Understanding Illustration - Softcover

[Understanding Illustration] effectively showcases the diversity of illustration, the different formats and endless variation of style whilst revealing the extent of illustration as means of visual communication in the 21st century. (Flora Cox Association of Illustrators)

As with the authors' other output, we can't recommend this book enough. It's a real piece of eye candy, which let's admit it, we all like but more importantly, it's crammed with insight and understanding as well as work not from 'trend' based illustrators but from successful current practitioners and real legends or the art such as Victor Ambrus and Ronald Searle - why their like aren't in every other illustration book produced, we'll never know. (Grillust)

It is refreshing that among the chosen illustrators [in Understanding Illustration] not all are necessarily big names (although several are included). This was a deliberate policy by the authors who specifically wanted to focus on unique artists who have brought something new to the form . Full and informed commentary on each project is interspersed with quotes and background detail by the illustrator concerned. Many insights are revealed by the artists when talking about their work . [N]o volume about illustration would be complete without the odd example or two and there's plenty on view here, with the emphasis firmly on diversity. You get examples of all sorts of styles and approaches from the minimalistic, scratchy pen and ink drawings of Serge Bloch via the hi-tech digital renderings of scientific illustrator Craig Foster through to the tactile collages and monoprints of Sara Fanelli. There's some standout imagery here - of particular note, the expression of the central character in 'Brave Children' by Kadir Nelson, the movement and life in 'Incident in The Battle of Hastings' by Victor Ambrus and the silk-screened poster 'Chernobyl, Fukushima' by the aforementioned Luba Lukova. Just a few of the reasons to check out this book. (Stuart Briers Illustration Cloud)

Understanding Illustration asserts the continued power of illustration as a vehicle for meaning and message by offering an in-depth examination of a selection of great images by a broad range of artists. While many illustration books have minimal information surrounding their pictures, Understanding Illustration in contrast focuses in on a selection of work by 37 artists with an analytical and in-depth approach, showing how illustrators communicate through their images in order to narrate a story or stimulate thought. This stunning book offers both glorious images as well as informative text, including information on the artist but more importantly an explanation of the ideas behind the work. Looking at a broad range of illustration, from journalistic reportage to children's books, it offers an insight into how an artist might tackle a brief, or build up layers of information within their image in order to get a message across. A fantastic book for students and professional illustrators, or indeed anyone interested in the thinking behind contemporary illustration.