What Is Illustration | Professional Practise

Illustrators are essential to society. Historically and in some modern societies images produced by illustrators inform the illiterate as well as “fire the imagination” (Shaughnessy).
Images are powerful tools of communication (Grace Helmer & Charlotte Mei Jones) of ideas as well as recording society and behaviour. In a visual world they inform, entertain, express the imagination and heighten experiences and emotions.
Empire State Building poster by Brian James 
Being an illustrator not only means communicator and recorder, but also communicator and recorder of self. The rewards can be immense – being able to represent information as you perceive it – and get paid for it. A dream job. (Grace Helmer & Charlotte Mei Jones)
My thoughts of illustration mean that it is anything from drawings and printing to screenprint, monoprint, etching print, etc. There are many kinds of roles which relate to illustration, for instance, there’s cartoonist, designer, artist, gamer, animator, etc. Yet, in illustration, drawing, sketches, printing means making their own specific style and techniques.  This can result in commissions for their work.
So, yes, illustration is art, illustration is design, and illustration is craft.  For instance, as used in professional works and art like ‘Pixiv artist’ – ‘Marlboro’s art nouveau Studio Ghibili Kiki’s Delivery Service.
A design like Gustavo Piqueira’s The Medieval Bible redesigned.
And a craft like Nearly Norman’s fruit calendar, made of cut paper.
What I just showed these evidences are all contemporary and kind of an update from something old.
According to Shaughnessy ‘design was about the anonymous conveying of messages, while illustration was frequently about vivid displays of personal authorship’.  In other words design is anonymous but illustration may be considered frivolous or less serious.  
 However the perception of illustration is in the eye or perspective of the individual.  It is different from art and design (Nancy Roth) involving the interpretation and production of a visual concept (Grace Helmer).
An illustration does not have to be drawn, it can be done in many individual ways through techniques such as digital drawing, printing, painting to mention a few.
The methods of production are so individual and variable due to style, media and more recently the application of modern technologies such as Illustratorand Photoshop.  Technology allows the illustrator to expand styles in so many ways (Roderick Mills). The skill set required to be an illustrator has moved far beyond just the ability to draw: it involves seeing differently, producing cleverly.  For example accompanying text on illustrations can further illuminate it, comment on it, punctuate or counterpoint it and even make it ‘reflective, provocative or decorative’ (Andrzej Klimowski).
What drawing can offer that photographs can’t is a photograph is like the proof or evidence of something real, whereas drawing is imaginary beauty involving the perception of the artist, reflected in their style.
The application of technological skills, as in photography can greatly enhance the visual message.  However, photographers are limited to only altering what is there and are a medium for depicting aspects of reality.  Illustrators are making a personal, intimate statement about the world.
I believe illustration pieces should be exhibited and shown in context –
For that very reason it is essential that illustrations are exhibited in many formats and media: papers, books, magazines, news papers, adverts, commerce, fashion.  Unlike some arts that are restricted and confined to galleries, everyone can appreciate the power and story of illustration: consider how less effective Roald Dahl’s books may have been without illustration.
There may be no clear, precise, restrictive definition of illustration because illustrators are out there having fun.  Not restricted by the confines of theory but free to romp and explore.
Reference:
>http://www.quentinblake.com/index.php/gallery/illustrations/item/203-04lp112002a
comicsalliance.com/miyazaki-art-nouveau-fan-art-tribute-alphonse-mucha-studio-ghibli/
theinspirationgrid.com/the-medieval-bible-rewritten-redesigned-by-gustavo-piqueira/
Klimowski Andrzej. (2011) On Illustration. London, Oberon Books Ltd

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