Fine Artist vs. Illustrator

This article is by Keith Bond, Regular contributing writer for FineArtViews. You should submit an article and share your views as a guest author by clicking here.

I once heard someone define the difference between a fine artist and an illustrator as: an illustrator answers questions while a fine artist asks questions. I have thought about this statement on many occasions over the past several years. Is it really that simple? Can you really place all true fine artists in the category of asking questions? Can you really place all illustrators in the other camp; that of answering questions?

To the guy�s credit who said that, I understand his argument. At least I think I understand what he was trying to get across. This is his argument:

An illustrator is paid to pictorially portray the client�s message. The illustrator must problem-solve. The client has a question: how do I get consumers to want my product? The illustrator answers that question: simple, show a cool character having fun with that product. The illustrator communicates that message through the artwork.

The fine artist on the other hand is searching and seeking some elusive idea, or thought, or meaning. It is a quest for understanding or truth. Questions are being asked in an effort to make sense of the world or of one�s self. The true artist answers to no one but himself or herself. No idea suggested by another would ever inter into the true artist�s repertoire. That would be blasphemous to the true purpose of art. The true artist is introspective and inquisitive. He/she is a deep thinker, a philosopher, a poet.

Sounds simple, eh? The artist is inquisitive, continually asking questions about the world around us. The illustrator is simply answering other people�s questions. Makes sense, doesn�t it? Hmmm. Not so fast. I don�t think it is that simple. I don�t think artists are that simple. I don�t think illustrators are that simple.

I cannot speak for others. So I will speak for myself here. For me, I am on a quest for understanding and truth. I do ask questions. I do find myself in awe as I discover things about the world and myself. I ponder often. But, I also wish to communicate a message to others. I wish to express my reverence for the world in which we live. So for me, art is a means of both exploration AND veneration. I am both asking and answering questions.

But you may argue that I am answering my own questions, whereas an illustrator answers other people�s questions. On the surface that argument seems valid. But I disagree. My work is answering the questions that many of us share about the world. Certainly not everyone shares all the same questions. But a lot of people want to know what I want to know. I find that it is my responsibility to show them the answers that I am finding. By asking questions, I discover ways to answer those same questions that so many others are also asking. Thus, my exploration leads to veneration and explanation. Yes, I both ask and answer. Enough about me.

I think there are many artists and illustrators who share the same sentiments. Illustrators can and do ask questions. Fine artists can and do answer questions. We are really not that different. You may disagree. That is completely fine. This is only an opinion. But I really do think that illustrators are not that much different than the so called fine artist. By the way, what does �fine� mean anyway?

Both illustrators and fine artists communicate a message. Art is a language. The difference is only in who pays for the art and perhaps the seed of inspiration for a work. There are many so called fine artists who look down upon commercial artists. I have a great respect for the work illustrators do. Many of them are far better painters than I will ever hope to be. They have found a way to use their talents to communicate with others. They are artists in my book.

I will admit, there are those illustrators and fine artists alike who aren�t true to themselves. They are shallow and don�t look deeply into themselves or the world. In my book, regardless of how skilled they are in their craft, these are neither artists nor illustrators. These personalities create other people�s ideas rather than their own. They are mimickers. But that is another topic for another day.

I am interested in your opinion about what an artist does. Why do you create? Are you asking or answering questions? Are you oblivious to any purpose whatsoever with your art? Does art need a purpose? Is the simple act of creating the fulfillment of the purpose of art? Please share your thoughts.

This post has only scratched the surface on this topic. It is a very small drop in a very large bucket. The purpose of art is a question that many have contemplated for centuries. I don�t think we will ever get to the bottom of it in this life. I will share other thoughts on the broader subject in the future. Sharing thoughts with one another is rewarding and enlightening. Please contribute yours.

Sincerely,

Keith Bond

PS. While in college, I entered a charcoal drawing of an Indian into the student fine art exhibit. The juror (one of the professors) rejected the piece, stating that it belonged in the commercial art exhibit.

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Fine Artist vs. Illustrator

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