Illustration 4

In the visual art world, illustrators have sometimes been

considered less important in comparison with fine artists

and graphic designers, the term "illustrative" sometimes being

used as a negative critique. But, possibly in part due to the

growth of video game and graphic novel industries, as well

as a recent swing in value towards illustration in magazines and

other publications over photography, illustration is becoming

a valued, popular, and profitable art form that can acquire

a wider market than the other two.

The Dark Tower – John Howe

Original illustration art from the best-known

magazine illustrators is known to bring prices into

the hundreds of thousands of US Dollars at

auction. Norman Rockwell's work transcends even

these high standards, with his painting "Breaking

Home Ties" sold in a 2006 Sotheby's auction for

USD 15.4 million.

The details of the picture, as with most Norman Rockwell works, combine to tell a story, in this case a story of endings and beginnings, as a boy from New Mexico leaves home for the first time. The painting, considered by experts to be one of Norman Rockwell's masterworks, is also one of the most widely reproduced.

“Breaking Home Ties” ~ Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell was an American painter and

illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal

in the United States for their reflection of American

culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover

illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created

for The Saturday Evening Post magazine for more

than four decades.

“Rosie the Riveter” ~ Norman Rockwell

(remember Rosie fromPropaganda?)

“The Girl with the Black Eye” ~ Norman Rockwell

“Football Hero” ~ Norman Rockwell

Frank Frazetta was an American fantasy and science fiction

illustrator, noted for work in comic books, paperback book

covers, paintings, posters, LP record album covers and other

media.

Frazetta’s style is best associated with muscular barbaric

men, nightmarish creatures, scantily clad strong women, &

fantasy scene-scapes.

He is most famous for his work on Conan the Barbarian,

Tarzan, various other sci-fi illustrations.

Headless Horseman ii – Frank Frazetta

The Silver Warrior – Frank Frazetta