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30 Funny And Relatable Simplistic Illustrations With Insightful Humor By This Artist
Interview With Artist
Though good-looking details and sharp aesthetics are a plus for illustrations, not having them can be a good thing too. Simplicity in illustration helps to express the idea without any unnecessary distractions or needless clutter and helps us focus on the main message more than the flashy details.
Enter Liana Finck, who's a master of this style of simplistic illustration. When you look at it, you might think "hey, I could've drawn that!" and you're probably right, but it doesn't subtract from the fact that they're very relatable, insightful, funny, quite original, and explore much deeper themes than the illustration might initially suggest. Without further ado, enjoy!
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The artist has given an exclusive interview to Bored Panda, and told us more about herself:
"I️ grew up in Orange County, NY, in a curved modernist house my mom designed (she’s an artist who had been an architect before moving to the country to marry my dad, who had a medical practice nearby). I️ have a younger brother named Gideon. We always had a dog. I️ went to small Jewish schools without much in the way of art classes, so my very specific training all came from my mom until I️ started preparing a portfolio to apply for art colleges. I️ went to Cooper Union, which was both delightfully quirky and cruelly snobby. I️ loved the humanities classes. I️ survived the judgment of art school by wanting to be a writer, not an artist."
She told us more about her history of creating illustrations and her style as well:
"I’ve been drawing all my life. I️ never knew, growing up, that there was a difference between cartoons and fine art, and I️ pretend I️ still don’t know that there is.
I️ never had a style that felt natural to me until I️ got angry at an ex-boyfriend when I️ was 28 or so and started drawing mean parodies of him, which I️ photographed with my phone camera and put on Instagram. Taking pictures of my drawings instead of scanning them was a revelation. I like to draw very small, and in the margins of other things—and I’d never considered these drawings to be things I️ could show the world before. I cramp up when I️ try to draw more professionally. I️ use the defunct version of the muji .38 gel pen. I️ hope it comes back before I️ run out."
As for her motivations on why she's creating them, the artist named two key motivators: "My Instagram drawings mostly come from fear and anger about things I’m supposed to suppress and sweep under the rug: the horrors of dating, terror of crowds. My New Yorker cartoons are less angry and personal than my Instagram cartoons. They’re more absurdist and observational. I like to come up with ideas for New Yorker cartoons once a week, while riding a train. I spend another day or two turning the ideas into drawings. And my graphic novels come from such a layered and convoluted place I️ couldn’t begin to describe it, even to myself."
Liana has also given a sneak peek into her creative process: "I️ spend about three days a week making New Yorker cartoons. I️ submit 7-10 each week. The rest of my time, I’m focused on whatever big project I’m doing at the moment: working on a book or (lately) a screenplay. There are a lot of side projects that also take time: I️ teach a college class and sometimes have magazine or newspaper assignments or advertising work. My Instagram cartoons are my way of procrastinating. They come out of nowhere, and I️ post them the second I️ make them."
This is very true, only in recent years have women been able to go from invisible to Business owner. But that is only with a lot of hard work (way more then men have to put in for the same job)
An co you may think being sexually harassed is an advantage but there are men and women out there who would totally disagree. This is the second comment of yours that I've read in BP. Please, if you don't have a valid point don't say anything. You may think you're coming across as clever when in fact you are making yourself sound silly.
There are no advantages to being sexually harassed. Nobody wants to be harassed, nobody asks for it, and it's a horrible and violating experience. Men have struggles too, and their mental health is important, but this post wasn't about that. Please don't invalidate what women go through to shine a light on what men go through.
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"Saul Steinberg and Roz Chast have been my very favorite cartoonists since I was a tween. As for the art in general, I think my favorite is the funny and angry Louise Bourgeois. I️ go to The Met once a week and spend most of my time with African, Native American, Asian and Islamic art. My favorite art is emotional and expressive and tells a story of some kind. I️ particularly love art from a long time ago: it affirms for me that creating things is a deep human need that has been with us from the beginning and will never go away. I️ also go to the Frank Lloyd Wright room every time I️ go to the Met. It reminds me of the house I️ grew up in. I️ wish I️ could sit in the chairs and draw."
Boundaries are healthy and useful. Setting them help us know who to be around.
Ms. Finck shared what she hopes to do in the future. "I️ hope I️ can keep making a living doing what I️ do. It’s not something I️ take the least bit for granted. I’m about to have a baby. I️ have no idea how things will change for me after that, but supporting my family from my cartooning work is my main goal. I️ have a few books out. My latest graphic novel is called Passing for Human, and my collection of Instagram cartoons is called Excuse Me. I’ll have another graphic novel, Let There Be Light, out in early 2022."
And if you want to become like her someday, she's given a solid piece of advice for future illustration artists: "Don’t try too hard to be professional. It’s all about communication, saying something you want to say. It’s not about aesthetics. Advice #2: you will need to learn to roll with the punches: periods of failure, being ignored, etc. This will never go away. But you will get better at coping with it. And the successes are always nice."
It’s some type of brain malfunction, when you’re trying to people-please. I hate doing this!
If someone offered me a Gucci handbag or a week of these three things, I would choose these three things. Hands down
LITERALLY these are the only two options, bitch or doormat. People won’t let us be assertive or aggressive without it being seen as mean or bitchy. Or just get taken advantage of. I’m pretty hardcore in general and I can still see people trying to take advantage of my kindness. It’s shitty.
Not as weird as it looks, since you've spent the first time bracket acquiring a bunch of skills that you will now put to excellent use.
There should be more red dots here. Most people are awful and good in equal measure.
Literally me yesterday with my partner. It sucks. I always say things I should not have trusted others to know.
Note: this post originally had 100 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
One of the best artist illustration post I’ve seen on here. Very relatable!
wow, i really enjoyed these! ironically, the only post not marketed as "relatable" is the one i find most relatable
Re title: 'simplistic' doesn't mean the same as 'simple'. In fact, in this context, it's kind of an insult.
Wonderful. Such important issues, so simply and clearly stated. Genius.
One of the best artist illustration post I’ve seen on here. Very relatable!
wow, i really enjoyed these! ironically, the only post not marketed as "relatable" is the one i find most relatable
Re title: 'simplistic' doesn't mean the same as 'simple'. In fact, in this context, it's kind of an insult.
Wonderful. Such important issues, so simply and clearly stated. Genius.
