10 Instagram Illustrators to Follow

Science has proven two things that — whether you believe in science or not (I don’t know your life, Phoebe Buffay) — should be taken immediately to heart. The first: brain breaks are imperative to your mental health. They improve productivity, creativity, and alleviate burnout. The second: smiling ups endorphins and makes you happier, even if you’d rather be stabbing your gums with sharp Doritos. No I will not be citing my sources here; try both then feel free to endorse the “PhD” I’ve recently added to my title on LinkedIn.

Science is also (probably) close to proving that smart phones are killing us and Instagram is turning humanity into filter-obsessed sociopaths. However, we will likely not be letting go of our phones anytime soon. What we can do is control who we follow so that IG becomes a portal not just for fashion, FOMO, puppy pics and back-stalking exes, but also a palm pilot that transports us into a world of pure imagination.

(Willy Wonka pro tip: chocolate does that too.)

Enter 10 great illustrators to follow on Instagram. And if you’re wondering, “Why illustrators?,” Derek Zoolander, it’s because a drawing cannot be falsely edited on Photoshop nor can it make you feel inferior about your lack of rustic table setting abilities.

Drawings — the ones by the above illustrators in particular — will simply make you smile while giving your brain a break. Two birds, one stone.

Click through the slideshow and acquaint yourself with the talents of KimballCreative, Cynthia Merhej, Maria-Ines Gul , Kate Worum, Abstract Sundays, Gabi Anderson, Habile Buston, Things Liz Wants, Travel Write Draw and Joana Avillez.

And then, in the comments below, tell us about your favorite illustrators to follow. We’ll consider it our midday meditation.

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There’s no chance you don’t already follow Donald Drawbertson, but have you seen our illustrated Orange Is the New Black character style fantasies? Or what about our Summer Wine Guide? Put those together and you could be a tipsy Netflix binge-watcher. If it’s been a rough week (it’s only Tuesday) and need some tequila in your life, we’ve also got bo$$ suggestions on margaritas.