Making Great Illustration examines the work of some of the world's best illustrators, with images of their artwork, photographic portraits and shots of their studios, it lifts the lid on the generally hidden processes involved in the creation of illustration from concept to finished work. The book covers a wide range of illustrative practice looking at both the conceptual and practical approaches of this huge variety of artists, and since each one has been interviewed face to face it uniquely offers a special glimpse into their world and thinking not found elsewhere.
Making Great Illustration has ten sections, covering a wide range of work from design and advertising, political illustration, children's books, surface pattern and fashion illustration through to graphic novels and reportage illustration.
Amongst the many artists included are: Javier Mariscal, Marian Bantjes, Alex Trochut, Quentin Blake, Dave Mckean, Yuko Shimizu, David Downton, Kitty Crowther (winner of the Astrid Lindgren Award 2010), Matthew Cook, Laura Carlin and Ronald Searle. Chapters are also introduced by internationally recognised clients, agents and museum curators within each field, offering some interesting additional perspectives on illustration.
Authors, Derek Brazell and Jo Davies are both working illustrators, and have been joint editors of the Association of Illustrators magazine and currently sit on the editorial board of Varoom illustration magazine, where Derek is publisher. They travelled across the UK, and to Europe, Scandinavia, USA and Canada to conduct interviews for the book.