The best drawings we've seen lately ✨

Most artists begin their creative journey by picking up a pencil. While some may ultimately choose another medium, others will spend a lifetime learning how to draw and honing their skills. My Modern Met regularly features talented draftspeople from across the globe, and we want to share some of the most impactful, beautiful, and overall best drawings we've seen lately. ​ DRAWING ILLUSION: CATFISH ILLUSTRATION BY ARIA Photo: Aria This is a mind-boggling catfish drawing by [Aria](. The self-taught Japanese artist is famous on social media for creating head-turning illustrations of animals and objects that look like they're about to pop off the page, and this work is no exception. Rendered completely in colored pencil, it captures the whiskery form of a catfish whose tail magically escapes the boundary of the paper. ​ DRAWING ON UNCONVENTIONAL PAPER: THE VATICAN GIRL BY ED FAIRBURN Photo: Ed Fairburn UK-based artist [Ed Fairburn](=) is no stranger to My Modern Met. His unconventional portraits, which are drawn on hand-picked maps from his collection, thoughtfully commemorate the connection between people and place. To do this, he blends the delicate planes of people's faces with the cartographical elements of the map, finding natural ways to merge the lines of rivers, mountains, and streets with the contours of someone's chin, eyes, and other facial features. ​ PASTEL PORTRAIT: BIG BLUE TOO BY SALLY EDMONDS Photo: Sally Edmonds Birdwatchers aren't the only ones drawn to the beauty of feathered creatures. Artist [Sally Edmonds]() became interested in birds as subjects when she began keeping them at her home in Australia and learned about their unique personalities and mannerisms. “Until you live with a bird, you don't realize how individual and complex they are,” Edmonds told My Modern Met. She translates her intimate understanding of birds into vibrant portraits, typically featuring close-ups of the bird's face, where Edmonds layers various pastel and colored pencil hues to replicate the luster of their feathers and alert eyes. ​ [See More of Our Favorite Drawings](=) ​ [Divider] ​ ​ ​ Drawing an elephant may seem like a gargantuan task, but follow these step-by-step instructions and you'll be on your way to a striking illustration in no time. ​[Learn How to Draw an African Elephant in 7 Simple Steps](​ [How to Draw an Elephant](​ ​ [Learn How to Draw an Elephant]( ​ [Divider] ​ ​ ​ ​ Sometimes called opaque watercolor, gouache is a popular water-based paint that is used by artists and designers. Its opacity, brilliance, and matte finish make it a favored choice for illustration work, including posters and comics. While you can buy these paints individually, the best way to immerse yourself in everything this medium has to offer is with a set. ​[11 Best Gouache Paints for Artists of Every Skill Level](​ [Gouache Paint Set](​ ​ [Shop Best Gouache Paint Sets]( ​ [Divider] ​ ​ ​ ​[Ilya Stallone](): 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. ​[Sim Sim](): France-based artist Sim Sim fills her sketchbooks with dreamy pastel and charcoal drawings. She captures the atmosphere of a moment in time by combining detailed faces with faded backdrops. ​ Margherita Cole Staff Writer and Illustrator Unsubscribe from the Drawing Club by [clicking here](). Want to share this email with a friend? [Here's a signup link.]( [Unsubscribe]( | 121 Evergreen Way, Lake Forest, CA 92630