Feb 21
Do illustrators stick to one style?
2005 at 03.54 am posted by Veerle Pieters
Last week I worked on a website project that needed some illustrator refreshments. My client delivered me Word files for the content of the website. It included both text and pictures. The text is as always no problem, copy and paste and done with it… The pictures on the other hand needed some redrawing since most of them are bad black and white scans. In one of my previous posts I talked about how to redraw these kind of images in Illustrator with the Pen tool.
Today I am thinking about the illustration style. There are a lot of different styles and trends. And you have to be sure your illustration style suits with the overall design of the project.
That’s why I decided to use this clean Illustrator style. Every object or element in the illustration is made by gradient fills. No border or other effects are used. This gives the illustration a very clean brushed-up look which I like.
Since I’m more like a ‘handy-(wo)man’ (maybe a chameleon is a more suitable description) I change my illustrator style quite often. Each project is different and so is the style of my illustrations. It makes me wonder, do illustrators stick to one particular style and use that same style all over again in every design? Or do they change style accordingly to the kind of project or overall design?
14served
1
I can absolutely relate to your view on this, chameleon girl. ;-) Some of my work involves the design of packaging artwork. My clients offer several strategically differentiated products, so I have (want) to adapt my style to what’s needed to make the branding work.
2
I think we all try to change the style where necessary, but it is all too easy to fall into the trap of keeping the same style, because this is the way we work quicker.
I also think that posts like this encourage us to try different styles, especially when the style is good enough to make you think “I wonder how that is done ...“
I use Freehand, so it would be interesting to see if I can use a similar style using this program as opposed to Illustrator.
Does anyone have experience of using both, which is easier to use for this type of design?
FREEHAND OR ILLUSTRATOR?
Steve (lazymouse)
3
@Reinier, I assume that graphic designers, who don’t just stick to illustrations only, have several different styles. Illustrators on the other hand, will have a certain style and stick to ‘their’ style only. Their job is pure illustration work and clients choose them for their particular style for example a book illustrator. I might be mistaken ... but I see them more as ‘artists’. I don’t consider myself an artist. So maybe that is the difference.
@lazymouse, both are perfect for this kind of work. Only, I’m more used to work with Illustrator. I can’t say Freehand is easier then Illustrator, they are on the same level. It’s just that Freehand uses other working ‘habits’... And a Freehand user will probably not really like Illustrator, just like I don’t really like Freehand. I’m so used to working with Adobe products that I prefer Illustrator since I know it since version 3, guess I’m hooked on it. If you’re able to handle the Pen tool then you’re halve way there in both programs ;-)
4
I must say I’m more in favour of the “XP-ish” style. Yours look good, but the “XP-ish” style looks better IMHO. I think it’s because of the lack of borders. If you have nothing to do, try them with 1 pixel borders, I think it will look pretty good.
- Peter
PS: in Firefox on Win, the box in which I type this is too wide.
5
@Peter: As I said in the article I adjust my style to fit in the overall design of each website. So in this case the “XP-ish” style” isn’t the right match. Site isn’t finished so I can’t show the final result yet. We always try to make every project as unique as possible ;-)
About this form in Firefox: Let me guess you have been playing around with your fonts haven’t you. Probably added Lucida Grande for PC or so. If you leave everything standard it looks OK in Firefox on PC. On my Dell it is ok.
6
@Veerle: I agree, there’s a difference between an artist and a typical designer/art director. On the other hand, whereas I see myself as a person providing creative business services, there are designers who see themself as an independent artist. My guess is there are illustrators providing services for creative communication - in different styles- as well as those who stick to their own personal style. Out of experience, I know the same to be true for photography.
@lazymouse: FH and AI are equally strong applications IMHO - but I tend to think that AI is more adapted to my ‘rightbrainer’s’ approach and FH is much more of a technical drawing app. My 2 cts.
7
Veerle, no I have not been installed Lucida Grande. I installed a dozen or so others, though.
I agree that every site should be unique. Therefore, I can’t wait to see the final result. Post the link when it is done, please. :-)
8
I love your food pyramid. One thing looks strange to me and that is the juxtaposition of the banana and the orange. Seems like the banana is floating or sticking out of the orange instead of laying on a plane like the other areas.
I switch up my style all the time. I have to keep learning and trying new things or I’ll get bored with digital art.
9
Veerle, do you use a stylus to make these?
10
Nice work Veerle.
I change styles depending on the project. On the other hand, everyone has something that links their work. It is sometimes really hard to break out of a ingrained style.
ps. “The text is as always no problem, copy and paste and done with it…“ I have always been annoyed when pasting from Word. You always get bizarro characters replacing quotes, hyphens, and bullets. I have to admit to having some of these characters still in the text as the website went live.
11
another thing: just what is the green stuff at the top of the pyramid? ;-P
12
Nice style. I think great illustrators are always able to put their personality in different settings, techniques and styles. May they work on pure colour, simple ink lines or whatever medium they use, digital or traditional, good illustrators can make it work and make it recognizable.
Having a cliché-like style is sadly very common, for market pressure, both on “fine artists†and illustrators. Clients and buyers tend to prefer something that looks exactly previous works by the same artist.
Cheers,
13
Hi Veerly,
I am having fun looking at all the different sections and reading the articles on your web site. I am also a web/graphic designer, but probably not as advanced as you. I do use Illustrator, and I think that it is necessary to vary your style, and try to be versatile and come up with a lot of different looks using different fonts or graphics, or whatever. It helps to look at other people’s work, sometimes, too. I think that it is a mark of a really creative individual who can think up or imagine different looks and designs, and come up with them spontaneously. I think though it is hard to do, and there are only some really truly artistic people out there who can do it. But, still it is something to strive for. On another note, I also had to draw some foods for one of my Illustrator class projects - so when I saw your food groups - I thought of my class project. Your food groups looked very nice, though, and you are right to use the gradient fills to create the shapes. That looks much nicer than having a stroke or outline, of course. Also, I have done some fruits with the mesh tool which turned out similarly.
Anyway, I am enjoying your blog. It is nice to share ideas with other designers, especially from other countries. I am from Washington, D.C. There are designers here, but there is not necessarily a lot of really creative stuff going on, as there might be in other cities.
_ Jackie
14
i’ve been a stock vector illustrator for a few years and i always find new styles to experiment with - i’ll have a favorite for a while then go a whole new style direction… but somehow, they always have that “mel” look to them…
it keeps things interesting - besides, if a client wants something specific they can point out one they like and it’s easy for me to fall back into that style
i also paint and like to experiment with each and every work of art!