10 things you probably didn’t know about the world of illustration

My fifth book, Beautiful Trees, was released recently. Like all my books, it is illustrated. This time the work is by Miranda Sofroniou. An illustrated book for adults is somewhat unusual. A picture book for adults about trees significant to the characters is perhaps even more so.

Illustration is a compelling field. These ten facts cover the history of the medium and the people who create it.

The origins of printed illustration

1. The first illustrated printed books followed the invention of the printing press in 1440. These were made using woodcut templates. The same method is still used for marking clothes.

2. Xylography is the technical term for this process. One cuts away the parts of a wooden block that are not needed, dips the remainder in ink and prints. It is a simple process. Instructions for the process exist for those interested.

Ancient illustrated stories

3. Illustrated stories predated Gutenberg. Printed scrolls from the Heian and Kamakura eras in Japan date back to 900 AD. The illustrations remain visually impressive by modern standards.

Comic book milestones

4. Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories is the longest running comic book in the world. It was first published in 1940 and continues today. Donald Duck is older than many current world leaders.

5. Batman is one year older than the Disney title. The character has been active since 1939.

Authors who illustrate

6. Many famous authors illustrated their own books. This list includes J.R.R. Tolkien, Sylvia Plath, Clive Barker, John Lennon, Shel Silverstein, Maurice Sendak, T.S. Elliot and Evelyn Waugh.

7. Kurt Vonnegut, William Faulkner, Flannery O’Connor, William Blake and Rudyard Kipling also produced their own illustrations.

8. Dr. Seuss is another notable example of an author who provided his own artwork.

The Jungle Book and children’s literature

9. John Lockwood Kipling, a sculptor, illustrated the first edition of The Jungle Book. His son, Rudyard Kipling, later illustrated many of his own works. These included the Just So series and several books for adults.

10. John Comenius is generally credited with publishing the first picture book for children. Writing in German, the Czech author released The World of Things Obvious to the Senses drawn in Pictures in 1658.