The Author and The Illustrator

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Assume a collaboration of illustrating a story.

Which is more creative?

Which does more 'work'?

 

[Erozetta]

Assume a collaboration of illustrating a story.

Which is more creative?

Which does more 'work'?

The artist by far.

 

[onehitwanda]

The artist by far.

You mis-spelled therapist.

 

[StillStunned]

The artist by far.

I would say that it depends on the text-to-visual ratio. A graphic novel? Then yes, the illustrator will be doing most of the work. A full-length novel with the occasional picture? Then probably the writer. A book with text on one page and an illustration facing it? Depending on the detail in the picture, then probably the artist.

 

[onehitwanda]

I would say that it depends on the text-to-visual ratio. A graphic novel? Then yes, the illustrator will be doing most of the work. A full-length novel with the occasional picture? Then probably the writer. A book with text on one page and an illustration facing it? Depending on the detail in the picture, then probably the artist.

Both the author and the illustrator are artists.

 

[StillStunned]

Both the author and the illustrator are artists.

That point doesn't invalidate my last sentence.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Both the author and the illustrator are artists.

For this thread, there is a distinction.

 

[Erozetta]

I would say that it depends on the text-to-visual ratio. A graphic novel? Then yes, the illustrator will be doing most of the work. A full-length novel with the occasional picture? Then probably the writer. A book with text on one page and an illustration facing it? Depending on the detail in the picture, then probably the artist.

The visual artist spends years honing their skills to be able to put them to work. An author doesn't have to do that. It's helpful, but it's not required to know anything beyond the basics. The illustrator has more work baked into the very core of being able to execute their craft. Even illustrators who do little doodle-like artworks have learned more than an author will ever need to in order to put their medium out there.

 

[Erozetta]

You mis-spelled therapist.

In my world, artists are therapists.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

The artist by far.

Without the author, there would be no story to illustrate.

 

[Erozetta]

I've put it into this perspective: I can write and learned how to write with relative ease. I can't draw very well despite trying to learn for over a decade now.

 

[Erozetta]

Without the author, there would be no story to illustrate.

You asked which would have more work to do in a collaboration, which means both exist in this scenario.

Between the two, the illustrator is going to have more work to do as more skill is required.

 

[Erozetta]

The illustrator has to take words and make them into pictures that correlate to the words. The author only has to make the words.

Now, if the drawings are done first, and the author has to fill in the narrative, that might be considered more creative, but still not more difficult than the drawings.


Put it this way: The illustrator can create easily seen worlds without ever having a single word written down to help them. The writer cannot create images without using the written word.

 

[onehitwanda]

In my world, artists are therapists.

Does that mean therapists are artists? Ooh. Plotbunny.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Drawing/illustrating is like composing or performing music. You either can do it, or you can't. For those who can, studying and practicing help you hone your craft, but it's nearly impossible for those who don't have the latent talent to do it at all, let alone be good at it. For those who do, is it 'work'?

 

[Erozetta]

Does that mean therapists are artists? Ooh. Plotbunny.

Artists of unraveling the inner workings of the mind.

 

[onehitwanda]

Artists of unraveling the inner workings of the mind.

What about minds like mine that don't work so much as careen from idea to shiny idea?

I jest. I loved my therapist - platonically, in case anyone gets any ideas. I don't think it's a stretch to say she saved me.

 

[Erozetta]

Drawing/illustrating is like composing or performing music. You either can do it, or you can't. For those who can, studying and practicing help you hone your craft, but it's nearly impossible for those who don't have the latent talent to do it at all, let alone be good at it. For those who do, is it 'work'?

That's not remotely true.

Drawing is a skill that can be honed with work, just like music, you're right about that. But talent is only a factor in how quickly you advance the skill. No amount of latent talent will create a good artist if that talent isn't nurtured. However, someone without that natural talent can become a masterful artist with time and a willingness to learn.

 

[Erozetta]

What about minds like mine that don't work so much as careen from idea to shiny idea?

I jest. I loved my therapist - platonically, in case anyone gets any ideas. I don't think it's a stretch to say she saved me.

My guess is they are still trying to unwork that first knot in those minds, but don't realize it's not so much a knot as it is the origin point of many loose threads.

 

[onehitwanda]

that first knot in those minds

NO WANDA STOP

 

[Erozetta]

NO WANDA STOP

Should I have said kink instead?

 

[onehitwanda]

Should I have said kink instead?

To be fair it probably wouldn't help I'm going to go sit in the corner now.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

Drawing/illustrating is like composing or performing music. You either can do it, or you can't. For those who can, studying and practicing help you hone your craft, but it's nearly impossible for those who don't have the latent talent to do it at all, let alone be good at it. For those who do, is it 'work'?

That's extremely arguable. I have no "talent" for drawing. I struggled for all of my education, right up to the point where I had to draw what I saw through microscopes and other instruments.

I have now been paid for (commercial) art. I'll never be a painter, but then I've never been interested and never actually worked at it.

Certainly, you might find art harder to learn than others, and a gifted artist might find it intuitive and easy, the same way most of us authors probably found reading and composition easier than the average person, but there isn't the sort of on/off distinction you are implying above.

I still can't read or play music--and again, that's because I never put any work into it.

--Annie

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Then you had talent before you knew you did.


I can't draw a straight line using a ruler or other straightedge as a guide.

 

[alohadave]

Why is there a comparison as to who is doing more work or who is more creative?