The hottest Visual art Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Art & Illustration Topics

The Film That Should Be Nominated

Animation Obsessive • 21976 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Visual art
  1. Nobody is a low-budget Chinese 2D film that mixes traditional ink-wash aesthetics with cinematic realism to tell a funny, emotional story about ordinary ‘nobodies,’ and it connected deeply with Chinese audiences.
  2. Major Chinese animated hits like Nezha 2 and Nobody were absent from the Oscars shortlist, highlighting how submission and qualification choices — not just quality or popularity — shape awards visibility.
  3. Nobody’s success shows that small, culturally rooted, story-first animation can compete with big-budget spectacles, and the global animation scene is alive with diverse projects and teases from studios worldwide.

Oscar-Winning Storyboards

Animation Obsessive • 1614 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. The newsletter issue focuses on storyboarding, using case studies from Oscar-winning animated work across different years.
  2. The timing is tied to the Oscars, suggesting the awards season makes the topic especially relevant right now.
  3. The full article is behind a paywall and requires a subscription, but a 7-day free trial is offered and existing paid readers can sign in.

Ina Garten Portraits for the New Yorker

In the Flash • 1698 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. A photographer was advised to keep the shoot with Ina Garten simple and natural, avoiding anything unusual. This means sticking to natural light and straightforward setups.
  2. The photographer brought various tools for creativity but had to focus on a more minimalist approach as per the instructions.
  3. It's important in photography to balance creativity with the preferences of the subject or their team, ensuring everyone is comfortable.

New Emoji: Distorted Face 🫪

Did Someone Say Emoji? • 293 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. Distortion has long been an artistic tool for conveying deeper truths and emotions—artists from Da Vinci and Bacon to animators and SOPHIE warp faces to express what normal features can’t.
  2. Online distortion like fisheye selfies, .5 selfies, and deliberate filters acts as an emotional shorthand and a way to reclaim control over your image, signaling authenticity or resistance to airbrushed perfection.
  3. New emojis such as Distorted Face, Melting Face, and Dotted Line Face make internal tension and complex psychological states visible, giving us a shared visual language for feelings ordinary expressions can’t capture.

Drawing Eno

Austin Kleon • 1778 implied HN points • 23 Jul 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. The documentary about Brian Eno is exciting and unique because it creates a different version every time it's shown. This encourages viewers to watch it in theaters for a fresh experience.
  2. It uses a special system called Brain One to generate the film. This system combines new interviews and personal clips from Eno’s archive, making each showing feel like a new story.
  3. The movie has interesting marketing advantages. Since every version is different, it gives people a reason to see it on the big screen instead of waiting for it to stream.
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On Liberalism's Aesthetic

Kvetch • 219 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Visual art
  1. Liberalism lost its aesthetic when it stopped being a confident project and became a cautious set of neutral procedures, and that procedural neutrality discourages the judgments needed to produce beauty.
  2. In earlier periods liberalism expressed purpose through grand public works, art, and architecture, so reclaiming an aesthetic means actively building beautiful civic things again, not just managing pluralism.
  3. Aesthetic emptiness drives people away and fuels alternative movements, so the remedy is for liberalism to embrace taste and purpose, make affirmative judgments, and commission inspiring public projects.

Home

Patti Smith • 16234 implied HN points • 29 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. Patti Smith shares her morning routine and thoughts on being home
  2. She reflects on the current events happening globally
  3. There is a sense of comfort and familiarity in her own space with her books

A Time of Gifts

Patti Smith • 6387 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. The post is the final installment of a series called The New Jerusalem
  2. The author discusses responding to difficult times with art, music, poetry, theater, dance, and film
  3. Patti Smith expresses appreciation for the engagement and shares an image of a youth with birds

My favorite artist

Austin Kleon • 4036 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. Many artists believe that all kids are born artists because they naturally create and imagine. Staying artistic is about keeping that sense of wonder and creativity as we grow up.
  2. A personal story highlights the moment a child started drawing, showing that creativity can start at a young age. Encouragement from parents helps nurture this talent.
  3. The act of drawing and creating is a joyful and playful experience, often leading to spontaneous and fun discoveries in art.

The work of art

Austin Kleon • 2417 implied HN points • 30 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. Not being concerned about being liked can free up your creativity. It allows you to express yourself more freely without the pressure of pleasing others.
  2. Having a clear sense of taste is important in creative work. Knowing what you like helps you to articulate your preferences and make better choices.
  3. Editing is more than just correcting mistakes; it's about improving and refining your work. Great editors help you see what's missing and guide you to enhance your creation.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 87

Why is this interesting? • 361 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Visual art
  1. One artist, James Niehues, paints most of the world's ski maps and is celebrated for the artistic quality of his work.
  2. John Grisham and Stephen King spent an hour chatting and bantering together, giving a rare, informal conversation between two top writers.
  3. Boeing's Doomsday Plane reappeared after 51 years; it's built to survive nuclear events and was recently spotted about 25 minutes from the White House.

A Note of Gratitude to My Readers

Sarah Kendzior’s Newsletter • 6050 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. The newsletter is supported by paying subscribers who help keep the content accessible to all, without a paywall, allowing everyone to enjoy the material equally.
  2. Writing and reading serve as powerful tools during tough times, providing companionship, creativity, and a way to connect with oneself and others.
  3. The importance of free access to art and culture, as demonstrated by the St. Louis Art Museum's commitment to being free for all, supported by voluntary contributions and public funding.

Animating in Present Tense

Animation Obsessive • 7355 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  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 • 2156 implied HN points • 24 Jul 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  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.

Captioned photos (9)

Tao Lin • 439 implied HN points • 01 Jul 24
🎭️ Culture Visual art
  1. Cats are always a fun topic, and they often bring joy in different ways.
  2. John Hutchison has done some unique experiments with electromagnetic fields that people find fascinating.
  3. It can be interesting to explore personal items, like unusual tools, and their stories behind them.

sunday meanpool

bad cattitude • 90 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
😂 Humor Visual art
  1. Memes are presented as powerful tools for shaping culture and rallying people.
  2. Groups that create and share memes need standout figures or symbols to lead their story and give it direction.
  3. The tone is combative and preparatory, emphasizing readiness for cultural battles to come.

New Painting Video: Baby Killer Benny

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1243 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. There's a new painting video about Benjamin Netanyahu, where the creator discusses his recent comments on war crimes. It’s a creative way to engage in political commentary.
  2. The artist encourages viewers to watch the video on YouTube and offers various ways to support their work. They emphasize that all work is freely available for sharing and reuse.
  3. This newsletter is reader-supported, highlighting the importance of community backing for independent creators. It's a reminder that we can help keep such voices active.

On mistakes and masterpieces

lifeboat • 825 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. Mistakes in creative work can lead to new ideas and directions.
  2. Frustration from mistakes can spark new energy and boldness in creativity.
  3. Mistakes remind us that the creative process is collaborative and not solely driven by our intentions.

Phantom Muse

Seven Senses • 1258 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. Creative inspiration often feels like it's not from the artist, but rather comes through them. Many artists think of themselves as channels for a mysterious creative energy.
  2. Some artists, like Barbara Kingsolver and Hilma Af Klint, have connected with the spirits of past creators to gather inspiration. These experiences highlight the idea that creativity can link us to something greater.
  3. Our five senses, plus intuition, can help us connect with creative muses and the memories of loved ones. We can use rituals, art, and even food to honor these connections and explore our creativity.

A Nigerian Tale on the World Stage

Animation Obsessive • 4574 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. The animated film 'Moremi' tells a sci-fi version of the Nigerian Moremi Ajasoro tales, using a unique mix of 2D and 3D animation.
  2. Director Shofela Coker and art director Wian van Bergen collaborated to maintain a visually rich aesthetic, blending Nigerian motifs and traditional painting techniques into the film.
  3. The film's unique visual style was achieved through a custom compositing workflow, blending 3D characters with 2D backgrounds seamlessly, along with incorporating striking neon 2D special effects.

We're at 50 Pages

OK Doomer • 106 implied HN points • 20 Dec 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. The illustrated survival guide has reached 50 pages and is now a real, tangible project tackling practical topics to prepare for a changing world.
  2. The work is drawing excitement and support, with more positive updates promised soon.
  3. An overview and project link are available for people to read, share, and send ideas, and the team is pausing for a short trip before the next update.

Monoganimals

Seven Senses • 519 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. There's a new mini zine called 'Monoganimals' that features seven animals known for being monogamous. It's a fun way to learn about these unique animal relationships.
  2. The zine is hand-bound and illustrated, making it a special treat for subscribers. If you've provided your mailing address, you should receive it soon!
  3. There's also a creative workshop series happening, which you can join if interested. It's a chance to explore creativity with others, and recordings are available if you missed the previous sessions.

SUPER STURGEON MOON 2023

The Lunar Dispatch • 1100 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. Recently, there was a hearing about UFOs where officials confirmed secretive programs
  2. There was a simulation of receiving a message from aliens sent by media artist Daniela de Paulis
  3. Learning about people like Stanley Kubrick and John Lennon who had interesting encounters and beliefs related to aliens

Underground Auctioneer Classes

Opaque Hourglass • 199 implied HN points • 05 May 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. Learn to speak like a seasoned auctioneer at Mark Leidner's underground classes, where you can develop skills to speak eight times faster than average people.
  2. A limited-time deal offering an eight-week course for $399 instead of $699 is available, providing a $300 discount. This opportunity includes two meals a day and a blanket bundle.
  3. Joining the course promises a transformative experience in a unique setting, filled with dark beauty and secrets, all taught by Mark Leidner who delivers information quickly and clearly.

Spell

Microanimism • 99 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. The post discusses using old words and imagery to paint a vivid end-of-the-world scene.
  2. It hints at themes of connection and intimacy in a desolate setting.
  3. The writing style appears poetic and thought-provoking, prompting readers to engage with deeper meanings.

Posters and Merch Now Available!

50 Years of Text Games • 2888 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. Merchandise such as posters, t-shirts, and maps for classic text games are now available for purchase on Redbubble.
  2. A revised and expanded edition of Further Explorations, a companion to 50 Years of Text Games, will soon be released for standalone purchase, featuring extra material and content.
  3. The newsletter platform Substack has faced controversy for allowing the publishing of objectionable content, prompting authors like Aaron A. Reed to consider switching platforms in the future.

The third annual Elysian print volume is here

The Novelleist • 65 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. Elysian Volume III is a collection of one year of work, including essays and a series of letters about various important topics. It's made for collectors who subscribe at the Collector tier.
  2. The book has a unique cover designed by Patricia Faggi, symbolizing two paths: unity or collapse. This theme reflects the uncertainty of where society is headed.
  3. Each volume is designed to match and is filled with essays that cover governance, capitalism, the environment, and philosophy, providing a deep dive into contemporary issues.

no. 84: acts of cartography

let them eat cake • 199 implied HN points • 12 Apr 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. The term 'umarell' is used to describe retirees who stop in the street to watch construction, often asking questions and offering unwanted advice.
  2. Building a restaurant involves acts of cartography, rewriting mental maps, and spending a significant amount of time on a construction site.
  3. Engaging in 'umarelling' - observing and learning on site - can provide valuable knowledge and a deeper understanding that goes beyond what blueprints can offer.

In Media Res

Crow & Colophon • 139 implied HN points • 15 May 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. Abstract art can be bewildering and invoke a sense of wonder.
  2. Submit to TBLM's magazine by May 31, 2024, before reaching the submission cap.
  3. Photo-essays capture the essence of life through unique perspectives and storytelling.

A Mythsinger's Path

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 658 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art
  1. The video shared is about the work and legacy of Daniel Deardorff, a multifaceted artist and mythologist with a rich history of creative contributions.
  2. Daniel Deardorff's focus on embracing Otherness and his exploration of meaningful wounds in myths make his work stand out, offering a unique perspective on culture and community.
  3. The Mythsinger Legacy Project continues to carry forth Daniel Deardorff's work through various creative endeavors, preserving his unpublished works and vision.