Illustration
Overview
An illustration is a drawing with a job. It sits beside an article, a story, a set of instructions or a product, and it has to add something that the words cannot supply on their own. That constraint is what separates illustration from free painting, and it is also what makes it interesting: the brief gives you a problem, and the drawing is your argument about how to solve it.
This note covers the decisions illustrators actually make: which moment of a story to draw, when to be literal and when to take a conceptual leap, how to keep a character recognisable across twelve pages, how a dip pen line and a screen-printed flat area say completely different things about the same subject, and how technical illustration makes something clear that a photograph cannot. You will critique real work and your own, and you will learn to draw for reproduction rather than for the wall.
Objectives
- Use illustration and narrative to communicate factual, fictional and/or technical ideas for a particular purpose or audience
- Use a range of illustration materials, tools and techniques such as digital applications, wet and dry processes and drawing, painting and printing techniques
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Illustration. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- In editorial illustration, why is a conceptual image usually preferred to a literal one? A) Conceptual images are quicker to draw B) The article already contains the facts, so a literal image repeats information the reader has C) Editors cannot afford photographic reference D) Literal images cannot be reproduced in print Answer: B
- What is a model sheet used for? A) Recording the paper stocks used in a project B) Keeping a character's proportions and key features consistent across many drawings C) Planning the imposition of a picture book D) Testing colour separations before printing Answer: B
- Which drawing type is correct for showing how the parts of a mechanism fit together? A) A cutaway view B) A ghosted view C) An exploded view D) A plan view Answer: C
- Which 2006 wordless book uses sepia graphite drawings to place the reader in the position of a migrant who cannot read the signs around them? A) The Arrival by Shaun Tan B) Kunstformen der Natur by Ernst Haeckel C) The Atlas of Human Anatomy by Frank Netter D) The illustrated Roald Dahl books by Quentin Blake Answer: A
- Illustrators commonly work larger than the final printed size because: A) Larger paper is cheaper per square metre B) Reduction tightens a drawing, while enlargement exposes every wobble C) Scanners cannot read small artwork D) Printers charge less for reduced images Answer: B
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
Want to practice mock questions on Illustration? Download the Green Bridge CBT app to access mock questions and full practice assessments for this topic.
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