Over the last 60 years, we’ve profiled 416 illustrators in Communication Arts and featured thousands more in our Illustration Annuals. On the following pages is work and commentary from just a few of those talented individuals. While styles and techniques have evolved, many of the illustrators’ comments are still relevant today.

“I am opposed to all those who manage to survive in illustration without having an idea of their own—the imitators. Almost every month, we have a comment from someone on a trend. A trend is almost always a stream of imitation.” —Austin Briggs, 1961

“To me, illustration is only a sometime part of visual communication. Illustration can be fine art, and fine art can be illustration. Illustration can be typography. Illustration can be photography. Illustration can be almost anything.” —Charles Schorre, 1967

“Can the marvel of the handwrought and artist-generated really be replaced by science or pseudoscience, working alone or in concert with the camera? Look around. It’s already happening.” —Daniel Schwartz, 1968

“An artist should be a part of his time and relate to his society. It’s historically valuable, like the work of Hogarth, Daumier and Toulouse-Lautrec.” —Alan Cober, 1975

“All kids are interested in drawing. You go into any kindergarten, first or second grade, and the level of creativity is astounding, but it gets killed somewhere in the process of growing up.” —Robert Heindel, 1977

“The thing is to find something surprising and different in every assignment. There are some people who always surprise you, and that’s why you continue to look at their work.” —Robert Weaver, 1978

“Style is nothing more than your own special neurosis surfacing on job after job.” —David Wilcox, 1980

“Remember the question you’ll have to ask yourself with every finished illustration: Would this be just as effective if photographed instead of drawn? If so, you blew it.” —Dick Brown, 1981

“I enjoy illustration because it reaches a lot of people. What other age had this? The printed image has changed the way we live.” —Carol Wald, 1982

“It’s nice when an art director can get you to do something even you didn’t know you could do.” —Melissa Grimes, 1989

“Illustration is a distilled idea. It is the most primitive form of communication.” —Anthony Russo, 1989

“Stamps are like tiny icons. Only one person can look at them at a time. That’s what I like about them.” —Michael J. Deas, 1998

“You have to be aware of what’s been done before, what’s good—and why—and then you have to develop your own style. If you copy someone else, you’re not understanding who you are.” —Barbara Nessim, 2001

“I like art directors who are smart, who know about politics and are interested in what’s going on in the world and help you make a statement.” —Steve Brodner, 2004

“Handmade things give us a touchstone—and sense of humanity—in what can sometimes feel like a very alienating modern culture.” —Marc Burckhardt, 2005

“As an artist, I just don’t see any other choice but to describe all the uncomfortable, ambiguous and messy things in the world, as well as the things that are good and beautiful.” —John Hendrix, 2009

“A lot of comic artists do illustration because it’s more lucrative, but they don’t actually like doing illustration because you’re at the mercy of somebody else. I actually do love doing illustration.” —Jillian Tamaki, 2011

“I adore technology, but when I create a piece of art, I like touching it, holding it. There’s a tactile quality that I can’t seem to shake.” —Scott Bakal, 2015