What is Illustration?

Well, according to Wikipedia it is "a visualisation such as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that stresses subject more than form. The aim of an illustration is to elucidate or decorate textual information (such as a story, poem or newspaper article) by providing a visual representation."

Now, that's quite a complex sentence - anyone know what elucidate means? But basically, illustration is art with a purpose.

Because of this, work submitted to the Illustration galleries should be complete images - sketches, studies, WIPs, work on lined paper and doodles are better located in your scrapbook.

What purpose can Illustration serve?

Illustration is used across a wide spectrum of industries to accompany bodies of text, such as instructions or story books. Here is a brief list of some things it can do - I'm sure there are more!

Storybook illustrations give authors the opportunity to show readers their characters, settings and situations in a more immediate format.
Technical illustrations display parts of a machine, for example, to clarify instructions or a list of parts.
Technical illustrations can also be used to document living things - a good example of this is the diagrams you get in biology text books, or Victorian botanical drawings.
Conceptual illustrations are used in newspapers and magazines as a visual summary of the content of the article.
Conceptual illustrations are used in aspects of corporate and brand identity - for example, advertising campaigns on billboards or television.

Our Illustration galleries have three sub categories, Storybook, Technical, and Conceptual which reflect these purposes.

Storybook Illustration

This is illustration that would accompany a fictional or non-fictional narrative. This can be an actual piece of text (e.g Snow White) or it can be a situation you have imagined. Illustrations for religious or folk stories would also go here.

It serves two main functions:
To create a visual representation of the narrative - ie show you what is happening.
To create a visual representation of the characters or settings involved - ie show you who is there or where it is happening.

What it is NOT: Character designs, matte painting, cartoons, manga. Obviously these things can play a part, but don't forget, it must always have a narrative!

Some great examples:

Technical Illustration

This is a realistic illustration that accompanies instructions or other factual text. This is used in many different ways, from toaster instructions to documenting fossils in museum records. Maps would also go in this category.

Its main functions are:
To accurately depict what something looks like, often from multiple angles.
To accurately depict what something does, and how it does it.
To accurately depict how to use something.

"Something" can be a living creature, an object or a mechanical or electronic system. It can be an actual 'something' or a 'something' that you have imagined.

What it is NOT: Sci Fi character design, drawings of your favourite cars, stylised drawings, cartoons, manga. This category is all about reference and information!

Some great examples:

Conceptual Illustration

This is illustration that accompanies theme based text - the bulk of it being Editorial illustrations that are used in Magazine and Newspaper articles. Your work can be for actual theme based text, or based on broader, more universal themes.

Its main functions are:
To create a visual representation of themes or ideas in an informational or opinion based body of text.
To simplify these themes or ideas so the illustration is clear and understandable, and still conveys these themes or ideas if you haven't read the accompanying text.

What it is NOT: Concept Art. There is a shiny new category for Game based concept art [link] , and everything else goes in the appropriate digital or traditional gallery.

Some great examples:


Visit the Illustration galleries!
Traditional Drawings
Traditional Paintings
Digital Drawings
Digital Paintings

And don't forget the Big Spring Clean Project - if you come across a miscat while browsing the illustration galleries, don't ignore it - report it! Make our galleries easier and more enjoyable to use