Illustration Magazine Review

Illustration Spring 2014 Edition Issue 39
Gineapiguana Publications LTD

Illustration Magazine is seasonal magazine which focuses solely on illustration in the more traditional sense. I also feel like the magazine is more about fine art expression rather than the commercial focused “Computer Arts Design Matters magazine” that I have reviewed before.

As well showing the works of new and upcoming illustrators, the magazine also covers more historical figures who illustrated back in there day and gives you an insight of their processes and style. For the illustrators of today, the articles detail what inspires them, take the article headlined as “Wander Lust” which is details the work of Christopher Corr. He explains how travel has informed his approach to illustration through everything from the colours he see’s to the tastes and smells he encounters, he goes on to say how it pushes his work in new directions. It’s information such as this articles that you can relate in my own practise because some of my bests work has come from other places, not so much as travelling around the world but, visits to exhibitions or even the country side. 

I’m slightly disappointed of the lack of workshop techniques such as step by step tutorials, but I suppose illustration is about your own individual mark so to try and imitate someone else’s would go against this. Each page proves this fact because one image looks precise and focused on line whilst the next is more about shape and form combined with bold colours. 

This magazine isn’t the best I have laid my hands upon, I suppose this is because I’m seeing myself as a Designer, rather than a Artist, but when I read a little deeper, I took away small pieces of knowledge that are useful.