Illuminate

For one of my classes this semester, I had to write about what I consider good illustration and an example of an illustration that meets my criteria. I chose to write about one of my favorite illustrations of all time, the cover art for an album by one of my favorite bands. Below is an excerpt from my paper as well as my take on the piece that I did a few years ago. 

Illustration is visual storytelling. As is the case with art in general, it should be aesthetically pleasing. Most art is representational by nature, but the purpose of illustration is to convey a specific message. Nothing about illustration is random. An illustrator does not simply slap some paint onto a canvas: every brushstroke is calculated. A good illustration should be able to tell a story on its on, without relying on a written explanation. My criterion for a good illustration is a piece of art that effectively conveys a message in a visual style that supports and enhances the message.

My example of successful illustration is an album cover for a band called Lydia. The album is called Illuminate, and the cover artwork was illustrated by artist Becky Filip. Even without the context of listening to the album, the cover art visually tells a story which is what makes it a powerful illustration. This illustration features a faceless girl standing in the ocean. She is standing next to a tree and is she is holding an umbrella, both of which are blowing in the wind. Her hair, dress, and the waves she is standing in are also blowing in the wind, making it clear that she is in the midst of a storm.  Despite the fact that everything surrounding her is yielding to the wind, she herself is not. The artwork conveys a clear message of staying grounded and unmoved in the face of adversity. It communicates hope through the image of a small girl withstanding the storm. This message is in accordance with the title Illuminate, the symbol of the girl is a ray of light amidst the metaphorical darkness of the storm. The style that this piece is done in further strengthens the message of the illustration. Through a subdued color palette, Filip creates an ominous mood, yet the figure is a lighter color than the rest of the piece—playing on the theme of a light in the darkness. Filip also uses lines to show movement in the hair, the waves, the dress, and the tree. His technique is called hatching. The lack of hatching on the girl herself emphasizes that she is stationary, unlike her surroundings. Though the piece has a somewhat gloomy feel to it, it is also whimsical which makes it a good illustration for this album cover. The lyrical content of this album leans towards the darker side, yet the sound of the music is very ambient. After analyzing the artwork further, I was impressed with how well it captured the feeling that this album evoked in me. This is a very well executed illustration due to its ability to convey a message without words, and the way the artistic technique accentuates that message.