Small Fish, Bad AI and Naive Drawings
5 things from the studio this week
Hey! Hope your week has been awesome. Here’s some of what’s happened in my studio these past 7 days.
1. SOME ART MAKING
Worked a doodle from last month into a full color illustration. I was reminded (again!) that details matter and help tell the story.
When I used to fish and then helped kids fish, the experience always involved tangled fishing line.
I’d be both annoyed at the size of the fish and kind of saddened that a little guy was caught after just looking for a bite.
The fish here is duly unhappy as well. No one wins.
Seaweed always gets caught on the pole like some slimy add-on no one asked for.
Not entirely sure the orange/yellow skin works or the hair treatment — but as always, lessons are learned.
2. WORK WISDOM
Draw like a beginner on purpose as it will reveal instincts hidden by skill.
— Illustrator
(From Creative Paradoxes)
I’ve often repeated something like “I want to work looser, messier” or “to not care as much” but I think this gets at the truth behind it better. What I’ve wanted is to do is to turn the dependency on skill dial down and turn the “me” dial up. Sometimes this is more naive, like something I’d drawn pre-art classes as a kid.
I spent over 15 years as a graphic designer so I’m kind of drawn to the simplicity of shapes and base objects conveying more than complex images. I’ve been chasing this down in my illustration work for many, many years now. I’ve even considered sabotaging my process in an effort to get at it.1
3. THING I LOVED
Substack has been really capturing my attention lately, especially in the kidlit corner of things.2 This post from author
about the care and love put into the books we made for kids and how AI will fail to deliver for them is a really lovely read.That kids will know, on some mysterious level, that the book was made by people who believe kids are the most important readers of all. That they’ll know we worked so hard on this book because they deserve the very best we have to offer.
All that caring? That’s something an AI-generated book will never have.
I not only agree, I think it’s impossible to make great art (the best books for kids are) for humans by removing humans from the equation. Humans that care is the children’s publishing secret sauce and I’m here for it.
4. A BOOK TO READ
One of the coolest things that happened on twitter before it became X, was a meaningful connection and then friendship with author Antwan Eddy. I came across his account just before Nigel and The Moon (illustrated by the amazing Gracey Zhang) came out. It blew up. His writing is the embodiment of my Mom’s saying, often quoted around here: If you speak with your heart, people will hear with theirs.
The Gathering Table is gorgeously illustrated by fellow Syracuse alum,
. Kirkus said this about it in it’s starred review:Eady’s words often emphasize the connections between humans and the natural world around them, while Ladd’s deeply saturated mixed-media illustrations portray a lush, verdant Lowcountry summer and wring joy from simple yet meaningful moments.
Congrats to them both on an absolutely beautiful book.
5. EPHEMERA, ETC.
This week I sent out my first Drawing a Blank Wednesday deep dive to paid subscribers. It’s part one of a two-part series on the lessons learned selling JUST JELLY to a big 5 publisher last summer.
The change to my Substackin’ announced last week has gone into effect and so far it’s been perfect. To remind everyone of what things look like going forward:
A “5 things from the studio” post every Friday, free to all subscribers. It’s a round up of things I’ve made, things that caught my attention, and little snippets of creative wisdom worth sharing.
A Bi-weekly (every other Wednesday) deep dive into something I’m passionate about from my creative kidlit journey for paid subscribers. They also get a key to the archives and everything I’ve written here for the past 2 years, group video portfolio/work reviews, discounts on special projects, and a chance to connect from time to time.
To celebrate, I’m offering 20% off a yearly subscription. That’s 20% off of a lot of wisdom silly stories and bad analogies!
See you next week!
Best,
Jacob
Meanwhile 14 year old me would have sawed off my own limb to draw Spider-man in perspective.
AND YES - I one billion percent loved
’s latest. It’s funny (per usual) and thought provoking (per usual):
AI will never replace the books that you and I want to make. However, it will replace the 80% of children's publishing that already exists as branded content, cheap concepts, and work-for-hire sequels and knockoffs. Most of the books that publishers publish and sell are already garbage; just that they're (sort of) garbage made by people: young illustrators working for peanuts to get their feet in the door, old farts who can use the quick income, and so on.
Also, the hair and skin color look fine to me!
Thanks for the quote! The two devils battling in my brain are always Authenticity and Performance.