Illustration Style Analysis

The Style Analysis of the most iconic illustrators in Children's Book history is the independent work of Fiona. No commercial use is permitted. 

Based on the Style Spectrum theory of Disney Art Director Bill Perkins, the Style Analysis Table will only use Line, Mass, and Form, as well as their various combinations, to categorize the different styles of the most remarkable illustrators into 8 groups.

Style Spectrum Theory of Bill Perkins

Line, Mass, and Form are just like the three primary colors on our palette. When we mix up red and yellow, we could get orange, which is a totally new color. The same logic also works for Style. If the artist prefers to use lines with a little bit of local color of the object while totally ignoring the light vs shadow effect, his or her artwork will have a Line/Mass Style, which has the similar effect of the Japanese cartoons and comics. In this case, we could see that the previous element of the name Line/Mass is the dominant one, while the latter is subordinate. So for the Mass/Line Style, the local color of the object will be reinforced more than the lines, which will convey a much flatter visual effect. If the artist adopts the collage, there will be neither Line nor Form, so the image will become totally flat! We call this style Mass.

But be careful with the mixing procedure!  Once we mix up all of the three primary colors, we will get a terrible muddy gray! That's why we need to learn from those greatest illustrators since they can always find the perfect balance on the Style Spectrum without messing the three elements up! So, let's get started!

1967-1976

The Chinese names on the top of the table are just for your reference, it's for helping you to understand the essence of the corresponding style. From 1967 to 1976, the Line/Form and Mass are two dominant styles on the market.

1977-1986

Sometimes we tend to believe that illustration is much flatter than fine artworks in museums. But the Form dominant style from this period shows us that sometimes it's not the case. Look at the illustrations of Robert Ingpen! They're just like photos! That's why illustrators should learn how to draw well before finding their voice as artists.