Intro to Graphics Illustration
STYLE & CONCEPT
What is a good Illustration?
A good illustration should communicate the right message to the right audience.
What makes a good illustration?
1. Accuracy
- It depends on the target audience.
- It depends on the context.
2. Stylistic Approach
Different styles speak a different language
- Start by applying what you learned in graphic design.
- Experiment many many different possibilities.
Experimentation makes a good illustration, that will give you a good stylistic approach.
TIPS TO ACHIEVE A GOOD ILLUSTRATION
Coming up with the stylistic approach
Originality is the most important thing
When coming up with your original style or your own visual voice, Skill level is not the biggest factor of making a good illustrator, But originality is “If there nothing like that you have seen before”. Actually, Your skill level will help to form your own voice “Style”
Add your design principals and your own personality, That’s what makes a good illustration
Coming up with the conceptual approach
Start by researching your subject then understand your right target audience then you come up with the right message, Then decide what type of stylistic approach you want to do
Right target -> Right context -> right message -> right style
Choice of the style, Choice of the context, Choice of the content
A good Conceptual Approach
- Will tell a story
The contrast between happy and sad emotions,
Person with the memory of with being in the woods, Violence in the office
2. Will use a sense of associations
Rain: Bad Mood, Blue Sky: Happier emotions
3. Will use metaphor to tell you the stories
4. Will tell you messages
5. Achieves expressive illustration
Good editorial illustration will tell a story about, Communicate the concept of Article with only a single image
Assignment:
Self-Portrait: Tell a story about your self, Express your self, See if you can, Reflect the expression into stylization
- Abstract line drawing: Line-Only Drawing
- The line is the most basic form of drawing,
- Don’t do the realistic drawing (Don’t do lots of details)
- Exaggerate the facial features “Exaggeration helps to stay away from realism”
- Use different line width (fine, medium, bold)
This article is an illustration course notes I took at CORNISH COLLEGE OF ARTS.
