Before photography, it was up to artists to document plants and animals in scientific illustrations. Poland-based artist Vitor Velez draws inspiration from this age-old practice in his series of mixed-media illustrations. Using a combination of colored pencils, pens, and watercolors, he captures a breadth of wildlife.

From foxes to whales, these drawings cover a variety of species. Velez traces his love for nature to his childhood, where he honed his skills by copying illustrations from encyclopedias. Now, he makes his own notes that border the colorful portraits of animals both large and small. His artistic handwriting flies across the page, sometimes merging with the drawings in an aesthetic that is all his own.

In addition to rendering the full body of these animals, Velez also makes smaller illustrations of the details, like eyes and pawprints, which demonstrate his keen observation.

“I draw parallels between my art and scientific illustration with regard to the level of attention to the level of detail and singular characteristics of each animal I paint, but I also pursue a personal interpretation beyond a mere realistic representation,” Velez tells My Modern Met. “Through my journey, I have learned that every single creature holds its own distinct beauty, and I find myself falling in love with every single one I spend time observing and sketching.”

You can learn how to purchase original art and keep up to date with Velez's newest projects by following his Instagram.

Poland-based artist Vitor Velez creates exquisite mixed-media illustrations.

He uses a combination of colored pencils, pens, and watercolors to capture different wildlife.

These drawings are paired with Velez's notes on these different species.

Velez's art echoes the tradition of scientific illustration and nature journaling.

Vitor Velez: Instagram 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Vitor Velez.

Related Articles:

Watercolor Paintings Blend Fantasy and Realism With Dazzling Details [Interview]

Artist Transforms Her Watercolor Paintings Into Moving Works of Art

Colorful Watercolor Paintings Capture the Mood and Energy of Cities Around the World

READ: Lyrical Illustrations Celebrate the Diversity of Wildlife and the Joy of Observation

Over the past few years, AI-generated art has risen in popularity and garnered controversy along the way. Some artists, however, are showing that there are many ways to incorporate this tool into their creative practice. Jenni Pasanen merges AI technology with her digital paintings to create surreal illustrations with an ethereal aesthetic.

With a background in design and animation, Pasanen has been painting digitally for about 15 years. The direction of art drastically changed when she discovered AI art two years ago. Since then, she has been exploring ways to seamlessly combine these two approaches into one cohesive work of art. “I always describe the process as a cake with layers. Adding a layer on top of one another, mixing the two together, and sometimes adding other elements like animation, photography, or 3D,” she tells My Modern Met.

Pasanen's unique illustrations look like visions from a dream. Faceless figures gracefully float in smoky, pastel-colored backgrounds and murky landscapes overlooked by cloud-like animals. “For me, inspiration comes from anywhere, from an AI-generated image to a distant memory or even a stick I saw on the street,” she continues. “That's because we build our own reality from our surroundings and experiences; our life is a story we tell ourselves and that's what we paint on the canvas.”

You can purchase prints of Pasanen's art via inPRNT, and keep up to date with the artist's latest work by following her Instagram.

Artist Jenni Pasanen creates surreal illustrations with an ethereal aesthetic.

She renders them by combining digital painting with AI art.

Pasanen merges these two approaches seamlessly, so it is hard to tell where one begins and the other ends.

This process results in fantastical images reminiscent of a dream.

Jenni Pasanen: Website | Instagram | inPRNT

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Jenni Pasanen.

Related Articles:

Artist Reimagines Celebrities as the Subjects of Classical Paintings

Contemporary Paintings Look Back at the Historic Titanic 110 Years After It Sank

Stunning Drip Paintings of Enigmatic Faces Emerging From Behind Colorful Veils

READ: Artist Fuses Her Paintings With AI-Generated Art in Unique Collaboration of Human and Computer

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

If there’s a secret to drawing, it’s that even the most challenging subjects can be broken down into simplified shapes. Doing this makes them easier to tackle, and you can build up your drawing to achieve incredible detail. Illustrator and My Modern Met contributing writer Margherita Cole knows this well; her delightful drawings showcase the power of shapes and how they are vehicles for expression. She wields their power in work often centered around comics and animal portraits.

Cole has shared her drawing expertise through many step-by-step tutorials right here on My Modern Met and in a book titled Cartooning Made Easy: Circle, Triangle, Square. Now, she’s doing it another way: in her class on My Modern Met Academy. Titled Drawing 101: Learn the Building Blocks of Sketching, she shares her favorite supplies, essential techniques, and how to draw three distinctly different subjects.

Drawing 101 will teach you how to see the inherent shapes in any subject, from a house plant to a ballet dancer. Then, you’ll get to see Cole work on each drawing and her decision-making along the way. This is one of the most valuable aspects of the class—seeing how an artist thinks as they work.

“I want students to feel like they have a better understanding of drawing tools and supplies,” Cole says, “and what they can do as well as basic techniques that can be applied to projects both small and large.”

Enroll in Drawing 101: Learn the Building Blocks of Sketching on My Modern Met Academy today, and scroll down to see more of Cole’s illustrations.

Illustrator Margherita Cole creates delightful drawings that showcase the power of shapes and how they are vehicles for expression.

She wields their power in work often centered around comics and animal portraits.

You can learn to draw like Cole when you enroll in her online class called Drawing 101: Learn the Building Blocks of Sketching on My Modern Met Academy.

Get a peek into her class here:

Margherita Cole: Website | Instagram

Related Articles:

8 Different Types of Drawing Styles You Can Try Right Now

Try Your Hand at Beautiful Lettering With These Drawing Supplies

100+ Drawing Ideas That Will Get You Sketching Right Now

READ: Learn How an Illustrator Transforms Basic Shapes Into Beautifully Detailed Drawings

Woodcuts stand out for their unique and striking aesthetic. As one of the oldest forms of printmaking, it has been used across different countries and even influenced the art of painters like Van Gogh and Monet. Tugboat Printshop carries on the tactile beauty of this medium by producing exquisitely detailed woodblock prints. Founded by artist Valerie Leuth, the Pittsburgh-based studio specializes in complex designs full of dreamy narratives.

Tugboat Printshop has been producing prints since 2006. The subject matter varies from dense landscapes to botanical designs and even architecture. Leuth finds inspiration for her art from many different aspects of life. “Sometimes inspiration comes from a breeze, a vantage, a flower, a scientific realization,” she explains to My Modern Met. “Sometimes it is a dream, or a story, a song, a rhythm, a pattern. Often it is the sky. I hunt for context, for joy, for meaning, for application in all I encounter. The visual language I have developed in the making of my prints serves to join and share the sentiments I cull from experiencing.”

Creating woodblocks is a time-consuming and meticulous process. But, this is part of the appeal to Leuth. After drawing the initial design, the next step is to carve it onto a block of wood; a procedure that can take a lot of time. “Though the process of making woodblock prints is lengthy, it suits my approach,” Leuth continues. “Each step requires its own complete skillset and a different action of the hand—drawing, carving, printing. When I am done drawing, I am ready for the action of carving. When done carving, I am eager to stand and roll ink, tear paper, to bustle around the press and shop.”

When it is time to transfer the carving onto paper, Leuth must prepare by applying ink to the woodblock in layers. “How ink is applied to the block, how paper is registered–all exceptionally important in the creation of a fine print,” she adds. “I do not use computers, I do everything by hand. The handmade nature of my work is important to me, and I give intention and care to every detail.” Clearly, Leuth's painstaking process pays off, as each print comes out vibrantly on the paper.

You can purchase prints via Tugboat Printshop's online store, and keep up to date with Leuth's latest projects by following her on Instagram.

Artist Valerie Leuth is the creative force behind Pittsburgh-based studio Tugboat Printshop.

She celebrates the beauty of traditional creative techniques in her portfolio of exquisite woodcuts.

Each of her pieces is made by hand, by meticulously carving designs into wood.

After preparing the block of wood, Leuth then sets to work on covering the engraving with layers of ink.

This prepares the woodcut for the printing process, in which Leuth presses a piece of paper to the design.

When done correctly, the design should transfer to the paper.

Tugboat Printshop: Website | Instagram | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Valerie Leuth | Tugboat Printshop.

Related Articles:

Who Was Albrecht Dürer? Learn About the Pioneering Northern Renaissance Printmaker

Vintage Posters of the Art Nouveau Movement From the Turn of the Century

What Is Printmaking? A Look at the History of Creating Art in Multiples

READ: Massive Woodcut Prints Are Dense Scenes Telling Dreamy Stories

Chicago-based artist Zoe Feast is a maker with  many talents. Although she’s best known for her playful fabric designs, the artist has recently decided to create her spirited motifs on a different medium. Her whimsical illustrations can now be found on slices of wood. The materials for this collection come from a habit restoration project, for which she and a team of volunteers cleared nonnative plants to return the land back to a prairie state. Feast gives these foraged pieces new life by etching delicate designs on their surface.

From densely packed botanical patterns to playful animal designs, these prints pair perfectly with the textured appearance of the wood. Although Feast doesn't normally work in this medium, she was inspired to do so after visiting her local library. “My local library has a maker’s center and I was inspired to do something with my patterns after seeing their laser etching machine. I get the wood from a local forest preserve where I volunteer,” Feast tells My Modern Met. “The wood is part of the material that we clear. The fact that I can use it to make beautiful objects is perfect.”

Each of the precise etchings originated as Feast's fabric patterns. “A lot of my inspiration comes from nature—the first fabric collection I have on Spoonflower—Prairie Beauty was directly inspired by the work I was doing with my habitat restoration team,” she adds. Perhaps as a result of this, the pairing of wood and repeating patterns seems like a match made in heaven, as each piece seems like it was made to be that way.

A selection of Feast's original etchings will go on auction on February 20,2023. You can purchase them via her website, and find Feast's fabric patterns on Spoonflower. Be sure to follow the artist on Instagram to keep up to date with her latest projects.

Artist Zoe Feast transfers her fabric patterns onto slices of wood.

She uses a laser etching machine to add intricate designs onto the surface of the wood.

Each one features artwork that is inspired by flora and fauna.

All of the etchings began as Feast's fabric designs.

Now, they are one with nature.

Zoe Feast: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Zoe Feast.

Related Articles:

Incredibly Realistic Wood Carvings Look Good Enough to Eat

Clever Combinations of Illustrations and Wood Carvings Create Extraordinary Miniature Cities

16th Century Gothic Boxwood Miniatures With Extremely Detailed Carvings

READ: Slices of Wood Etched With Whimsical Nature-Inspired Designs

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Want to try your hand at some lettering? Hand lettering is a great way to express yourself through written word. If it’s something on your creative bucket list, let Danison Fronda help you cross it off. He teaches an online course called Write Out Your Future: Hand Letter an Inspiring Phrase in which he shares the basics of hand lettering and how to cultivate your own style.

Fronda’s class is for complete beginners, making it easy to start your hand lettering journey. In the course, he begins by introducing the necessary tools before showing foundational strokes and practicing the alphabet. Fronda then demonstrates drawing letters and introduces you to your hand lettering project, which will have you inking the quote, “I am still learning,” from Michelangelo.

To successfully complete the course—and to continue your lettering beyond it—you’ll need the right supplies. You’ll want to draw on ultra-smooth paper designed for brush pens and markers, like Canson XL Marker Pads. Additionally, you’ll want tracing paper and a few pens in your stash. Start off with the Tombow Fudenosuke brush pen (hard tip) and look for Ecoline brush markers, Le Pen calligraphy pens, and Sakura Micron fineliner pens. A lightbox is also recommended (but not required) for transferring your sketches to your final project paper.

​​Grab your hand lettering supplies and enroll in Write Out Your Future: Hand Letter an Inspiring Phrase. It’s only available through My Modern Met Academy, our e-learning platform that will ignite your creativity. Know someone who would love this class as a gift? Give them a gift certificate to purchase this course.

Start your hand lettering journey when you enroll in Danison Fronda's online course called Write Out Your Future: Hand Letter an Inspiring Phrase.

For Fronda's class, make sure you have these items on hand:

Canson XL Marker Pads

Canson | $14.60

Strathmore 300 Series Tracing Paper

Strathmore | $6.22

Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen, Hard Tip

Tombow | $4.58

Micron Fineliner Pens (Set of 6)

Sakura | $10.95

Le Pen Calligraphy Pens (Set of 24)

Marvy Uchida | $31.99

Ecoline Watercolor Brush Markers (Set of 5)

Royal Talens | $14.59

Rechargable Light Box

LitEnergy | $19.98

Fronda’s class is for complete beginners, making it easy to start your hand lettering journey.

He’ll start by introducing you to your tools before showing foundational strokes and practicing the alphabet.

He’ll then demonstrate drawing letters and introduce you to your hand lettering project, which will have you inking the quote, “I am still learning.”

Get a peek into Write Out Your Future: Hand Letter an Inspiring Phrase class:

My Modern Met Academy: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok

Related Articles:

Learn How Hand Lettering Can Elevate Ordinary Text Into Extraordinary Art

11 Hand Lettering Tools to Help You Create Your Own Extraordinary Alphabet

Hand Lettering Artist Illustrates Empowering Phrases And Will Show You How

READ: Try Your Hand at Beautiful Lettering With These Drawing Supplies

Instead of relying on a brush and paint, James Cook creates art through the power of language. For several years, the UK-based artist has utilized his ever-growing collection of vintage typewriters to produce unique works of art composed entirely of letters and symbols found on the keyboard. Recently, he has applied this creative approach to translating some of art history's most famous paintings into whimsical typewriter art.

Like his other pieces—which range from detailed portraits to sweeping cityscapes—Cook uses a combination of characters to render the design. In the case of these history-inspired pieces, you can find words or phrases related to the individual piece. For instance, the reproduction of Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring features the words “pearl,” “earring,” and “girl,” repeated across the sheet of paper. While the legible speech makes up the background of the image, Cook will then incorporate a carefully-planned assortment of other symbols to render the shape of the head and the details of the face, and so on. Oftentimes, this means adding multiple layers of text to render a distinct contrast between dark and light, which in turn makes the piece more realistic.

Some of the other notable works from this series include one of Frida Kahlo‘s self-portraits and Grant Wood's masterpiece, American Gothic. Similar to the Girl with the Earring illustration, these pieces also include references to the title of the work and the artist through duplicative language. In the case of the Frida Kahlo work, Cook even incorporates red ink to enhance the design and honor the original painting. With so many thoughtful details, these striking illustrations are worth observing for a long time.

You can purchase limited edition prints and original artwork via Cook's online shop, and keep up to date with his latest projects by following the artist on Instagram.

UK-based artist James Cook uses vintage typewriters to create unique works of art.

Lately, he has used his process to recreate famous paintings, including Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer.

And one of Frida Kahlo's iconic self-portraits.

Each piece features a combination of letters and characters to bring the design to life.

Watch these videos for insight into Cook's creative process:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by James Cook Artwork (@jamescookartwork)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by James Cook Artwork (@jamescookartwork)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by James Cook Artwork (@jamescookartwork)

James Cook: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by James Cook.

Related Articles:

Vintage Typewriters Are Taken Apart and Reassembled Into Movable Bird Sculptures

This Rare Vintage Typewriter from the 1950s Lets You Type Sheet Music

Detailed Portraits Made with Only Text are Produced Using a Typewriter

READ: Artist Recreates Famous Paintings by Typing Them on Vintage Typewriters

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

While some use sketchbooks as a way to jot down quick ideas on the go, others like Mattias Adolfsson create full-fledged works of art. The Swedish artist is known for filling his many Moleskine notebooks with imaginative drawings of people, animals, buildings, and everything in between. These sprawling doodles showcase his ability to transform a blank page into a whimsical world.

Adolfsson begins each spread with his pen of choice, drawing first with ink (without an initial pencil sketch). While this seems challenging to some, Adolfsson has experience with starting with a simple doodle and then expanding it slowly as he continues to draw. By going with the flow, he is able to fulfill visions of entire cities, a cast of quirky characters, or simply detailed observations of certain items that pique his interest.

Amazingly, with as many doodles as Adolfsson has made, he continues to surprise his followers with completely new and original drawings. These immersive sketches showcase his various interests and highlight how he finds new ways of combining them with each new page. Additionally, his simple and charming style makes these works even more enjoyable to look at time and time again.

You can purchase prints and originals of Adolfsson's work via his Etsy shop, and keep up to date with his latest creations by following him on Instagram.

Swedish artist Mattias Adolfsson fills his sketchbook with whimsical drawings.

He fills each page spread in his Moleskin notebooks with sprawling doodles.

These numerous doodles range from quirky characters to animals to cartoonlike places.

Mattias Adolfsson: Website | Etsy | Behance | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Mattias Adolfsson.

Related Articles:

Artist Fills Sketchbooks With Pencil Drawings of Old Hollywood and More

Artist Brings Sketchbook Pages to Life With Vibrant Paintings Captured en Plein Air

Artist Fills Her Sketchbooks With Fantasy Worlds You’ll Want to Live In

READ: Artist Fills Sketchbooks With Charming Doodles That Sprawl Across Each Page

When you mention the likes of McDonald's, Twitter, and Amazon, the logos of these brands immediately come to mind. Artist Ilya Stallone continues to explore the power of these world-famous symbols by reimagining their designs in a creative new way. Inspired by the distinct style of Medieval art, he redraws different logos so they could easily be placed in manuscripts from the Middle Ages.

Stallone channels the aesthetics of centuries ago for each of these quirky illustrations, which often means leaning into a macabre sense of humor. In the case of McDonald's iconic “M,” for instance, there is a decapitated clown head throwing up two arches of yellow liquid. Similarly, the Mercedes three-point star is remade with a figure tied to a torture wheel. Some of the redraws are a little more light-hearted however. Spotify's three bars are replaced with a selection of old instruments, and Rolex's crown sits atop a frog as a reference to the fairytale.

Although these illustrations are made digitally, they possess a similar feeling to a drawing made on old parchment paper. Stallone maintains this vintage feel by using thick black lines around the subjects, and placing each logo against an old paper-like background. And in case the new motifs aren't clear, Stallone usually adds the name of the brand in a Medieval font to complete the effect.

You can keep up to date with Stallone's latest work by following him on Instagram and Twitter.

Artist Ilya Stallone reimagines famous brand logos in a completely new way.

He redraws logos from Facebook, Mcdonald's, Spotify, and more in the style of Medieval illustrations.

Even though they differ from their contemporary counterparts, they are still almost instantly recognizable.

These quirky illustrations bring a humorous interpretation to the symbols we commonly see today.

Ilya Stallone: Instagram | Twitter 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Ilya Stallone.

Related Articles:

Artist Reimagines What the Logos of Brands Boycotting Russia Would Say

Graphic Designer Transforms 36 Famous Logos Into Holographic Chrome Icons

Designer Reveals the Fonts Used in the Logos of the World’s Biggest Brands

READ: Famous Brand Logos Are Reimagined as Medieval Art Illustrations

Opening an artist's sketchbook reveals a lot about their aesthetics and personal vision. For France-based artist Sim Sim, her small hard-cover sketchbooks contain romantic portraits of figures in urban settings. Using pastel and sometimes charcoal, she softly blends colors and different shades to achieve a tender depiction of people living in a moment in time.

Each of these velvety illustrations encompasses an entire page of the sketchbook. In this way, Sim Sim creates an immersive window for the viewer to imagine themselves in the same environment. While the portraits of the individuals are placed in focus and rendered in a slightly more realistic manner, the backgrounds are conveyed through hazy lights and distorted shapes, similar to how these images would appear in a photograph.

Whether Sim Sim uses charcoal or pastel, her approach is similar, blending the chalky sticks on the page until she achieves the desired level of light and shadow. While many find the properties of these mediums challenging for their lack of precision, Sim Sim embraces this aspect by letting their depth enhance the mysterious ambiance of her compositions.

You can purchase original art via Sim Sim's online store, and keep up to date with her latest projects by following the artist on Instagram and Twitter.

France-based artist Sim Sim fills her sketchbooks with dreamy pastel and charcoal drawings.

These softly blended pieces depict figures in urban settings.

Sim Sim captures the atmosphere of a moment in time by combining detailed faces with faded backdrops.

Watch how she carefully creates her cinematic sketchbook drawings:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sim Sim (@sssimsim)

And flipping through her completed sketchbooks is like looking at a handheld art exhibit.

Recent drawings depicting the melancholy of the night pic.twitter.com/PPQDgkJ6Rh

— sim sim (@mec_au_fusain) January 7, 2023

Sim Sim: Website | Instagram | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Sim Sim.

Related Articles:

Exquisite Pastel Portraits Capture the Colorful Beauty of Different Birds

Artist Only Draws the Light Cast on Women in These Stunning Charcoal and Pastel Portraits

Elegant Oil Paintings Capture the Ethereal Beauty of Massive Pastel Flowers

READ: Artist Fills Sketchbooks With Dreamy Pastel Portraits