🎨 Sketching Meaning

The Quiet Power of Art and Illustration

Welcome,

and thank you for joining me on this first day of August.

In a world overrun by algorithms and notifications, does art remain one of the last frontiers of unfiltered human expression. Illustration, in particular, lives in that transitional space between fine art and communication—a visual language that speaks not just to our eyes but to the quieter parts of our minds.

Whether it's the editorial illustration in a column, a single-frame comic on social media, or the fluid storytelling of a graphic novel, illustration carries a kind of intimacy. It doesn’t shout for attention like much of the internet. It lingers. It invites.

The Line Between Art and Illustration

Art is often seen as a pursuit of the self, while illustration is seen as a service—art that carries a message, usually for someone else. But that’s a too tired binary description. The truth is, the best illustrators are artists at heart, and the best artworks often illustrate something deeply human, whether or not they were "commissioned."

Today’s illustrators are not just decorative agents—they are narrators, cultural critics, world-builders. They show scientific phenomena, evoke emotion, visualise data, and inject personality into branding. And more importantly, they shape how we feel about the stories we consume.

Why It Matters Now

Are we in a modern day visual renaissance? Thanks to platforms like Instagram, Behance, and even Substack, the illustration world has become more democratised and visible. You no longer need a gallery or a publisher to share your work; your audience is global, and immediate.

But with that accessibility comes saturation. What makes one image stand out in a scroll of hundreds? Increasingly, it’s not about how polished something looks, but whether it feels alive. I feel audiences are hungry for authenticity—styles that feel handmade, personal, imperfect. There's a return to texture, sketchy lines, analog methods, and narrative depth.

Making and Meaning

If you’re an artist or illustrator reading this, you might be wondering: Does this matter? Does my work mean anything in the noise? The answer is yes—but not because it has to "go viral" or be commercially successful. It matters because every illustration is a chance to slow someone down. To shift a mood. To make a metaphor visible.

And if you’re not an illustrator, but someone who appreciates the visual—keep looking. Keep supporting. The more we engage with art that’s personal and crafted, the more room we make for voices that aren't just algorithmic responses.

Let’s draw a little meaning together.