Illustration is the visual interpretation of words and ideas to evoke a feeling or communicate a concept.

Successful illustration is the ultimate synthesizing of a feeling or an idea into a blend of color, texture and style. And while open to varying interpretations, the best illustration communicates a central idea to anyone who sees it.

Illustration is used on the web, in books, calendars, greeting cards, magazines, newspapers, advertising collateral materials, packaging and in animation for movies, television, as well as multimedia presentations–virtually anywhere there’s an open space that sells a product or tells a story.

The field is intensely competitive, therefore graduates must be prepared by developing solid skills in figure drawing, painting and composition.

Illustration is done either on freelance in a collaborative effort with editors, art directors and designers, or in a staff position for corporations, publishers, printers, design studios, computer graphics, and animation houses and advertising agencies. Done both conventionally and by computer, with and without an artists’ representative, today’s illustrators hold positions such as Children’s Book Illustrator, Textbook Illustrator, Science Fiction/Fantasy Illustrator, Technical Illustrator, Editorial Illustrator, Freelance Illustrator, Studio Illustrator, Designer/Illustrator, 3D Illustrator and Animation Artist.