A comprehensive, hands-on guide to learning the basic real-life creative skills and strategies needed to break into and thrive in the vast field of professional illustration.

An illustrator is an artist who uses images to communicate an idea or concept to a larger audience. Unlike a fine artist, an illustrator creates images, usually for a client, that serve a specific purpose. Where a fine artist may create work that is intended to be vague or completely open to interpretation, an illustrator has to be concerned with conveying a specific message. Successful illustrators need much more than just art talent-they need to be able to adapt their work to the specific requirements of the client; work on deadline; and, often, be proficient in a number of different styles and different mediums. A thick skin and sense of humor wouldn’t hurt, either.

Understanding Illustration walks readers through everything they need to know to succeed in this exciting career. Includes hands-on exercises and assigments in addition to real-life examples of final, successful, pieces and the outtakes that didn’t work for whatever reasons. Student examples, both successful and less successful (and why) are also included.