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illustrator

/ˌɪləˈstreɪdər/
/ˈɪləstreɪtə/
IPA guide

Other forms: illustrators

An illustrator is an artist who draws the pictures in a book. Some children's book authors are also illustrators, while others work with an illustrator.

Picture books have to be well-written and well-illustrated: it's up to an illustrator to interpret the story through pictures (or illustrations). Illustrators sometimes also draw or paint pictures for comic books, advertisements, magazines, greeting cards, and graphic novels. In the 16th century, an illustrator was "one who enlightens," from a now-obsolete meaning of illustrate, "light up." The Latin root is illustrare, "light up," and also "adorn."

Definitions of illustrator
  1. noun
    an artist who makes illustrations (for books or magazines or advertisements etc.)
    see moresee less
    examples:
    Hablot Knight Browne
    English illustrator of several of Dickens' novels (1815-1882)
    George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier
    English writer and illustrator; grandfather of Daphne du Maurier (1834-1896)
    Charles Dana Gibson
    United States illustrator remembered for his creation of the `Gibson girl' (1867-1944)
    Howard Pyle
    United States writer and illustrator of children's books (1853-1911)
    Norman Rockwell
    United States illustrator whose works present a sentimental idealized view of everyday life (1894-1978)
    types:
    commercial artist
    an illustrator who is supported by advertising
    type of:
    artist, creative person
    a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
Pronunciation
US
/ˌɪləˈstreɪdər/
UK
/ˈɪləstreɪtə/
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