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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fiery Todd" data-source="post: 636191" data-attributes="member: 550">OK, I'll bite.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />I think I stated in my post that there are work-for-hire fine artists and that illustrators are, essentially, fine artists.  The line, in many respects is blurred, but the philosophy behind the production of the work is not.Throughout the history of art, yes, a fair number of fine artists were commissioned.  I think you'll find that many of them viewed their commissions as a means to survive so that they could focus on other aspects of their work.  Besides, the Pope may have "commissioned" Michelangelo, but it's not like Mike was going to say no to him.  If I remember the details of this relationship correctly, it was a stormy one.  Mike really didn't like the Pope, and the Pope really didn't like Mike.  I never got the feeling the Mike was ever "hired" to do the Sistine Chapel.  But this is just one example.  Most artists through "recent" history were often adopted by patrons, whether it’s the church, or a King, or a wealthy nobleman.  This again, was a means to an end for them.  Times have changed considerably since. It's not like DaVinci was hired to paint a nice Santa Clause to sell Coke, or Goya doing some editorial illustration for the cover of Times.  (The irony is, is that much of the iconic fine art has been bastardized and used by ad companies and illustrators for years.  Everything from the Mona Lisa to The Scream).I think the best examples of Illustrator vs. Fine Artist are the Wyeths.  N.C. Wyeth was a frustrated fine artist who went on to illustrate the great classics.  He is recognized as one of the great American illustrators.  His son, Andrew, took a more reflective approach with his art, and is now considered one of the great American painters.  If you were to look at their work side-by-side, you would see two very strong painters, and the reason why they have a difference (and just not in style).NC Wyeth did not want the mantle of illustrator, but he accepted it.  He envisioned himself a fine artist, but was never taken seriously as such.  The Hildebrants comment is strange because their style is about 6 degrees from comic books (comic books being one of my favorite art forms).  You can see the influence of NC Wyeth in their work, however.  The Hildebrandts painted book covers, posters, and most famously, calendars.  The Hildebrandts are full on illustrators, no doubt about it.  As is Norman Rockwell.  Norman's right up there with Mr. Wyeth.  Norman is a glorious example of an illustrator.  Sure, Norman can produce a wonderful piece of fine art because he's a fantastic painter, but he's made his name and living on illustration.Some other cool illustrators to check out?  Brad Holland:  <a href="http://www.bradholland.net/beta/portfolios/portfolioAdv.html" target="_blank">http://www.bradholland.net/beta/portfolios/portfolioAdv.html</a> Maurice Sendak: <a href="http://www.barclayagency.com/sendak.html" target="_blank">http://www.barclayagency.com/sendak.html</a> and Arthur Rackham: <a href="http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/rackham.htm" target="_blank">http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/rackham.htm</a> to name but a few. For an overview of illustration in general, check out <a href="http://www.askart.com/Interest/TopIll_a.asp" target="_blank">http://www.askart.com/Interest/TopIll_a.asp</a></blockquote>

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