A Fond Farewell to THEY DRAW
A message from Nate & Salli, siblings and co-founders
In 2010, we launched They Draw & Cook—a creative playground showcasing illustrators from around the world through illustrated recipes. A year later, They Draw & Travel followed, focusing on illustrated maps. Eventually, these projects came together under one roof as THEY DRAW, expanding to include garden illustration as well.
To every person who submitted work, left a comment, or simply spent time exploring the site—thank you. You helped build one of the largest online collections of community-generated illustration, and in doing so, connected illustrators with art directors, brands, and publications across the globe. Together, we also hosted contests, sparked collaborations, and helped grow interest in food, travel, and garden illustration.
Several months ago, the site was hit by spam attacks. With the help of generous donations, we were able to stabilize things temporarily. However, managing a platform with tens of thousands of images and user accounts has continued to present challenges beyond what we can sustain.
After much thought, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the site.
This wasn’t easy. We’re incredibly proud of what this community created together, and deeply grateful for every contribution over the years. Unfortunately, we no longer have the time or resources to keep the platform running—and more importantly—secure.
That said, this is not the end of our support for illustrators. We continue sharing work across our Instagram channels—@theydrawandcook, @theydrawandtravel, and @theydrawandgarden. You can still find inspiration at The Illustrator’s Circle and we remain committed to promoting freelance illustrators through Illustrators For Hire.
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. We’re so grateful for this creative community—and always will be.
With appreciation,
Nate & Salli
Nate Padavick (nate@natepadavick.com) and Salli S. Swindell (salli@salliswindell.com)
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THEY DRAW—books!
While the site is closing, its spirit lives on in the 27 books we created together. Our illustrated recipe books and map compendiums preserve the voices and visions of hundreds of artists from around the world—lasting proof of what this community made possible.
Note: we have removed the royalty rate on our self-published, print-on-demand titles. The price you see only includes the cost Amazon charges to produce the book.
published 2011
The first book, published by Weldon-Owen, contains 107 illustrated recipes by artists from around the world.
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published 2012
Twenty illustrated recipes for kids that are fun to follow and easy to make.
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published 2012
30 beautifully illustrated vegetarian recipes by Salli Swindell—for everything from healthy salads to delicious desserts.
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published 2012
24 great concoctions ranging from classic martinis to special holiday drinks. Each recipe is beautifully illustrated, making them as fun to look at as to make—and drink!
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published 2013
This book contains a tasty collection of 30 holiday savory recipes illustrated by artists from all around the world. From Spiced Holiday Pecans and Miss Phyllis' Cranberry Mold to Christmas Red Cabbage and Mashed Potato Mountain these deliciously illustrated recipes are a feast for the eyes and an inspiration for your holiday dinner table!
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published 2015
The 1st in THEY DRAW’s Single Artist Series, this book contains 30 expertly illustrated recipes drawn by Rotterdam-based artist Koosje Koene.
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published 2013
This book contains a festive collection of 40 holiday dessert recipes illustrated by artists from all around the world. From Spiced Apple Cider and Rudolph's Cinnamon Mango Frappé to Yule Log Cookies and Xmas Pudding these super sweet illustrated recipes are wonderful to peruse, easy to make and yummy to eat!
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published 2014
30 recipes featuring the fabulous fig—salads, smoothies, salsas, sandwiches and lots delicious desserts.
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published 2013
Help your kids discover the world through the eyes of Japanese illustrator Aunyarat Watanabe. Aunyarat has illustrated maps of her 18 favorite cities on Earth and 1 map that is "out of this world!" From the peaceful islands of Hawaii to the busy sidewalks of New York to the pyramids of Egypt to the creatures of Madagascar and beyond, these maps are full of fun, food, and adventure.
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published 2016
The 4th in THEY DRAW’s Single Artist Series, this book contains 30 beautifully drawn recipes by UK-based food illustrator Ohn Mar Win.
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published 2015
The 2nd in THEY DRAW’s Single Artist Series, this book contains 30 expertly sculpted recipes created by New Jersey-based paper sculptor Joanne Frances DeWald.
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published 2015
The 100 illustrated maps in this collection guide were created by illustrators and feature the overlooked, forgotten and even underappreciated parts of American places, while celebrating the country's iconic cities.
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published 2015
The 3rd in THEY DRAW’s Single Artist Series, this book contains 30 expertly illustrated recipes by UK-based chef and illustrator Liv Wan.
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published 2016
This book contains a super hot and spicy collection of 30 recipes illustrated by artists from around the world. From zingy beverages and special sauces to spicy sides and mouth-watering main dishes, these fun illustrated recipes will spice up your kitchen and your meals!
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published 2017
The 4th in THEY DRAW’s Single Artist Series, this book contains 30 recipes fabulously drawn by German illustrator Julia Bausenhardt.BUY A COPY
published 2016
This compendium of 96 illustrated maps celebrates the big cities and small villages of the UK, Ireland and Iceland. These maps are not only creative expressions of the artist's love for a particular place, but they also often contain insightful tips and recommendations for things to do and places to visit.
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published 2017
The 5th in THEY DRAW’s Single Artist Series, this book contains 30 recipes illustrated by Dutch artist Suzanne de Nies.BUY A COPY
published 2018
The 6th in THEY DRAW’s Single Artist Series, this book contains 30 easy-to-follow and fun-to-make recipes for kids, illustrated by Japanese illustrator Aunyarat Watanabe.BUY A COPY
published 2017
These maps are creative expressions of each artist's love of a particular place in East Asia. Do you know where to find the best ramen in Hong Kong? Do you know what city is the matcha capital of Japan? Or, how about all the great shopping spots in Seoul? This book has it all.
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published 2018
The 7th in THEY DRAW’s Single Artist Series, this book contains 30 illustrated smoothie recipes by Toronto-based artist Farida Zaman. From "Wake-Up Berry Lattes" to "Ginger Stomach Soothers", "Sweet Beet Hydrators" to "Salad Shakes", this book has a smoothie recipe for everyone!BUY A COPY
published 2019
The 8th in THEY DRAW’s Single Artist Series, this book contains 30 beautifully illustrated and easy-to-make recipes by artist and cook Leticia Plate. From "Sunshine Salad" to "Curried Coleslaw," "Tasty Taters" to "Good Luck Lentils," this book has a perfect recipe for everyone! BUY A COPY
published 2021
The 35 vegan recipes in this cookbook were illustrated and created by Salli S. Swindell. Salli loves cooking vegan meals that are simple and very colorful. As a food illustrator, she also likes using lots of color in her artwork—colorfully creative! BUY A COPY
published 2023
Created by Salli S. Swindell, the concept of this book goes beyond adding more flavor to dishes—it extends your nutritional spectrum in very healthy directions!BUY A COPY
published 2021
The illustrations you see in this book—recipes, maps, and landscapes— celebrate the scenery and “cuisine-ry” of beautiful Greece. From spanokopita to Santorini and salads to sunsets, this book captures the wonders of Greece—its history, culture, food, beaches, and overall awesome vibe!BUY A COPY
published 2020
This book contains a global sample of various special places chosen by 100 different artists. Some chose to illustrate their home town, while others picked a favorite vacation spot. Some maps tell a story, others provide fun itineraries, a few share insightful histories, and they all beautifully celebrate a place that is indeed very special.BUY A COPY
published 2020
This collection of illustrated maps represent a intergalactic sample of the creativity of dozens of artists. Some chose to illustrate our solar system, while others depicted the constellations. Some maps tell a story of space travel, others provide futuristic fantastic itineraries, a few share insightful histories, a couple teach us factoids about asteroids, and they all celebrate the beauty of the universe.BUY A COPY
published 2021
The maps you see in this book illustrate the favorite walkabouts of 100 different artists around the world. As the pandemic brought travel to a halt, many illustrators found sanctuary in local routes and rambles, treks and trails, saunters and strolls. This book captures the wonders of their wanders! BUY A COPY
Thanks—again—for being a part of our illustration ecosystem,
Nate & Salli
Nate Padavick (nate@natepadavick.com) and Salli S. Swindell (salli@salliswindell.com)
Nate & Salli
Nate Padavick (nate@natepadavick.com) and Salli S. Swindell (salli@salliswindell.com)