Seminar: What is Illustration?

For this seminar we were told to bring 5 images which represent our own personal taste in illustration. In groups, we were then given the task of categorizing these images into certain groups - some of my groups categories included things such as, 'line drawings', 'character design' and 'monochrome'. Each group then read out their lists and our categories were put onto the board into another set of lists - which were entitled purpose, context, process, product, aesthetic and content. I found this exercise valuable as it made me think about what illustration actually is and all the components to be considered when creating a piece of illustration.

This was then reinforced with a talk and then discussion of the difference between a drawing, an image and an illustration.

• Drawing is at the heart of making pictures - there are 4 main ways of drawing:
• Representation - a drawing that well represents its subject.
• Explanation e.g. maps, diagrams...
• Documentation - recording information.
• Visualisation - adding mood, a tone of voice.
• But drawing can also be a method of investigation or experimentation. It is a physical act that can involve the whole body. 
• There is a traditional value system by which we judge whether a drawing is good or bad - this usually includes a judgement of how well the drawing represents its chosen subject and the quality of its crafting - the use of line, tone, colour ect.  
• "All drawings are images, but not all images are drawings"
• In my understanding of it, the act of drawing is looking at or visualising a subject and then recording, explaining or representing this on paper.
• Image-making, on the other hand, is about creating a picture that is dynamic and aesthetically pleasing. There has to be a consideration for line, media, subject, composition ect. Images may contain symbols, metaphors, motifs...
• So...When does an image become an illustration? - Illustration is using visual language to enhance, translate or comment on a piece of content - be this an idea, concept, message...
• An illustration can be composed of images, drawings, symbols ect.