The art of storytelling: what is the role of an Illustrator?

Broadly speaking, an illustration is a picture, drawing, or diagram designed to elucidate or complement a printed text. While the illustrations in medieval manuscripts are known as illuminations, the word "illustration" has been used in its modern sense since the mid-19th century.

However, they are more than just visual add-ons; they are tools that enable a deeper interpretation of a text. A talented illustrator captures the feelings of the reader or viewer. They seize and maintain interest, reinforcing the message by sensing and conveying the story's atmosphere. Generally, an illustrator enjoys greater creative freedom than a graphic designer.

They create characters and settings. These can be linked to fairy tales and comics, or even to products and advertising campaigns. They also produce precise and clear visual representations of scientific processes, discoveries, and phenomena, aiding in their understanding and presentation.

Illustrators employ a wide range of techniques:

• Traditional techniques: drawing, printmaking, painting, collage, etc.

• Digital illustration: using software to create images, such as Photoshop, Procreate, Clip Studio, or Adobe Illustrator.

Nowadays, these two often go hand-in-hand, as works created with traditional techniques are typically digitized as well.

Specializations in Illustration

Illustrators often specialize in specific fields, each requiring a unique approach:

• Children's Book Illustrators: their drawings act as a gateway, helping children step into the world of stories and imagination.

• Fashion Illustrators: capturing the essence, movement, and style of clothing and trends.

• Scientific Illustrators: by making complex concepts and processes visible, they help laypeople interpret and understand them, while also helping professionals explain their scientific results.

Today, illustration has outgrown its original role as a mere supplement to text. We have seen the rise of "silent books"—books that contain no text at all, or only a minimal amount, relying entirely on visual storytelling.

If you need a custom illustration, feel free to contact me, or browse through the prints available on my site!

Further Reading & Resources

If you'd like to dive deeper, check out these interesting articles:

• On Style and Collaboration: An insightful interview with illustrators on how hiring an artist means "buying their style." Read more at skvot.hu

• The Magic of Silent Books: An article exploring how books without words can tell the most powerful stories. Read more at wmn.hu