WE'RE WATCHING YOU! "To pay attention to people in your world even if at a distance ... is you stretching towards another human being," Nishant Jain, the self-described "sneaky artist" believes. This framework is what will bring his next self-published book, Tiny People in the Big World, to life.

On a Saturday morning at SHIFT (615 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) there’s a barista who simultaneously balances taking orders and replenishing the empty drip coffee carafe. A customer proudly touts his Milwaukee Brewers merchandise, celebrating the team’s recent win during the first game of the World Series.

Nearby, two families gather at a designated community table. Do they know each other? Who’s to say. Yet young daughters, one from each family, exchange quiet grins and waves – a connection made without a second thought.

Yes, I’m people watching (something I’m admittedly not very good at). However, Nishant Jain, the beloved “sneaky artist” who once called Eau Claire home, views this observational routine – one he is quite adept at – through a distinct lens: finding commonalities and dissolving differences.

“To pay attention to people in your world even if at a distance – without talking to them, without engaging with them – but to pay attention to how they are, who they are, what they do, is you stretching towards another human being,” Nishant muses.

“To think about other people (and) give them a story, give them a narrative – to give them a purpose – is beautiful and part of what we could call art,” he continued. 

This ethos is what will bring his next self-published venture, Tiny People in the Big World, to life. The field guide, he describes, offers an introduction to people-watching through a pocket-sized journal – intended for the “urban explorer.”

Packed with Nishant’s sketches of real people from around the world – Eau Claire included – the book prompts readers to jot down notes, log intimate details otherwise overlooked, tell stories and yes, even make a few sketches on its blank pages.

A mockup cover of Tiny People in the Big World, pictured left, along with a sample of Nishant Jain's chapter on café life where Eau Claire' is mentioned. (Submitted photos)

Eau Clairains might recognize Nishant’s first published venture from 2019, Sneaky Art of Eau Claire, followed by his second release with Quarry Books in 2025, Make (Sneaky) Art: And Other Ideas to Build Your Sketchbook Habit.

Nishant's next publication, Tiny People in the Big World, depends on independent financial backing. A self-published venture from start to finish, he launched a crowdfunding campaign via Kickstarter just a few weeks back. Within 48 hours of launching, Nishant saw the Kickstarter speed past its original goal of just over $9,000.

“To pay attention to people in your world even if at a distance ... to pay attention to how they are, who they are, what they do, is you stretching towards another human being.”

nishant jain

illustrator, author and 'sneaky artist'

Nishant views this grassroots support – cultivated beyond social media algorithms, through his podcast, routine newsletter dispatches and one-on-one interactions – as a testament to community trust.

“Essentially, it’s a marketing pre-order,” Nishant said of the Kickstarter campaign. “How much can I raise without somebody having to hold the book in their hands? What does that tell me about how valuable my work is to people?”

“More than anything, Kickstarter is this exciting new thing that helps me discover another path that I didn’t know about,” he continued. “I am curious to see, ‘can I do this?’ What does (self-publishing) give me that the other system couldn’t?”

The last time Volume One caught up with Nishant, this past summer's return of Eaux Claires was fast approaching. He had been selected as a Writer In Residence and true to his form, the sneaky artist treated this homecoming as a chance to extend his creative reach beyond the festival grounds of Carson Park.

He organized, in partnership with the Urban Sketchers of the Chippewa Valley, a walk-about of downtown Eau Claire to document everyday urban moments. Some of these sketches are likely to appear in Tiny People in the Big World, he said.

A little piece of "sneaky art," by Nishant Jain during the 2026 Eaux Claires festival. Can you tell us, based on the drawing, where in Carson Park this scene is located?

In another chapter of the new book focused on café life, Nishant plans to include a selection of his own sketches from time spent at SHIFT when he lived in Eau Claire full-time.

When asked about how spaces like SHIFT – and around the Chippewa Valley – have shaped his already published books, he noted how “I would sit (in) a similar place, look in the same direction and see public behavior changing across the seasons.”

“Sometimes we occupy (these public spaces) very distractedly,” Nishant said. “I want to bring back some appreciation and acknowledgement for what this space is doing for us and for people around us.”

As Nishant leans into curiosity and crowdfunding, fans and new readers will decide for themselves what kind of market Tiny People in the Big World may thrive in. While the Kickstarter campaign is only halfway through its timeline, the amount of funding already committed – about $13,000 as of Oct. 25 – has guaranteed the book's creation and Nishant's ability to make a profit from it.

New pledges beyond his initial campaign goal serve as a vote of confidence and allows him to pursue “stretch goals” that offer even more community-wide incentives like free copies of the field guide, themed merchandise, Zoom workshops and more.

“Every pledge right now helps possibly hundreds of people learn how to draw tiny people for free,” Nishant said. “I think that is such a rich, amazing project that we are all in together.”

Nishant expects to send out the first batch of Tiny People in the Big World books to campaign backers before the end of this year.

Learn more about Tiny People in the Big World by Nishant Jain online via Kickstarter or Substack. Other works by Nishant Jain can be found on Instagram (@thesneakyartist) and sneakyartist.com.