Share Your Story: Help Me Explore the Illustrator’s Journey on Instagram
Are you a children’s book illustrator who uses Instagram to share your work, connect with others, or stay inspired?
I’d love to hear from you.
As part of my master’s thesis at KU Leuven, I’m exploring how Instagram is shaping the creative practices and professional identities of illustrators—how we show up, stay visible, and stay creatively fulfilled in a fast-moving digital world.
Whether you feel energized, overwhelmed, inspired—or all of the above, your voice and your experience matter deeply.
This short, anonymous survey (just 5 minutes!) is for you if:
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You're a children's book illustrator
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You use Instagram to share your art or connect with others
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You want to contribute to a meaningful study on creativity, visibility, and digital life
Thank you for helping shine a light on the real experiences of illustrators in the digital age.
Your story is part of a larger conversation—and I’m so grateful you’re willing to be part of it. 💛
What This Research Hopes to Explore with Fellow Illustrators
As children’s book illustrators, we’re often perceived as people who simply “draw cute things” or “make pretty pictures.” But we know our work carries weight. Our illustrations spark imagination, nurture empathy, and shape the emotional and visual literacy of future generations.
Yet, while our work is deeply meaningful, the realities of working as an illustrator today—especially in the digital age—are often misunderstood or overlooked.
This research is about us.
It’s about the invisible labor behind each post, each book, each brand we build online. It’s about the tightrope we walk between art and algorithm, joy and hustle, passion and platform.
Shedding Light on the People Behind the Pictures
We are visual storytellers, educators, small business owners, and cultural workers.
We blend art with learning, shaping how children make sense of themselves and the world around them.
We navigate the balance between our creative voice and the realities of working in both physical and digital spaces—whether through books, classrooms, online platforms, or broader media.
We advocate for representation, inclusion, and kindness through the words we bring to visuals.
This research stems from a belief that what happens behind the pictures matters too—not in how the artwork is made, but in what it means to be a children’s book illustrator in contemporary society. While there are many important aspects to explore, this project focuses on our relationship with digital platforms.
In a fast-paced and image-driven world, the digital space offers opportunities for connection and visibility—but it also brings challenges that affect our creative practices, wellbeing, and sense of community. This is one lens among many, and by exploring it, I hope to contribute to a broader understanding of our work and the cultural conditions that shape it.
What This Research Isn’t
This research won’t teach you how to hack the algorithm, grow your followers, or build a content strategy.
There are already plenty of resources for that.
Instead, this work explores something deeper:
How it feels to be an illustrator navigating these pressures.
What it means to stay true to your art while showing up online.
This is not a guidebook. It’s a mirror—reflecting the lived experiences of illustrators like you who balance creativity and survival in the digital age.
It’s a space for reflection, recognition, and redefining what it means to be a children’s book illustrator today.
How your identity, labor, and creative choices are shaped by a platform that rewards visibility—but rarely acknowledges the invisible work behind it.
Why These Conversations Are Important
We create visual stories that stick with children for life.
We build small worlds that teach big lessons.
And yes, we do it while also learning how to “beat the algorithm,” engage our audiences, and stay inspired.
This research is a reminder that our work matters—and so do we.
Our voices, our experiences, and the way we show up in this digital world deserve recognition, respect, and space to be understood.