The Dutch Uncle Journal is a considered study of illustration, design, and animation in practice, how they are conceived, commissioned and realised in the wider world.
This is where we share the thinking behind our latest projects and engage with the wider shifts shaping visual culture, from the resurgence of handmade texture to the ways art redefines the spaces we inhabit.
A considered collection of work and ideas from the front line of contemporary illustration.

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Brian Rea / Noma Bar / Satoshi Hashimoto / Javi Aznarez / Debora Szpilman / Simone Massoni / Ping Zhu / Klaus Kremmerz / Lucas Varela / Charlotte Trounce / Marc Majewski / Kustaa Saksi / Alessandro Gottardo (SHOUT) / YOCO / Hsiao-Ron Cheng / Jisu Choi / Graham Roumieu / Tavis Coburn / Joel Holland / Robert Nicol (MA RCA) / Clara Dupré / Marc Burckhardt / Aesthetic Apparatus / Jon Gray (Gray318) / Christian Montenegro / LAPRISAMATA / Gaku Nakagawa / Adam McCauley

Dutch Uncle 3/29/26 Dutch Uncle 3/29/26

The Art of The Long Read: Illustrated by Javi Aznarez for The Guardian

The Guardian Long Read Issue № 3, with creative direction by Chris Clarke, features cover illustrations by Javi Aznarez.

Printed on linen-embossed stock with fluorescent Pantones, the edition showcases premier talent including Justin Metz, Paul Blow, and Spencer Wilson. It is a definitive collection of contemporary craftsmanship in global editorial illustration.

Dutch Uncle 2/26/26 Dutch Uncle 2/26/26

The Art of the Elegant Outlaw: Javi Aznarez and the Lord of Barmbeck

In 1920s Hamburg, Julius Adolf Petersen—the "Lord of Barmbeck"—turned burglary into a high-fashion performance. For Stern Crime, artist Javi Aznarez illustrates this non-violent "Robin Hood" with a sharp "Ligne Claire" lens, revealing a tactical irony: the Lord was too vain to be invisible. By dressing for a gala to rob a stagecoach, Petersen proved that in the underworld, a spotlight is often more dangerous than a gun.

Daniel Chrichlow 1/25/26 Daniel Chrichlow 1/25/26

Why Regular Illustration Commissions Matter: Javi Aznarez x Mengya Magazine

Beyond the hunt for one-off commissions, Javi Aznarez’s monthly covers for Mengya Magazine demonstrate the power of the "visual column." Entering 2026, this partnership proves that repetition builds more than just a portfolio—it fosters the trust, speed, and creative freedom necessary to transform a magazine cover into a definitive cultural landmark.

Dutch Uncle 12/1/25 Dutch Uncle 12/1/25

Javi Aznarez and Nieves Publishing: The French Dispatch Covers

Javi Aznarez collaborates with Nieves Publishing on The French Dispatch Covers, a 2025 book collecting his illustrations for The French Dispatch movie.

Designed in a New Yorker-style format, the publication highlights Aznarez’s distinctive linework and colour, integral to Wes Anderson’s visual world and storytelling.

Dutch Uncle 11/29/25 Dutch Uncle 11/29/25

Clara Dupré for Internazionale Kids: A Simple Look at Love

Clara Dupré illustrates a feature for Internazionale Kids exploring the question “What is love?”. Through clear editorial storytelling, the piece presents love as something expressed through actions, care, and responsibility, helping young readers understand emotions in a calm, accessible way grounded in everyday experiences.

Dutch Uncle 11/27/25 Dutch Uncle 11/27/25

Javi Aznarez Turns Starmer and Reeves Into Budget Outlaws for The New Statesman

Javi Aznarez creates a dynamic cover for New Statesman depicting Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves as outlaws amid budget tensions. The illustration captures political urgency and economic debate, using bold editorial storytelling to reflect public reaction to Labour’s fiscal strategy and tax policies.

Dutch Uncle 11/25/25 Dutch Uncle 11/25/25

Lucas Varela : The Art of Polite Chaos in the FT

Lucas Varela creates editorial illustrations for Financial Times, accompanying Robert Shrimsley’s advice column. His work transforms everyday dilemmas into subtle, composed visuals, using quiet humour and minimal detail to reflect moments of tension, decision-making, and human behaviour alongside the column’s dry, observational tone.

Dutch Uncle 11/12/25 Dutch Uncle 11/12/25

Klaus Kremmerz Breathes New Life into French Cinema Classics in The Metrograph Magazine

Klaus Kremmerz creates evocative illustrations for Metrograph Magazine, reinterpreting classic French films such as L'Atalante and Hôtel du Nord. Designed by Matt Willey at Pentagram, the issue combines illustration and editorial design to revive the mood and storytelling of 1930s–40s cinema for contemporary audiences.

Dutch Uncle 9/16/25 Dutch Uncle 9/16/25

Lines and Vines: Debora Szpilman Illustrates the Wine World

Dutch Uncle 8/6/25 Dutch Uncle 8/6/25

A Buffet of Illustrated Wit: Why Lucas Varela is the Master of Satire

Dutch Uncle 7/31/25 Dutch Uncle 7/31/25

Javi Aznarez — Long Story Short — Illustrating cover art for Mengya Magazine

Dutch Uncle 6/30/25 Dutch Uncle 6/30/25

Debora Szpilman : Where Warm Meets Witty

Debora Szpilman brings tactile elegance and a "human trace" to global editorial giants like The New Yorker, The New York Times, and HBR. Defined by a painterly palette and quietly subversive wit, her hand-drawn authenticity transforms complex narratives—from wine culture to corporate strategy—into timeless, sophisticated visual stories.

Dutch Uncle 4/29/25 Dutch Uncle 4/29/25

Illustrated by Javi Aznarez: Boston Globe’s 2025 Guide to Greater Boston’s Top Spots to Live

Dutch Uncle 4/28/25 Dutch Uncle 4/28/25

Unstoppable Entrepreneurs: A Practical Guide to Diverse Entrepreneurial Paths

Dutch Uncle 12/5/24 Dutch Uncle 12/5/24

FT Weekend: Debora Szpilman’s Festive Illustrations Light Up The Holidays

Debora Szpilman’s captivating festive illustrations bring the FT Weekend Magazine festive guide to life, capturing the season’s magic with her signature warmth and humor. From tangled fairy lights to lavish cheese boards, her vibrant visuals anchor 24 ways to celebrate December, perfectly evoking the cozy, indulgent spirit of the holidays.