Illustration

This morning we had a lecture on Illustration. Illustration can be described as strategic image-making, used within the context of visual communication to convey meaning or a concept. A point made was that concept with context has no meaning and vice versa. 

The visual aesthetic of an image, the look, tone and medium of the drawing style, is possibly as important in communication image itself. Illustration needs a voice to convey depth and meaning thus the quality of an illustration can be told from the emotions evoked by it. The difference between fine art and illustration is that fine art is a personal exploration (whatever they desire or compel to do) whereas illustration has more of an audience and work with clients to fit the brief.

Illustration comes in a wide variety of forms/mediums such as, painting, drawing, collage etc. However, it has to fit its message and make an impact on the viewer.Thus, coming back to the point of a concept without any context has no meaning and vice versa. 

Maurice Sendak

For an example, the illustrations of Maurice Sendak (where the wild things are) Although drawn in 1963 they still fit and have relevance and the illustrations fit the brief for a children's book and have an impact on child and adult viewers of today.