Application Quote by Chris Ware
“Comics are not illustration, any more than fiction is copywriting. Illustration is essentially the application of artistic technique or style to suit a commercial or ancillary purpose; not that cartooning can't be this (see any restaurant giveaway comic book or superhero media property as an example), but comics written and produced by a cartoonist sitting alone by him- or herself are not illustrations. They don't illustrate anything at all, they literally tell a story.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Comics and Illustration, 2005
Comics differ from illustration; they tell stories rather than merely apply artistic technique for commercial purposes.
In simple terms: Comics tell stories; illustration decorates.
Key Takeaway
Recognize comics as narrative art.
Themes
art
storytelling
medium
visual
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Graphic novels
- advertising
- educational comics
- personal storytelling
Key Concepts
Narrative theory
visual communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you define the purpose of a visual work?
- When does illustration become storytelling?
A Different Perspective
Illustration can be narrative too, blurring lines.
![“There's a rhythm to the words combined with the pictures [in a comic]. Whenever I'm working on a comic strip I re-read it, probably hundreds of times through to pay attention to how all of those things work. Sometimes even changing the angle of a character's eyebrow can really, seriously alter the…” quote by Chris Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dec/chris-ware-8123_angle_there-s-a-rhythm-to-the-words-combined-w_506554.jpg)
