The Journal

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

A Novel Approach: GRAY318 x Shakespeare & Company Bloomsbury Tote Bag

GRAY318 reinterprets the iconic Shakespeare and Company tote with bold pattern and hand-drawn typography. The Bloomsbury Bag transforms literary heritage into a functional object—part bookshop sign, part everyday companion—celebrating reading through design that’s both graphic and enduring.

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

Brian Rea exhibiting with CMay Gallery at KIAF Seoul

Brian Rea presents new paintings with CMay Gallery at Kiaf Seoul. Set within one of Asia’s leading art fairs, his work sits among an international mix of established and emerging voices, marking a confident expansion of his practice into large-scale contemporary painting.

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

Satoshi Hashimoto illustrating Swisspor’s World of Building Materials

Satoshi Hashimoto brings clarity and warmth to Swisspor’s technical world, transforming complex construction systems into engaging, human-centered visuals.

His illustrations guide readers through materials and processes with precision and personality—turning a functional catalog into a coherent, narrative-driven experience.

Daniel Chrichlow 8/3/25 Daniel Chrichlow 8/3/25

Brian Rea Draws Recovery into Focus at the New York Center for Living

Brian Rea collaborates with the New York Center for Living to translate recovery into clear, compassionate visuals. Through pared-down illustrations and animation, his work supports outreach and education, making complex paths around mental health and substance use feel more accessible, human, and quietly hopeful.

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

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

Dutch Uncle 7/30/25 Dutch Uncle 7/30/25

Charlotte Trounce: Stillness in Motion at Morgans Gallery

Charlotte Trounce presents new paintings at Morgans Gallery, where everyday scenes are distilled into quiet, luminous compositions. Her work balances clarity and sensitivity—transforming domestic moments and natural forms into images that feel still yet subtly alive with colour and presence.

Dutch Uncle 7/29/25 Dutch Uncle 7/29/25

New York illustrations by Simone Massoni for Airmail.News

Simone Massoni captures the spirit of New York City in a new series for Air Mail. His sharp, elegant illustrations distill the city’s character into confident lines and subtle wit—perfectly aligned with Airmail’s cosmopolitan tone and editorial sophistication.

Dutch Uncle 7/29/25 Dutch Uncle 7/29/25

The Garden According to Charlotte Mendelson – Illustrated by Clara  Dupré

Clara Dupré brings a sharp, botanical wit to Charlotte Mendelson’s gardening column in The Observer. Her illustrations echo the humour and drama of Mendelson’s writing—turning plants into characters and everyday garden mishaps into quietly surreal, visual punchlines.

Dutch Uncle 7/28/25 Dutch Uncle 7/28/25

Drawing Paradise: Illustrations by Yoco Nagamiya Give Four Seasons Maui a Makeover

Yoco Nagamiya transforms renovation into experience at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, using large-scale illustrations to turn construction barriers into serene, island-inspired installations. Her soft, hand-drawn visuals introduce a sense of place early—blending art, hospitality, and environment into a cohesive guest experience.

Dutch Uncle 7/22/25 Dutch Uncle 7/22/25

A Face in Two Movements: Noma Bar’s Cover illustration for The Instrumentalist

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.