Informative, beautiful and deeply human: it's time to cheer the underrated art of illustration | Oliver Jeffers

The idea of "art" has evolved dramatically over generations, with much of what we classify as art today being closer to illustration when created. The concept of individual mark-making as a financially rewarding and celebrated expression is relatively new, while the notion of art as an industry is only a century or two old.

Illustration has shaped the world we recognize, from wartime propaganda to branding and advertising. It has also played a significant role in shaping our cultural heritage, with countless works of illustration being created for children's books, album art, theatre posters, and protest placards. The visual languages we build together are ultimately closer to the human experience than to machine experience.

The rise of AI threatens to make creativity accessible to the wealthy while making wealth inaccessible to the creative. However, this is not necessarily the future that awaits illustration. Instead, it may lead to a shift in how illustration is created and consumed, with humans working alongside machines to create new and innovative works.

Ultimately, illustration's power lies in its ability to evoke emotions and make people feel something. As Maya Angelou once said, "People seldom remember what you say, but they remember how you made them feel." This is why the establishment of a national institution dedicated to visual literacy and the celebration of illustration is so important, especially in an age of misinformation.

The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration is a welcome addition to the UK's cultural landscape, recognizing the art form as a vital part of British heritage and education. It will provide a permanent home for every facet of illustration to be explored, celebrated, and understood. As Sir Quentin Blake envisioned, this institution will help to promote visual literacy and ensure that future generations appreciate the power of illustration in shaping our world.

Ugh, AI ruining everything Can't believe they're gonna make it so hard for artists to make a living. And this national institution is just gonna legitimize it all? I mean, what's next? Robots making art and calling it "progress"? No thanks! Illustration is about emotions, people! It's about connecting with others on a human level. We don't need machines doing that for us

I'm thinking... I love how illustration has been around for ages, but it's only recently that individual mark-making is getting its due credit . I mean, can you imagine a world without Quentin Blake or Eric Carle? They're legends! But seriously, the rise of AI might change the game, and I'm all about humans working together with machines to create something new & amazing . What's key is that illustration still evokes emotions, ya know? It makes us feel stuff, not just show pretty pics . A national institution for visual literacy is a no-brainer, especially when misinformation is running rampant . The Quentin Blake Centre is gonna be a gem, and I'm stoked to see it celebrate illustration as part of British heritage & education .

I'm not sure about this whole AI thing... it's making me think that illustration is more than just some fancy drawings on paper. I mean, we already see ads everywhere and war-time propaganda has been super influential. But what if machines start doing all the work and only the rich can afford to pay for human artists? That doesn't sound right

I do love the idea of a national institution dedicated to visual literacy and illustration though! It's like, we need to teach kids about how pictures can be used to make us feel something. And it's cool that it'll have a permanent home in the UK. Sir Quentin Blake is a legend, after all

I'm not sure I like this new AI stuff it's like we're gonna lose human touch in art... but maybe it'll be cool if we can make machines do some stuff for us so we can focus on the feels and emotions illustration is already super powerful as it is, but yeah maybe a dedicated space to learn about it will help keep that alive

I'm thinking about how art is like life itself ... it's all about human connection & emotions, you know? The Philosopher . I mean, think about it, illustration has been around for ages, but we're only now starting to recognize its value as a serious art form . And that's interesting because what is art really? Is it just some pretty pictures or is it something more ?

And yeah, the rise of AI is changing everything... it's like, will people still be able to make a living from their creativity when machines can do it too? It's making me think about who we are as artists & what our role is in society. Are we just entertainers or is there something more meaningful we're supposed to be doing?

I don't know, maybe this is all just part of the evolution of art... but it's got me thinking . What does "art" mean to you? Is it just a way to make money or is it about something deeper?

I think its wild how illustration has evolved over time, from wartime propaganda to branding and ads . Its so cool that people are now more focused on individual mark-making as a way to make money . But with AI coming into the game, things might get weird . Will it bring us closer to each other or just create more wealth for some folks? I'm all for celebrating illustration and making sure future generations know its power . The Quentin Blake Centre sounds like a great place to explore all that .

The whole AI thing is gonna make art super exclusive lol . Rich ppl get rich off makin' machines do their creative work while regular folks struggle 2 make ends meet . I'm not saying AI can't be useful, but it's like the internet was meant 4 sharing pics of cats and not changing the world . What we really need is a solid education system that teaches people about art, design, and critical thinking . Otherwise, the rich get richer and the rest are left with a bunch of mediocre art .