Drawing for Illustration

by Martin Salisbury

Renowned professor on the subject examines the practice of drawing for illustration through case studies and sketchbooks.  This beautiful, in-depth reference book by illustration professor Martin Salisbury explores drawing for illustration. Salisbury places a special emphasis on drawing, treating it as a fundamental skill that every illustrator should engage with. Assisting students through exercises and case studies, this guide explores the often-unseen world of draftsmanship that underpins finished illustration work. From book illustration to graphic novels and caricatures to commercial design, this attractive volume draws on sketchbooks, projects, and historical examples to show how they started as drawings from observation and drawings from imagination. Salisbury starts out by explaining the fundamentals of this exciting discipline before outlining the basic principles of line, tone, composition, and color through inspired examples. Different approaches to drawing, including anecdotal, sequential, and reportage, are examined to help students acquire their own personal visual language. Interviews with illustrators also provide valuable insights into the creative process, as they discuss the challenges, rewards, and what drawing personally means for them. Visually appealing, Drawing for Illustration features detailed analysis of works by key illustrators from the past and present, including George Cruikshank, Ronald Searle, Sheila Robinson, Laura Carlin, Alexis Deacon, and Isabelle Arsenault, looking at the differing roles drawing plays in their particular illustrative languages and how styles have changed over time.    170 illustrations

Genres: Art, Drawing, Nonfiction

239 pages, Hardcover

Published October 25, 2022

About the author

Martin studied illustration at Maidstone College of Art (now part of the University of the Creative Arts) in the 1970s. He has worked as an illustrator and painter ever since. In recent years his work has focused mainly on the area of children’s book illustration, painting for exhibition and writing on the subject of drawing and illustration.

Martin regularly contributes to Artists & Illustrators magazine, Books for Keeps and the Journal of the Association of Illustrators. Along with colleague Wendy Coates-Smith he founded the graphic arts journal, Line which has been internationally acclaimed as an important contribution to research into illustration and drawing.

In 2004, Martin wrote Illustrating Children’s Books, a major guide to the practice and theory of the art form published by A&C Black in the UK. In 2007, Martin Salisbury was a member of the judging panel for the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award in Italy. The following year he joined the international jury for the CJ Picture Book Awards in Seoul.

Martin currently acts as External Examiner (BA Hons Illustration) at the University of Westminster and Southampton Solent University.

Reviews

[Marie-Noëlle Wurm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for any aspiring or established artist or illustrator. Filled to the brim with inspiring imagery and important reflections on the beautiful field of picture-making.

[Christine Helary · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fascinating to read from famous illustrators themselves how they work, their unique processes, the things they struggled with, etc. Drawing, colors, sketchbooking, drawing from observation, etc.

[skein · Rating 5 out of 5]

very very very good, with many styles and mediums and time periods represented.

includes many sketches-to-finished-piece which is so helpful and interesting.

[Eman Itani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drawing for Illustration is a book for artists interested in illustration as a whole and who want to know the many different aspects of it.

It is divided into 4 parts:

- Part 1: Defining the essence of drawing and illustration and the differences between the two
- Part 2: Breaks the basics of drawing (line, tone, perspective, and more) then evolves to more complex relations of illustration like the relationship between photography and illustration
- Part 3: Delves inside drawing from observation vs. memory vs. imagination
-Part 4: Covers applied illustration as a realistic practice with respect to different industries. It shows how illustration is applied in various areas like picture books, advertising, reportage, if we want to name a few.

Most importantly, the book is filled with reflections from renowned artists talking about their personal working process, progress, educational/work backgrounds, and actual documentations from their sketchbooks and works.

In conclusion, the book can be a good inspiration for artists looking forward to get educated on the different opportunities of illustration, know how established artists think, and aquire some theoretical knowledge.

[Joana Diniz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although there was no pratical texts in it, the author gave his view on the many fields that Illustration can be applied, complemented with the personal view of the choosen artists - past and present.

[Audrey Sauble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a dense, thorough book. I skimmed some sections, but think it would be worth rereading at some point.

[Karina Geddes · Rating 3 out of 5]

not quite what I wanted but it helped me write a few lectures

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

On p. 38.