Identifying Illustration

When searching for illustration there are so many items to consider. Do you have a specific style in mind or a medium or is it a topic?

Styles are usually broken up into the several categories (I have provided some illustrator links as an example for some of the categories - these are not preferential but merely a sample to identify the style):

3D - 3D is an illusion of depth, these illustrations are always digitally composed.
Kim and James are a good example of the cartoon-ish side of 3D, think of it as a printed animation. 3D illustration is also represented in many technical styles as well.

Abstract - Most people are familiar with some form of abstract art whether you took art history or not. Master examples are Jackson Pollock and Wassily Kandinsky to name just two. Abstract art is undefined - meaning it's a free form of shapes, colors and expression. Abstract art doesn't have to define a whole object or depict something in it's natural form.

Collage / Cut paper - It's essentially an assemblage of images and sometimes mediums to form the actual art piece. A great example is Amy Guip, who is a photographer and an illustrator combining both mediums into a what some refer to as a hybrid... others a collage. A couple of examples of a strictly illustrator collage artist are Sally Vitsky and Amy Devoogd (who does use Illustrator but still uses her x-acto knife and liquitex).

Technical / Instructional - a pretty self explanatory style. This style usually applies to an illustration that is mapping out specific knowledge that is to be understood by the viewer and explained to the viewer like maps, specific product designs, medical, and more. Baker Vail at Small World Maps and Beau Daniels are good examples to take a look at for this style.


More tomorrow...