GEDULD & GORILLAS

How Illustrators Are Made

Pierre Thomé

It’s the subtitle – How Illustrators are “Made” – that gives the key to this unique book. The plates here are so beautiful that the book stands on its own for aficionados of cutting-edge illustration. But we’ve never seen a text like this, a collection of essays and dialogs teaching the art of illustration from the faculty of the esteemed Lucern School of Art & Design in Switzerland.

Illustration is a special art because it depends on the text or concept it is meant to illuminate. This substantial volume presents the viewer not just with illustrations, “but also with the context and motives leading to their creation,” writes Pierre Thome, head of the Department of Illustration at the school. He stesses that the art is presented in full format and extended picture runs, “as illustrations shown out of context can’t do justice to the original concept – like an overture being reduced to a ring tone.”

The introduction points out that art of illustration runs from ancient Roman mosaics and Medieval manuscripts through English engravings to the cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The authors take on the big questions: Is illustration commercial? Is it art? Is it craft? What is the difference between illustrating non-fiction (such as scientific illustration) and fiction?

But the heart of the book is the artwork, ranging from cartoon strip-style to collage to drawing and painting (and computer-manipulated work) that runs the gamut of human experience. Any illustrator or student of illustration, teacher of art, or editor who commissions illustration will want to own a copy of this trailblazing volume.

Add to your order