Famous quotes by Illustrators

Explore the voices of illustrators as they discuss craft, purpose, and process. Their reflections reveal how ideas take shape in line and color, the discipline behind playful images, and the empathy required to bring characters and concepts to life. Whether you're a student refining your style, a professional seeking fresh perspective, or a curious admirer of visual storytelling, these words offer guidance, candor, and sparks of motivation. From sketchbook rituals to collaborative challenges, discover insights that celebrate the craft, curiosity, and resilience at the heart of illustration.

"In Modernism, reality used to validate media. In Postmodernism, the media validate reality. If you don't believe this, just think how many times you've described some real event as being 'just like a movie.'"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"Art imitates life. Life imitates high school"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"Many of the contradictions in Postmodern art come from the fact that we're trying to be artists in a democratic society. This is because in a democracy, the ideal is compromise. In art, it isn't"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"Surrealism: An archaic term. Formerly an art movement. No longer distinguishable from everyday life"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"If they were starting their careers today, Rockwell and Picasso would probably both be painting on black velvet"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"Cubism is still the most important art movement for the same reason that John D. is still the most important Rockefeller"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"The only people left in America who seem not to be artists are illustrators"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"Political art expresses the cliches you agree with, unlike propaganda, which expresses the cliches you don't"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"I've never understood why artists, who so often condescend to the cliches of their own culture, are so eager to embrace the cliches of cultures they know nothing about"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"Style is the most valuable asset of the modern artist. That's probably why so many styles are reported lost or stolen each year"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"Postmodernists believe that truth is myth, and myth, truth. This equation has its roots in pop psychology. The same people also believe that emotions are a form of reality. There used to be another name for this state of mind. It used to be called psychosis"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"Many people have observed that truth is stranger than fiction. This has led some intellectuals to conclude that it's stranger than non-fiction as well"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"Futurism: This was a movement of intellectuals who wanted to replace tradition with the modern world of machinery, speed, violence, and public relations. It proves that we should be careful what intellectuals wish for, because we might get it"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"The truth is, we haven't really figured out yet how artists are going to thrive in modern mass societies. We're all experiments"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"In America, the only truly popular art form is the movies. Most people consider painting a hobby and literature, schoolwork"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"Fifty years ago, it was the dream of every bohemian artist to be seen getting out of a limousine wearing blue jeans and sneakers. Today, it's the dream of probably half the people in the country"

Brad Holland, Illustrator

"In creating the Harry Potter artwork, I try to bring a certain amount of realism and believability to the characters and setting, but still add an element of wonder and the unknown"

Mary Grandpre, Illustrator

"It's like a candy store for an illustrator, I connected with Harry pretty quickly and loved the way J.K. described everything; she's such a visually thinking person. You can't pass that up"

Mary Grandpre, Illustrator

"I will be sad. I've gotten very attached to Harry and all that goes on in his world, I guess I'll just be kind of tasting every bit of it because it will be the last one"

Mary Grandpre, Illustrator

"I get to show the reader the essence of the book without giving anything away"

Mary Grandpre, Illustrator

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