The illustrated life is a wonderful place to explore these days! We too can play in the gallery world. This is why I am discussing one of my favorite tea spilling, pen wielding artists: Stella Im Hultberg. Is her artwork illustration, or is it fine art? Maybe it is fine art-illustration?
Her recent work for Thinkspace Gallery in L.A. uses less realism and more beautiful abstract shapes and organic forms. Illustrators can be fine artists and fine artists can be illustrators. We are abstracting the label, one gallery at a time.
I’ve spoken my piece, but what do you guys think about the current world of illustration? Are we fine artists? Where do we belong?
i’ve been a fan of stella’s for awhile, i’m definitely going to check out her stuff at thinkspace (i live a couple of blocks away). i think many illustrators blur the line between “illustration” and “fine art” like stella does, i personally consider myself an illustrator and not at all a fine artist. i do dable in the fine arts occasionally though.
I just checked ThinkSpace’s site and Stella’s show ENDS FRIDAY! Please hurry and see it if you are in L.A.
Nan-perhaps blurring the line is good thing? More opportunities for us! Enjoy the show!
Very nice, also reminded me of Audrey Kawasaki.
I agree with Ade , I often mix their work even if there are differences …Anyway I’ll check the ThinkSpace’s right now !
I agree with Ade and Alexandre, it bears a striking resemblance to Audrey Kawasaki’s work.
I think the distinctions between ‘Illustrator’ and ‘Fine Artist’ come from the educational system more than anything and the term could be applied equally to a lot of peoples work. For me, as a former student of both there is a distinct conceptual, historical and theoretical practice underlying fine art practice whereas an illustrator is more skill based, with a more contemporary knowledge of design and industry practice.
I’ve also been a fan of Stella’s for a long time, referencing her work numerous times in my University journals, I’m currently writing my dissertation on drawing the line between fine art and illustration, more so looking into a finished piece as a whole and how to classify it. Do you know of any other Illustrators that are similar in style, as in hard to define whether they’re an “artist” or an illustrator?
Lovely…She is so obviously 100% inspired by Klimt. I should know – so am I!