Illustration is more than just visually appealing graphics. It communicates an idea, a concept that connects with the viewer on a deeper level than seemingly dazzling graphics. He is influenced by politics, daily life and sometimes just a lively and playful imagination. Illustrators have traditionally supported underlying text to visually tell the story or as an explanation of a design or process. In contemporary creative disciplines, as the lines blur between art and design, practitioners have used the format of illustration decoupling it from the idea of supporting pre-existing storytelling. Instead, their work stands on its own as a form of expression.
Some rely heavily on bold colors, while others choose to express themselves using only black and white lines. Whatever strategy is adopted, the finished graphic affects both the viewer and the author. Expressive, realistic or highly technical illustrations in contemporary contexts are used for a wide range of art forms. With the growth of the graphic novel and the video game genre, illustration as a form of expression has gained ground.
STIR examines six notable illustrators who have inspired their audiences to think differently, both about illustration as an art form and about the world we live in.
1. Alex Jenkins’ world of comic illustrations makes you think about the world, not just the box
Alex Jenkins is a digital illustration artist and cartoonist based in South London, UK. Jenkins graduated from Camberwell College of Arts in London, England in 2015, where he pursued his BA in Illustration. The London-based illustrator describes his work as exploring satirical and critical subject matter through a distinctive and lively style. He tries to avoid pretension while wallowing in comedy and touching on the absurd and the surreal.
2. Anastasia Parmer brings monochrome illustrations to the real world
Anastasia Parmson’s immersive piece I drew a line and called it home has become iconic in the world of digital social media. His artistic approach begins with a basic black line and progresses to immersive life-size creations. Parmson is an Estonian illustrator now living in Sydney, Australia. His practice is rigorous in order to bring out the whole picture. Parmson has created designs on furniture, paintings, and even the frames of the designs she sends.
3. Explore the romantic worldview of Oakland-based artist Carissa Potter
Carissa Potter’s depiction of the essence of romantic human relationships is certainly captivating. Potter examines the physical, emotional, psychological and intellectual dimensions of love and desire in this show, which includes new pieces. His investigations into public and intimate intimacy testify to his hopeless romanticism. Potter’s art explores the circumstances we’ve all faced at some point in our lives and conveys insights we simply need to hear, speaking both playfully and deeply about the human condition.
4. Looking at Koketit’s visual art technique that uses making marks on photographs
Shira Barzilay, also known as Koketit, is a Tel Aviv-based artist-turned-model-turned-designer, and with her massive fan following on Instagram, chances are you’ve seen her work. Her creative style is comprised of ultra-minimal, ultra-romantic flowing lines placed over photographs that inspire her; from portraits to landscapes, she finds and amplifies the beauty in most scenarios. And his audiences responded favorably to his romanticism; as a result, she held two solo art exhibitions in Tel Aviv and collaborated with various companies, including Chanel, H&M and Anthropologie, all of whom wanted to share her style in the world is a canvas. Barzilay, known for her line drawings that often focus on the female body and female empowerment, meets many of her new clients on Instagram.
5. Explore Vivid Illustrations and Major Collaborations by Malika Favre
Barcelona-based artist Malika Favre is known for her deceptively simple style, which has graced the pages of The New Yorker, Vogue, and other publications. His art is instantly recognizable, with crisp, powerful graphics and exquisite geometry. Her stunning use of negative space and vibrant colors made her style strong and minimalist – with an occasional dash of humor. She started her career in graphic design before going freelance to focus solely on illustration.
6. Exploring Sarnath Banerjee’s vision of life in India through his graphic art
Through his immensely relevant images, Indian novelist Sarnath Banerjee explores the ambiguities of life in India. Banerjee was raised in Kolkata by a middle-class family (known as Calcutta at the time). He defined his early behavior as “protective and erudite” in an interview with the new yorker. Before creating graphic novels, he worked on documentaries for Indian Business Televisionand has contributed graphics and comics to a variety of Indian magazines and comics.
(Research support by Vatsala Sethi, Deputy Editorial Coordinator (Arts)