Ask a Better Question. Find a Better Metaphor.

hand inktober inktober2026 lifebuoy visual metaphors Oct 11, 2026

INKTOBER DAY 12: RESCUE

When you have to represent an action, ask yourself a simple question:

RESCUE… WHO?

A person?

An animal?

A relationship?

One simple question can open up a whole world of visual possibilities.

But how do we turn one of those possibilities into an image?

By making connections.

Look at a ring.Its round, and it has a hole in the middle.

What else has the same shape?

A lifebuoy!

So why not replace the ring with a lifebuoy?

Now we have a visual metaphor

And if we go back to our first question…

Who are we rescuing? Well, this image might give you an idea :)

This is one of my favorite ways to create visual metaphors: find a connection between two things, then replace one with the other.

And sometimes, one small detail can help the whole idea stand out.

Thats why the lifebuoy is the only colored element in this drawing.

So todays tip:

Ask a better question.

Find a visual connection.

Replace the expected.

And see where it takes you.