Narrative Illustration - Points to Consider

The main aim of an illustrator is to represent, interpret and heighten the meaning of a selected text with pictures. These images should be complimentary and aim to contribute to the readers appreciation of the story.

Consideration needs to be made towards settings, time, nature, character and the action that's takes place in the story.

Ideas

Illustrations work alongside the text to communicate ideas such as;

• The visual form of something that can not be described in words
• Complement the words
• Inform, persuade or warn of danger
• Celebrate beauty or emphasize ugliness
• Amuse, delight and move people
• New visual language or realization of an existing visual language

Text

One of the first things an illustrator must do is the interpretation of the text. Having read the story, the illustrator identifies things such as;

• Description of characters
• Identifying features
• Passages of text that can be selected to illustrate
• Story spikes
• Action scenes
• Moments of calm/reflection

Mood and Atmosphere

The illustrator must use every tool at their disposal to reflect the tone of the narrative, by identifying the appropriate sense of mood and atmosphere from its content. They should use techniques such as;

• Perspective can add drama or bring the reader back from the action
• Light source. A limited light source can cast dramatic shadows and create a tense atmosphere. Plenty of light can create a soft, welcoming glow, communicating safety
• Light levels can also indicate time of day, weather or season
• Location and the appropriate visual representation are vital to draw the reader in. A dessert is hot, therefore warm colours must be used, unless its a dessert at night, in which case cool colours are vital to communicate the coolness
• Line quality can communicate whether something like water is soft and flowing, or if rocks are sharp and jagged

Pictorial Composition

The composition of the scene is also vital to communicate elements not realised in the text and to relate the ideas and vision of the illustrator. 

• Which compositional approach best serves the idea?
• How the elements of the composition relate to one another in terms of size, for example; a barn will always be bigger than the animals who reside in it, but a severe angle on the perspective, or the distance between these things can change this rule.

A good example of perspective. The man directly in front of the viewer is much bigger compared to the second figure seated to the left, but if they were to stand side by side on the same plane, there would be very little difference in their size. 

• Emphasis or understatement can be given to certain elements by using heavy or light to light quality
• Stressing dynamic rhythm or passive qualities of environmental influences. For example; the weather. The winds effects on the characters and what they might be wearing or their hair. Likewise its effects on the scene around the character. A gentle breeze effects will shift the leafs while a gale might bend the trees themselves.