Illustrator

For the vector-based drawing program from Adobe Systems, see Adobe Illustrator.

An illustrator is a graphic artist that specializes in enhancing written text by providing a graphic representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicated concepts or objects that are difficult to describe textually, or the illustration may be intended for entertainment (such as illustrations in children's literature).

Most illustrators today make their living creating artwork for use in advertising. This realm was traditionally dominated by pen and ink and air brush artists. The computer has changed the industry dramatically. A great deal commerical work is produced today using computers. The most common programs used are Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Corel Painter is also popular with artists attempting to work in a natural media style. Also gaining traction is the use of 3D computer graphics to create illustrations.

However, traditional illustration techniques are still very much alive, particularly in the field of children's book illustration . Water- colour, oil painting, pastels, wood-engraving, linoleum cuts, pen and ink are just some of the many techniques used by successful exponents of the art.

Related topics

• List of illustrators
• List of cartoonists
• Graphic design