This document provides examples and discussion of different types of illustrations used in books, manuscripts, and other media over time. It discusses early cave paintings from 20,000 years ago through modern digital illustrations. Various illustration techniques are described, including elaboration on story details, hinting at future events, using perspective, personification, and stylistic choices around line art, color, and composition. The document encourages thinking about how to apply these illustrative techniques and concludes by providing inspiration for a winter/holiday card project.
11. “ Hours of Simon de Varie,” Illuminated by Jean Fouquet Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, & iron gall ink on parchment, covered with red morocco (soft goatskin leather). French, 1455 AD
12. “ Book of Hours,” 167 leaves of vellum Valencia, Spain, c. 1460
13. Breviary belonging to Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots Her notes can be seen in the margins Late 1400s AD
14. “ Poliphilo’s Dream about the Strife of Love” by Colonna Woodcut illustrations with printed text, Venice, 1499
15. Illustrations can be used to add information to scientific or technical texts. “ Large as Life, Daytime Animals” Text by Joanna Cole Illustrations by Kenneth Lilly 1985
16. Photography and digital artwork is often used to illustrate products. Text is frequently treated as a graphic component, adding visual interest to illustrations, particularly in advertising.
17. Illustrations can be used to provide conceptual images. “ Effigia okeefeae,” related to the forbears of modern crocodiles. National Geographic, March 2007
18. Illustrations can add a great deal to Creative Writing . In the late 1800s, illustrators created images full of action for novels and historical fiction. “ On the Irrawaddy” by G.A. Henty, 1896
19. “ Five Little Peppers & How They Grew,” by Margaret Sidney, 1881
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22. The movie Ice Age features: a mammoth, a sabertooth, a squirrel Visual images are absorbed and understood all at once. and a sloth.
23. Simple “ The Country Bunny and the Little Golden Shoes,” by Du Bose Heyward, Illustrated by Marjorie Flack 1939
24. Elaboration An extension of what is written “ The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash” by Trinka Hakes Noble Illustration by Steven Kellogg 1980
25. Foretelling Hinting at an event which has not happened in the story yet “ Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Wishing Pebble” Illustrated by Cathy Beylon 1987
26. “ There’s a Nightmare in My Closet” Written and illustrated by Mercer Mayer 1968
34. Different art styles can work for the same story By Daniel San Souci By Anne Rockwell
35. Line Art “ Where the Sidewalk Ends” 1987 Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein
36. “ Salome: The Peacock Skirt” Pen and ink by Aubrey Beardsley 1894
37. Use bold shapes to create drama Pen and Ink “ Portrait of James McNeill Whistler” Aubrey Beardsley 1894
38. Use facial expression and body language to tell the story “ Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” By Judith Viorst Illustrationed by Ray Cruz 1972
First, let’s look at the history of symbol-making and the book.
There is an old saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” This was certainly true for cultures that had no written language.
Pictures served to tell the stories they felt were important to record.
The stories recorded important events and personal stories
Though we do not know for certain what the meaning of the early rock art was, it seems safe to assume that some served religious purposes.
Early alphabets evolved from early pictograms, or pictures which represented things or ideas.
Images incised into the rock surface are called petroglyphs.
To ancient Egyptians, reaching the afterlife depended upon living a good life and having perfect burial arrangements. For important people who could afford it, a “Book of the Dead” was produced to help them make a successful transition to the afterlife.
Egyptian artworks depended heavily on symbolic images.
Sometime around 400 AD, the Greeks developed a simplified alphabet. Many Greeks and Romans were able to read, and the wealthy had libraries in their homes. Books were completely handmade, one at a time. Some of the books were lavishly lettered and decorated. These are called “Illuminated Manuscripts.”
A “Book of Hours” was individually made for a lay people who was a very religious Christian. The book typically included a set of psalms which would be recited or sung,
Vellum was made from the skins of calf, lamb or kid. It was used before paper became widely available.
Breviaries were liturgical books containing public prayers, hymns, psalms and readings for everyday use, usually for priests.
Paper had also been invented in China in 105 AD and had reached Europe through trade routes. By the 1400s when Gutenberg invented his press, paper was commonly used instead of parchment (vellum, made from goatskin).
Illustrations add impact to creative writing.
Continuous Narration is often used in children’s books because little text is needed.
Book designers use specific fonts, colors, borders and other elements to visually tie all of the various parts into an integrated whole.
Varying perspective requires imaginative reading of the text, and can keep the book visually interesting.
Another perspective from the same book.
Simple line drawings can be very effective and are often used as cartoons.
Line art can also be elegant and dramatic.
Switching to a dark background adds interest.
Simplicity can be very effective.
This piece uses color and diagonal lines to create a sense of motion and a dark, cold mood.
Creating books with no text are a challenge to an artist.