How Illustration Changed My Life- Martin Tognola

I’ll start by admitting that my story is probably not unique. Like many professional illustrators, I have been drawing for as long as I can remember.

From a very young age, drawing became my constant companion. No matter where I was—on a long family vacation, stuck indoors on a rainy day, or waiting at the doctor’s office—I always had a sketchbook and colored pencils nearby. Drawing kept me entertained, curious, and engaged with the world around me. For my parents, it was a welcome way to keep me occupied.

Naturally, I brought that habit into the classroom. The education system I grew up in wasn’t particularly flexible, and I often came home with notes from teachers telling my parents that “Martin shouldn’t spend all day drawing in class.” Despite the warnings, I never stopped.

My calling as an illustrator was clear, but finding a professional path in illustration was far less straightforward.

I began publishing my work before I turned 20. I belong to a generation of illustrators who delivered original artwork by hand, long before email and digital files transformed the industry. At the time, I lived with my parents outside Buenos Aires, Argentina, more than an hour from the city by bus or train.

I would often spend an entire afternoon traveling just to show a few sketches to an editor, then return the next day with the finished artwork. It was also common to make final adjustments to illustrations while sitting at crowded newspaper offices filled with noise, conversations, and cigarette smoke. Looking back, those memories feel like scenes from a different era.

When I finally bought my first fax machine, it felt revolutionary. Suddenly, some of those long trips became unnecessary.

In my early twenties, I packed a portfolio into my backpack and traveled across Europe. When I arrived in Barcelona, I called several of the city’s leading newspapers from a public phone and asked for meetings. At my very first interview, I was offered a job. That opportunity led to a professional relationship that lasted more than 15 years and helped shape my career as an editorial illustrator.

Barcelona eventually became home. I have now lived here for nearly 30 years, and most of my personal and professional life has unfolded in this remarkable city.

Meeting up with Anna and her daughter Sacha and Diego Blanco in London.

A major turning point in my career came when I joined Anna Goodson Illustration Agency about eleven years ago. Although I had already spent decades drawing and publishing internationally, working with the agency opened doors to clients and projects I had always dreamed of pursuing. It expanded my reach beyond borders and encouraged me to develop a more universal visual language.

Collaborating with international brands, publications, and creative teams challenged me to rethink how I communicate ideas through images. It transformed not only the way I work, but also the way I conceive and create illustrations.

So, how has illustration changed my life?

Illustration has allowed me to travel the world, build a career doing what I love, and create a life in another country. It has given me the opportunity to tell stories through images, connect with people across cultures, and publish work in countries whose languages I don’t even speak.

Most importantly, illustration continues to shape the way I experience everyday life—from professional projects to the moments I spend drawing and playing with my children.

Even today, one thing remains true: as long as I have a notebook and a pen, I never get bored.

And for that, I’m grateful.