10 Skills Every Illustrator Must Have

[LauraA]

This podcast touched on something in my former world--classical oil painters who can't seem to modernize. The comment about parasols made ma laugh, because sometimes it used to drive me crazy as well. Dressing people in bustles and parasols can look contrived, but I think part of the idea is to allow for drawing drapery (a lost art if there ever was one!) and an attempt to be timeless. Problem is, whatever you try fits into a historical timeframe whether you like it or not, so you might as well lean into it!

That said, while some classical realists come across as cheesy, others do really amazing work. And I think it's a good thing that someone is still passing on the fundamental skills of how to handle oils, because I sure didn't learn about them in school, suspect many other people don't either, and they're hard to master!

[Will Terry]

@sarahluann Very good analysis! I often listen to what I say on youtube or our podcast and cringe that I didn't explain my position better. Yes - teaching is a broad term with many levels and that's what I meant to say. That starting out teaching someone below your level forces you to think differently - thinking differently creates new opportunities for epiphanies - teaching makes you better. Thank you ( Also, Lee is wrong)

[Mimi Simon]

Great episode as always but it was certainly controversial at my house with the swings at Frazetta, James Gurney and illustrative fine art XD

[HeidiGFX]

@will-terry @ Lee is wrong
I actually understand where each is coming from so you both make valid points.

[burvantill]

@nessillustration @smceccarelli , Yes Simona, You were gushed over . Very appropriately so, I might add. I'm glad that you posted those three artists as accomplished. I have been having a minor existential crisis of late tied to that exact topic. As a good little student I have been pouring over children's books. Trying to learn what exactly publishers are looking for. They are ALL different! And what is completely blowing my mind is that a lot of what I'm seeing does not seem to be living up to my standards of what I'm pushing myself to accomplish. For example, today I saw a list of the top 2018 children's books. I scrolled through the images from the books listed and there was one in particular that, had I painted it and posted it to our SVS forum for critique, I would've gotten REEMED. The proportions were way off. It was very flat looking in some spots but not in others. The composition wasn't great. I just can't wrap my brain around it. There are some VERY great books out there, with awesome illustrators that just blow it out of the water on every page, but then I see a list like this and I'm just so confused.

[smceccarelli]

@burvantill @KathrynAdebayo I did listen to the episode yesterday They must have recorded it on the same day Will interviewed me, so he had my ramblings fresh on his mind. It was, as usual, very interesting. The discussion on teaching really touched me, especially after what @SarahLuAnn posted about her experience. Honestly, teaching is not something I would ever classify as amongst my goals, but I do recognize how much everybody wins from it and it was enlightening to see it listed among what Will thinks are 10 fundamental skills - I can see how it fosters growth all round.

Anyhow, back to the “accomplished” discussion. What you mention is, I believe, a very common thought when looking at the picture book market. Still, after some studying, you start to see the difference between the work of an established professional - no matter what the style is - and the work that is “on the way” but not there yet. I don’t think you can see it in your own work, but you can spot that quality even in the most primitive of styles. I don’t know what it is...sense of design, consistency of shape language, the sense that the work is “finished”, the feeling that the artist knows what he´s doing and he´s expressing himself clearly and boldly. It´s not a technical skill or not only technical skills, for sure. I think it relates to art as a form of communication beyond words: the message feels clear and authentic regardless of the language used.
Also - and related to that - I´ve tried to work in a primitive style or ignore perspective or go for a very simplified look. I think everybody should try to make art in those styles once in a while. You definitely learn a thing or two about technical skills...but you also learn what is “you” and what isn’t, which is more important. And if it´s not in you - if you don’t have fun doing it - then it doesn’t matter if it sells books. That´s not what to strive for. You strive for being the best yourself you can be - I think that´s the only success recipe there is.
Getting way too philosphical here....this forum does this to me sometimes

[burvantill]

@smceccarelli 'I´ve tried to work in a primitive style or ignore perspective or go for a very simplified look. I think everybody should try to make art in those styles"
Very good point. That is something I am trying in learning to paint "plein air". My water color is very structured and its quite challenging to loosen up. I am learning and I think it will help me grow in the long run.

[Lee White]

@will-terry you are wrong about me being wrong!

[Lee White]

@sarahluann I congratulate you on your success as a teacher! I'm so glad that is working out for you. In defense of my "5 year rule", I should note that when we are speaking on the podcast, we are speaking very generally to a massively broad audience. So there are generalizations that must be accounted for and there are always exceptions to the rule. The "5 year" idea was picked at random and there isn't much thought behind that time frame other than "know what you are doing before trying to teach it." Especially in the context of a degree based program that is expensive and is geared for making professionals out of the students.

A continuing education program is a perfect teaching opportunity and doens't come with the same requirements I would have for an intensive undergraduate program. So like everything, there is some gray area that needs to be added to all the things we say on the podcast. We are just offering some rough guidelines. Everyone has to think about how those guidelines apply to them. There are no rules and I certainly don't want to be seen as a gatekeeper. Although I will accept the obnoxious part. : )

There is one rule that is a hard rule: Will Terry is wrong about all things

[Lee White]

@burvantill I wouldn't worry about those lists too much. It's hard to understand and comprehend what gets a book on a list like that. It could just be one person's opinion who judged it. No big deal. I'd just shrug it off and keep making the work that you think is good. BUT, I would also offer another piece of advice. Look over some of the art that made it to the list and see if there is some quality that the judges are picking up on. You may not like all of it, but maybe there is still some good info to be had from looking at a group of winning entries.

[Sarah LuAnn]

@lee-white I see what you are saying, but even with “broad generalizations” I think you are still defining teaching too narrowly. The suggestion was to teach, not to teach at undergraduate level. Stipulate that you should know what you are teaching, definitely. But I think it can be incredibly helpful to, for example, try to teach something you just barely learned to someone else, to help it solidify in your mind and put it in your own terms. It won’t be the most deep, thorough, educated etc. coverage of the topic, but that isn’t always what is needed.

And let me just say that it’s so weird to me to be arguing this because when differences of opinion have arisen on the podcast, it’s usually Lee I find myself agreeing with.

[Lee White]

@sarah-luann agreeing with me is your first mistake! I don't know what I'm talking about most of the time. Only thing I truly know is when I say WILL TERRY IS WRONG ABOUT ALL THINGS

[Will Terry]

@lee-white I love it when Lee has to splain himself...I would ask that you guys continue to keep him on his heels

[burvantill]

@lee-white
Thankyou. I hear and obey.
I WILL figure it out.

[SarahLuAnn]

@smceccarelli Maybe teaching in a more formal classroom setting isn't a goal for you, but I believe the help and comments you give around the forums here on a day to day basis are most definitely a form of teaching. You help a lot of us on a regular basis, and I would venture to guess that you enjoy it and learn from it considering how regularly you do it. This is what I mean by having a broader definition of teaching.

[Jason Bowen]

I enjoyed this one, got a bit controversial at the end lol maybe you should have cut that bit.

[artofbudmcleod]

Great episode guys! Thanks for keeping the inspiration and information coming