Illustration

February 11, 2024

Artist Spent Three Years Drawing Map of the World with 1,642 Animals

Do you know which species of animals are indigenous to your area? Artist Anton Thomas has created a pictorial map that is both educational and stunning to look at. Titled Wild World, this large-scale piece is hand-drawn in colored pencil and pen, requiring three years to complete from start to finish. From American bison to the kangaroos of Australia, this map features 1,642 animals across all seven continents, and the oceans that separate them.

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November 22, 2023

Beautiful 19th-Century Illustrations of Every Known Hummingbird Species in One Dynamic Poster

Before photography, it was up to illustrators to accurately record plants and animals. In the 19th century, artist John Gould set out to capture all of the known species of hummingbirds at the time, which meant traveling to different continents to observe their appearances. Ultimately, these efforts culminated in A Monograph of the Trochilidæ, or Family of Humming-Birds, a five volume series of 360 hand-colored lithographic plates.

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August 15, 2023

City of Toronto Helps Artist Find Sentimental Sketchbook He Worked on for 10 Years

For many artists, sketchbooks are important tools to document their ideas and creative progress. Toronto-based artist Dmitry Bondarenko kept a hard-wearing journal for 10 years, using it to illustrate trips back home to Russia and practice painting in gouache and acrylic, among other things. That is why, when he noticed it missing after his bike ride, he was rightly devastated.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.