Illustration vs fine arts?

[Tipa]

Hi, I would really appreciate if someone could explain to me with simple words what's the difference between Illustration and Fine Arts degree?
And, if you know, how much of illustration you can find in the fine arts degree (and to the opposite direction).
I'm from Israel, and we don't have Illustration here, and it's a bit hard to understand the exact difference from the uni's site's explanations.
I would also like you to recommend about uni's you know and would like to recommend (and the teaching language is English).

Thank you so much!

[Meloncov]

An illustration degree will focus heavily on represenative work, while a fine arts degree will have more time spent on abstraction. Illustration will focus on telling storys with images, while a fine arts degree will encourage exploration of broader themes.

Some fine arts programs could prepare you to be an illustrator (namely, those with strong represenative art components). The qualifictions required to be a fine artists are rather difficult to define, as the definition of good fine art varies so much.

[Ashkitty]

An illustration degree will focus heavily on represenative work, while a fine arts degree will have more time spent on abstraction. Illustration will focus on telling storys with images, while a fine arts degree will encourage exploration of broader themes.

Some fine arts programs could prepare you to be an illustrator (namely, those with strong represenative art components). The qualifictions required to be a fine artists are rather difficult to define, as the definition of good fine art varies so much.

not true. It entirely depends on the school. My school for example spends much more time on realistic figure representation in the Fine Art Department then the Illustration department.


Look at the curriculum for the program adn what coarses are offerend and required. Also look at the program goals to decide what it offers.

[setsuna801]

Lets say you study in fine art majoring in drawing and painting what kind of job can you get ? will you get the technical skills necessery to be an illustrator, designer after the course ? like what kind of job you get when you get out of a fine art proggram. After illustration you may become an illustrator and after animation you can become an animator, But what is a fine artist

[Storyboard Dave]

We have this discussion all the time in class.

There truly isn't much of a difference between the two programs in materials. There are illustrators and fine artists that both use canvas, boards, digital and every medium under the sun so it's not based upon media.

The major difference is the approach- as an illustrator, one has to work within a team concept and have his/her artwork be prepared to get changed if the client says so. As an illustrator, if my client wants me to paint orange wings onto a concept I worked on (and while I might hate it) for them, I'll do it. They're paying the bill for my services. If I as an illustrator want to get paid, I'll do the job. Ideally now, both client side and illustrator sides in an agreement can come together and make great art.

As a fine artist, one never has to change their artwork. Their intrinsic value is in their creation and solely in the vision. Changes are hardly ever made to an original piece of artwork. Fine artists get paid for their individual approaches and that singular vision is what gives them value.

I personally am not enamored with the titles of "illustrator" or "fine artist" because each can step easily into the other world. If I work as an illustrator by day suddenly have a piece accepted into a gallery, does it automatically turn me into a fine artist? And if a fine artist gets commissioned work, does it turn them into illustrators? We're all artists; we all want to make pictures and tell stories. We all want to make a living doing what we passionately want to do with the skills we've gained.

It's really not that complicated nor should it be so exclusive or elitist.

[panchosimpson]

Lets say you study in fine art majoring in drawing and painting what kind of job can you get ? will you get the technical skills necessery to be an illustrator, designer after the course ? like what kind of job you get when you get out of a fine art proggram. After illustration you may become an illustrator and after animation you can become an animator, But what is a fine artist

ummm.....fine artist (gallery)? and assuming this is a good fine art program: portrait painter? muralist? visual development artist? concept artist? background painter? illustrator? (here's where the overlap comes in)

There are really a lot of possibilities for people with good skills :)

Tipa: Academy of Art University in San Francisco is good, so is Art Center in Pasadena and Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach (all 3 in california)

[Maxine Schacker]

The fact is that "fine art" is too broad a category. If you want a career in concept art, you will definitely need traditional, representational fine art skills.
Many universities do not teach these skills. I personally have interviewed and taught students with BFA degrees who couldn't paint an apple and had no grasp of perspective, or understanding of communicating space on a two dimensional surface.

I also interviewed a talented young man who had completed a degree in illustration at a well respected school in NYC. However, he didn't have the kind of solid drawing and painting skills one needs in animation and/or concept art. Even if he managed to find a job in the lower end of Flash animation, he needed to broaden his skill base to build a first rate career.

In summation, I'm afraid you'll have to really look into each school to determine what the focus of the program is, and how well it's taught.
You need to see student work and, if possible, speak to current students and graduates.

A solid skill base will enable you to learn and use the appropriate computer programs. Many people know the programs, but it takes an artist to use them well.

[Tipa]

Thank you for all the answers :)
The thing is, There is only one art university in Israel with fine art bfa degree.
Illustration seem to appeal to me more, but to go study overseas is going to be a real pain in the ass (also if I won't be accepted to this uni :S).
So I wonder, how much it'll matter? how much the skills I gain are different? can I get the same jobs with illustrator degree and a fine artist degree? (though I wonder if I can get any job at all in Israel :S)

You say the skills depends on the school's decisions and teachers.
Well, I looked on the courses, and it doesn't seem to have a connection with illustration from the description, I'll have to look more into it.

One of the biggest problems with study overseas, is that I can't check the university properly. So maybe just because of that it's better to relay on the fine arts I have here and not try the illustration overseas.

Again, thank you all for the replies!

[Meloncov]

can I get the same jobs with illustrator degree and a fine artist degree?

As long as the fine arts degree has a good representational element, yes.

[setsuna801]

If actually an artist can learn alone, could the education not really matter somehow ? I mean you go to learn what you can and get what you need degree or contacts etc and then you learn what you need while you work. No ?

[Coinpurse]

If actually an artist can learn alone, could the education not really matter somehow?

The Education matters, the Degree itself doesn't in most cases. If your an educated artist, your portfolio should reflect that. Howdy, take a look at this thread: http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=102315

of course, you don't need to ever step foot in a college campus for an education, you just need motive and confidence.

[Tipa]

of course, you don't need to ever step foot in a college campus for an education, you just need motive and confidence.


I don't think that's right :S

Professional education - not enough.
Motive and confidence - not enough.
Combine - success!

Am I wrong?

What the writer of the article meant to say was: if you don't have spirit, you won't achieve anything even if you study at the best of the bests.