticism for his work.
  2. The conversation between Illarion and Vitya revolves around the essence of their film and the criticism they receive.
  3. The dialogue explores the contrast between artistic truth and audience preferences.

Illustrator's heartbreak BINGO

On Looking • 79 implied HN points • 06 May 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. Illustrators often face repetitive and heartbreaking interactions with clients, captured humorously in 'Illustrator's heartbreak BINGO'.
  2. The BINGO game showcases common messages sent to illustrators and encourages sharing experiences through social media.
  3. The initiative serves as a lighthearted way to address systemic issues in the illustration industry and connect with fellow professionals.

Who gets to define illustration ?

On Looking • 39 implied HN points • 09 Apr 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. Illustrators should define illustration, not let others limit their creative space
  2. Definitions have power, and it's important for illustrators to reclaim that power in defining their roles
  3. Historical definitions of artists and illustrators are inaccurate; illustrators encode complex meanings in their work

Illustrations for "The Expedition to Khiva" by Maksud Alikhanov-Avarsky

The Library of Alexandria Ultima • 8 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. The illustrations created by Maksud Alikhanov-Avarsky help bring to life his book, 'The Expedition to Khiva'. They provide a visual glimpse of the journey and the locations he experienced.
  2. These images were not included in the book itself, showcasing the unique nature of the collection of drawings.
  3. The book and the illustrations capture the historical journey from the Caspian Sea to Khiva, highlighting important sites and experiences along the way.

An Interview with Ian Fieggen, Shoelace Expert

Syntopikon • 11 HN points • 17 Apr 23
🪑 Design Illustration
  1. Ian Fieggen, known as 'Professor Shoelace,' has compiled extensive shoelace information in various formats for over two decades.
  2. Fieggen uses outdated tools like an old PC running Windows 8 and ancient graphics software to continue his work.
  3. Shoelaces, often underestimated, have led to creative solutions and improvements for different needs, like hiking or running.

A to Z of things

world spirit sock stack • 2 implied HN points • 03 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Illustration
  1. The author reflects on the lack of children's books they find exciting and wonders about children's taste.
  2. The author presents 'A to Z of things' as a way to introduce interesting concepts to children early on.
  3. The author humorously notes the child's fondness for a donkey in the book and encourages improving childhood experiences through curiosity.