ILLUSTRATORS VERSUS FINE ARTISTS

Why is there an ongoing battle between illustration and more traditional drawing or painting? Throughout my studies in college I have had some teachers who criticize students for drawing in a more illustrative manner. I understand in the educational scenario that students should work on anatomy and realism while we have the model in front of us. But there are plenty of artists out there today that are getting many commissions and sales as an illustrative artist.

Now, there is a difference between illustrative drawing and cartooning. Cartooning is typically when the subject matter is making a statement or story with the figures not being correct anatomically. Cartoon in the Fine Art sense actually refers to the full design or plan drawn out for a full scale painting or drawing. Illustration in the art world can me two different things as well: illustrating can refer to decorative or explicative images that compliment text, or it can refer to simplified and outlined figures that are anatomically correct.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Henri_de_Toulouse_Lautrec.Troupe_de_Mlle_Eglantine.JPG)

Illustration has changed a lot recently and is now becoming a more popular art form. But Artists like Henri Toulouse-Lautrec were known for their illustrative works in the late 19^th Century. Some people still consider his artwork paintings or printmaking, but I see it still consider it illustrative because of the forms in the drawings.

A more current artist, Felix Hemme also has an illustrative style that he sometimes uses in a more abstract manner. 

(http://www.felixhemme.com/medias/album/bord-du-lit-1-jpg)

I think illustrative art is becoming more and more recognized as a fine art form. To be honest, I don’t know why people would be upset if illustrative artists were considered fine artists. I admire their work and find it inspiring. So we need to stop being such snobs and start admiring our fellow artists. Let’s try and work towards not being the stereotypical snobby artist like people think of us and work as a team to extend our borders. 

+Let me know if you guys have any suggestions or things you want me to talk about or artists to write about!+