A well-designed book is a work of art rather than merely a compilation of content and pictures. Additionally, illustrations are more than just pictures included in the text; they are essential components of décor and style that tie a book’s theme and purpose together.
Without an artistic illustration on the cover, the book might not attract people to it. Authors should also choose the right illustrator for their book as it is important for a book cover to express what the story is all about.
In this guide, you will be learning how one can be a good book illustrator, so keep on reading.
What is an illustrator?
An illustrator is defined as an artist who produces artwork that works together with text to construct a narrative.
These illustrations are mainly used to explain what the story, as well as the concept of the book, is all about so readers can easily understand it.
They are known for producing two-dimensional graphics for a variety of markets, such as children’s books, medicine, newspapers, editorials, authors, courtrooms, and so much more. Illustrations must be both intentional as well as transparent.
Since the images are meant to enhance a body of text, the artwork itself must be simple to read.
How illustrations can enhance your book
1. Attract attention
This is one of the most obvious advantages that you can think of to any kind of book. You must know that a book or a page of a book will be more eye-catching as well as worth reading when there are some kinds of images on it rather than just texts on it.
If someone is looking for a book at the bookstore, the first thing they will see is unquestionably the book cover; if the cover is done appropriately, it will certainly be more attention-seeking.
Plus, if illustrators add images to any non-fiction book that didn’t have any images in it before, it will surely do amazing in the market.
2. Better understanding for readers
With the use of illustrations, readers’ comprehension of the text is increased. Illustrating a concept makes it much easier to understand as well as remember.
So, for example, if you tell someone how to do a couple of yoga poses just using text, it’ll certainly be hard for them to understand as they won’t be able to visualize it.
Therefore, they will comprehend it more clearly if there are pictures of the stances, no matter how well you explain them.
3. Makes your book look more aesthetic
Your text will look better with illustrations. Your book’s sales can be significantly impacted by a single eye-catching cover image. Your book’s interior will look better with professional illustrations, even basic ones.
So, if you are interested in making your book look more aesthetically pleasing, then this is your time to look for illustrators.
If you are from the UK, then there are various types of book illustrators in London; you just need to do some research and find the perfect match.
4. Help the reader recognize the important points.
As an author, you would want the illustrator to only highlight the key elements of your book on the cover. This serves as a guide and highlights the most crucial information in addition to improving the reader’s knowledge.
The pictures have a dual purpose: they can both guide your readers down the route you want them to travel on as well as draw their attention to key locations.
This is certainly one of the best ways many illustrators attract the attention of readers. You might even see many shows and movie covers that do this.
5. Reduces the use of words
An illustration can convey a plethora of information and serve as a visual shortcut. In your content, a single illustration, table, chart, as well as graph can therefore take the place of numerous words. Whatever your book’s subject matter might be, illustrations can easily shorten it.
You must also keep in mind that visuals can communicate some concepts better than text. Some ideas are much easier to comprehend visually than they are when presented in written form.
This can maintain interest and cut down on wordy descriptions. Although some readers still like lengthy literature, many readers favor shorter writings or simply images.
What makes a good illustration?
An excellent illustration is more than just a sketch or an interesting concept. It should function as a motivating work of art that successfully draws in as well as engages its intended audience.
A great example of a good illustration can be a humorous editorial graphic that convinced you into reading a boring news article. Or it can be pictures from a children’s book that will always stay fresh in your memory.
Well, these are graphics that engage viewers because they successfully deliver the message to go along with the text and do it in an interesting as well as engaging manner.
It is also worth mentioning that the job of a good illustrator is to convey the message or the image that they draw as clearly as well as possible for the viewers or the readers to understand it right away.
Where can you find inspiration for illustrations?
Sometimes illustrates can have a hard time making images because they might lack inspiration. Here I will be listing some ways you can try to get motivated again and make the most beautiful as well as aesthetic illustrations.
- Start compiling colors, textures, as well as references into a digital archive or perhaps a scrapbook of some kind.
- Create a digital Pinterest board, then add your favorite photographs to it.
- Become fixated on strange topics that people ordinarily don’t think about, such as certain beetle species or vacation destinations from the 1960s.
- Look for inspiration around you; it can be super easy. Look at the scenery around you, especially nature; trees, flowers, clouds, etc.
- Try visiting art exhibitions as well as libraries.
- Take a look at the artwork of illustrators and artists who work in different creative mediums, such as movies, literature, music, ballet, etc.
Conclusion
By reading this article, you might now be able to understand what truly makes one a good book illustrator.
A good illustrator is someone who can make readers engage with his or her artwork and makes it easy for people to understand it without the need for any text.
I also hope the ideas I have mentioned in this article will help you bring out the inspirational and creative side, so do give them a try as well.