Types of illustration are everywhere around us. Illustrations are in the books and magazines you read, the websites you visit, and even in the packaging of some of your tasty favorite snacks.

They help convey narratives, share ideas, and grab your attention in ways words cannot. Also, did you know there are so many forms of illustration style? Each has its own distinct feel and flavor.

In this blog, we’re going to take you through 16 amazing illustration examples you really need to know about. You’re going to see how artists use styles to make their illustrations look good.

So, without any further ado, let’s jump into this blog and explore these illustration examples together to see the world more vividly.

What is Illustration?

If you are wondering what are illustrations, then illustration is basically art that tells a story or explains an idea through pictures.

It’s not just about drawing something aesthetically pleasing; it’s about making something that is easy to comprehend while remaining enjoyable to look at.

Strike two birds with one stone; that’s what the motto of illustrations is. You’ll find illustrations all around you.

Illustrations surround us: on household items, in books, magazines, comics, ads, and websites. Illustrations give people a unique creative way to connect with messages.

For example, children’s storybooks contain adorable, colorful illustrations. They do so to make it easier for kids to track story progression.

On the other hand, a poster uses an eye-catching illustration to grab your attention. Designers draw illustrations by hand on paper using pencils, paint, or markers.

Or like it is the case these days, they are created digitally using software on a computer. No matter what method a designer uses, illustrations vividly bring ideas alive and convey messages. It just adds color and beauty to this world.

What is Illustration Style?

When people say “illustration style”, they mean a distinctive aesthetic vibe or overall look of some artwork.

Artists possess a distinct illustration style much like individuals have unique handwriting reflecting their personality.

Some artists draw realistic visuals that are similar to photographs whereas others draw playful and cartoonish illustrations. Style varies greatly depending on how an artist uses colors, lines, shapes, and detail.

For instance, exhibit a soft and dreamy style. On the other hand, graffiti art will have different illustration styles which are bold and edgy.

An art style may also lend itself to a theme, such as if you think of something for fantasy, dragons, and wizards come to mind, or retro styles would also lend themselves to you if you are thinking of vintage.

Finding a unique illustration style can be a very fun process for everyone. That is because your art and your style represent you and depict your personality.

You can be creative, mix styles, play around, and do anything you want to create a piece of art that is transcending and is truly yours.

How to Tell Illustration Types Apart?

Once you know what the telltale clues are, identifying the different types of illustration will be a piece of cake.

Each particular type of illustration has mapping features that will clearly identify them. Cartoons and comic strips will usually have silly characters, speech bubbles, and colorful features.

Realistic illustrations usually appear to be photos because of the amount of shading and detail it has. Watercolor illustrations offer soft and blended colors as if it was painted with a brush.

3D illustrations look like 3D pills just waiting to pop out at the reader on the sides of each of the amendments on the pages with the use of shadows and dimensions.

Fashion illustrations depict clothing that is stylish and also comes with a model and dramatic poses.

When looking at any illustration, pay attention to the lines, colors, shapes, or what the illustration makes you feel – these features can lead you toward what type it is.

Once you learn to spot these details, you’ll see how creative and unique each illustration type can be.

Top 16 Illustration Types and Examples

There are so many ways artists create illustrations to bring their ideas to life. Therefore, let’s look at 16 famous illustration examples and types:

1. Digital Illustrations

One of the most common illustration examples is digital illustrations. They get crafted using design software on computers and tablets.

Most designers create illustrations on tablets by using a stylus pen. The pen allows them to draw on the screen, instead of traditional paper and pencils.

The cool thing about digital illustrations is that you can easily erase mistakes, use bright colors, and have layers that give your drawings a really refined look.

Digital illustrations are great for both two-dimensional illustrations for web graphics, game characters, social media posts, and animated films; as well as for creative designers of three-dimensional models since most graphic visual work will have digital components.

Many artists favor digital illustration partly because they can readily discard unsatisfactory work without wasting materials and swiftly access diverse brushes.

You can post your artistic illustration online right away and share it with everyone pretty quickly afterward almost instantly.

If you’ve ever seen fan art online or cute stickers in a messaging app, those are digital illustrations at work.

2. Realistic Illustration

Realistic types of Illustrations are made to look as real as possible. Artists working realistically pour energy into tiny texture details and shadows beneath faint light sources deliberately every single time.

A fairly realistic illustration of someone might painstakingly render each strand of hair and every tiny wrinkle around their gleaming eyes.

Realistic illustration styles are de rigueur in high-end medical literature and science textbooks or posh magazines where verisimilitude reigns supreme.

Realistic illustrations would also often be found in animal illustrations, botany/nature studies, and realistic posters. When an artist wants to create realistic art, he usually has done his fair share of practicing and studying the objects and the way things look similar in real life.

The artist might use pencils, paints, or digital tools; the objective is ultimately the same; trying to make you feel as if you can reach out and touch what you see on the page.

3. Cartoons and Comics Illustration

Cartoons and comics illustration is probably the most fun one out there amongst most illustration types.

Drawings typically show vibrant personalities albeit remaining somewhat simplistic and colorful. Characters in cartoons have big eyes, silly expressions, and funny poses that they make.

Viewers of all ages smile or laugh. Comics elaborate on this concept by telling stories through a series of panels with speech bubbles.

It’s used a lot in animal illustrations, nature drawings, and realistic posters. To make realistic art, an artist normally practices a great deal and studies what things look like in real life.

Some artists use pencil, paints, or digital aspects, but the concept is the same, to create the illusion that you could reach out and touch what is on the page.

One of the best examples of comic illustration is the studio Ghibli style illustration examples everyone is using these days.

4. Children’s Illustrations

Children’s illustrations are among the cutest illustration examples. They’re made super specifically for youngsters being bright and utterly full of fantastical imagination nearly always.

These illustrations frequently appear in bedtime books or certain school materials and various storybooks for kids at night. They help youngsters track narrative flow quite effortlessly and make reading utterly fantastic for kids everywhere apparently.

You’ll usually see cute characters, animals that can talk, magical places, and playful shapes in children’s art.

Artists drawing for children use simple lines and friendly colors which make their work comprehensible to kids everywhere.

Illustration at times conveys storylines much better than words do. Children’s illustrations are created using watercolor paints or colored pencils and sometimes with fancy digital software tools too.

They help children to learn, dream, and believe that anything is possible.

5. Watercolor Illustration

Watercolor illustrations are one of the most famous illustration examples as they are known for their dreamy and soft look.

Artists use bespoke watercolor paint and special brushes made to use with watercolors. They do so to smooth and blend colors beautifully. This creates a bright and airy appearance to their artwork.

Watercolor art tends to feature soft edges, splashy textures, and blurred edges with color gradients.

Watercolor artwork is particularly popular for greeting cards, children’s illustrations, wedding invitations, and nature artwork (flowers and landscapes).

Artists enjoy using watercolor because it is unpredictable, and you never really know what the color combinations will yield.

Even an “error” can look beautiful. Many people report that watercolor painting is a relaxing form of painting because it’s fluid and soft.

If you enjoy artwork that has that sweet, soothing, sometimes magical, quality, you may enjoy watercolor illustrations the most.

6. 3D Illustrations

3D illustrations give the effect of coming off the page. More so, 3D art uses 3D software to create scenes with depth, shadows, and textured surfaces rather than flat drawings.

That’s why they appear almost real like you could spin them around or touch them. 3D illustrations are now everywhere in the gaming and entertainment worlds, in product designs, and in the advertising industries.

Artists always start by building out the model on a computer and then go on to build colors, lighting, and even little lifelike details.

You’ve probably seen 3D characters in Pixar movies or cool game avatars, that’s a 3D illustration in action.

It makes a very powerful medium with the ability to recreate imaginary worlds that feel real.

Mastering 3D illustration takes a lot of practice, but if you’re looking for one of the most fun ways to create art, learning 3D illustration is it!

7. Editorial Illustration

Editorial illustration manifests as artwork typically showcased in newspapers and occasionally online articles or magazines with varied visual appeal.

These pictures help inform, express, or represent information in a visual, and often artistic, manner.

The reader receives a vivid visual representation of the article’s content and not the dry text that often puts people right to sleep instantly.

An editorial illustration about rescuing ocean ecosystems might vividly depict sea creatures swimming rather freely in unusually turquoise waters.

Editorial illustrations vary wildly in tone from somber moodiness to outlandish absurdity depending on the message artists aim to convey.

Effective editorial illustrations seize attention quickly and foster contemplation. They give meaning to difficult subjects that are then turned into simple images.

The next time you see something in a magazine take a close look, it is art with a purpose.

8. Posters Illustration

Poster illustrations are among the oldest illustration examples. They are all about catching your eye and spreading a message fast.

Think about movie posters, concert ads, or school event flyers, they all use cool illustrations to make you stop and look.

A good poster also has a good use of colors, imaginative graphics, and trendy typography to convey the main idea quickly.

Artists can choose any style of poster illustration, from cartoon art, retro artwork, retro graphics, or contemporary graphics.

There are funny posters and thought-provoking posters. Poster illustrations date back centuries ago, from old rock band gig posters to super modern social media advertisements nowadays.

They’re not merely art but a delightfully engaging way to share news ideas and upcoming events with people.

Next time you spot a poster stuck on some wall or online, notice how art makes you feel.

9. Retro or Vintage Illustrations

Retro or vintage illustrations are a throwback. Artwork from the 1920s to the 1980s was heavily influenced by this style of illustration.

Think of retro advertisements, vintage comic books, and soda poster designs displayed back in the fifties.

Retro illustrations include soft and faded colors with fun fonts that awaken the reminiscent, nostalgic feeling of the good old days.

The vintage style feels nostalgic and has a certain playfulness that many artists adore deeply. You might spot this type of style on diner menus or t-shirts that want to showcase the good old cool vibe.

Once in a while, you see artists embracing retro design characteristics with contemporary ideas that create a new experience.

So next time you encounter a great design that has an old-time but present-day appeal, what you are viewing is most likely a retro or vintage illustration. Vintage illustrations have a way of bringing the past to the present.

10. Sci-Fi and Fantasy Illustration

Sci-fi and fantasy illustrations are perfect for anyone who loves adventures that go beyond our world.

This style creates fantastical worlds, creatures, and characters into existence. Futuristic robots, alien worlds, magical forests, and dragons are examples of sci-fi and fantasy illustrations.

Artists use vibrant colors and bright lights along with dramatic scenes to make everything feel gigantic.

This illustration example is quite popular with Gen Z. That is thanks to its usage in video games, movies as well comics and book covers.

This art form allows people to escape reality and step into the world of dreams. Sci-fi and fantasy illustrations usually blend a number of styles.

They merge realistic details with imaginative possibilities. Artists spend loads of time creating great costumes, weapons, or landscapes, making sure their worlds feel believable.

You will surely dig this illustration art style if fantastical tales of far-off galaxies or mystical realms really float your boat.

11. Graffiti Illustration

Graffiti illustration evokes memories of the crude but often bold and expressive art found on many of our cities’ walls and sidewalks.

This started as an art form, a style of street artists using spray paint to create joyful and colorful art on buildings, trains, and bridges.

Graffiti and graffiti-inspired illustration is no longer bound to wall art, you will find graffiti illustration in graphic design, on clothing, and even in digital works of art!

You’ll know this style when you see it. You’ll notice bright, saturated colors, funky lettering, and wild shapes.

At times it even features cool characters or powerful messages about social issues. It feels rebellious and free to use graffiti art because the artist breaks the rules of art and uses new ideas.

Many people enjoy graffiti illustrations because they can feel alive and dynamic. They bring an urban feel to any project.

Next time you see graffiti art, remember that it is not just paint on a wall; it’s a loud, creative voice that has something to say.

12. Fashion Illustration

Fashion illustration is simply drawing fashionable clothing and trendy styles. Moreover, fashion illustration is a way for designers to represent or depict how an outfit will look before making it.

There are some fashion illustrations where the model is tall and elegant, in dynamic poses, and has dramatic hairstyles.

Artists are looking at the flow of the fabric, the textures that appear, and the minute details such as jewelry or shoes.

This style can be pretty realistic or fairly dreamy and bold or extremely edgy whatever matches the vibe of clothes.

Fashion illustrations appear in magazines or on designer websites and sometimes on mood boards too.

They help bring ideas to life vividly showcasing creativity before cutting any fabric. Fashion illustrations are for you if changing style into mesmerizing art of clothes, makeup, and trends is your thing.

13. Line Art Illustration

Line art illustration is easy yet awesome. It is made using only lines, nothing fancy like shading or colors.

Artists create outlines and shapes using clean flowing lines. They can create some lovely, minimal designs.

At times, line art can become intricate, like a delicate flower, or a portrait done entirely in line. Other times they can become less literal and more abstract, with flowing shapes and patterns.

There are many applications of line art from tattoos to logos to icons to home décor, and it’s on-trend because of how clean and timeless it is.

Artists lean into this aesthetic pretty heavily because it feels super chill and transports you back to basic shape and fluid movement.

Line art sans color can illustrate feelings deeply and tell some pretty interesting stories effectively.

Next time you doodle try creating a picture with just one squiggly line and you’ll be gobsmacked by how much expression emerges from sparse shapes.

14. Cutout Illustration

Cutout illustration is similar to a collage of shapes. This has always been inspired by the famous artist Henri Matisse who used scissors to cut colored paper into brilliant fun shapes to use in his works.

Today artists create cutout illustrations with layers of shapes, layers of patterns, and layers of textures in visual art. It might be flowers with overlapping cut shapes of different colors.

Animals fit together like a puzzle, or whole playful scenes made of overlapping cutout shapes.

This form of illustration can be crafted manually with disposable paper or fashioned digitally using fancy graphics software nowadays online.

Cutout illustrations are super useful for branding with a playful vibe and kids’ books, posters, and greeting cards occasionally.

Cutout illustration appeals to people largely because it gives off a thoroughly endearing arts and crafts vibe quite naturally.

The bright colors and simple shapes bring a form of “childlike” charm to the art. If you like scissors, glue, or colorful paper, cutout illustration might just be the medium for you, and you will be impressed with how cutout illustration can turn simple shapes into gorgeous art.

15. Concept Art

Concept art is the roadmap for all visual media including movies, games, and animations.

Artists will communicate their imaginative predesign thinking with concept art of what characters, places, or props may look like. This means prior to any definitive design.

For instance, if an artist was designing a fantasy video game, they may draw a creepy castle, then a few brave heroes, and then spawn an odd creature in many variations.

Concept art provides directors and designers with a visual idea of what would work in the story.

All conceptual styles are welcomed by the artists, and they could be rough, sketchy, cartoonish, or hyper-realistic depending on need.

Concept artists provide the creative freeway of spitballing someone else’s ideas down on paper (or a screen).

Without concept artists, you wouldn’t have those amazing visuals with fantasy worlds like you see in movies and games. Concept art is where the ideas start.

16. Abstract Illustration Style

Abstract illustration styles are completely wild and all over the place to your heart’s desire.

While realism shows us things exactly as they are, abstract illustration presents things in an expressive way through shapes, colors, and patterns.

You could see swirls, squiggles, explosions of color, and who knows what. But that is the beauty of it.

Abstract illustration thrives on unorthodox freedom and many artists revel in working with such unconventional style so very much.

It is totally up to you to define what the picture represents in abstract illustrations.

Shapes and vibrant colors can evoke strong emotions or recall life’s most exhilarating moments making you feel utterly elated or nostalgic suddenly.

Abstract illustrations can be seen as posters, album covers, branding, or modern works of art because they can be such an eye-popping way to capture attention.

The next time you see an abstract illustration, consider what you felt when you saw it, that is what makes the art so great.

Why Choose Artisticore to Design Creative Illustrations?

We at Artisticore reckon every illustration needs to convey a narrative and bring eyeballs in. That is why the talented designers and artists in our team turn ideas into colorful visuals with creative flair.

We can make fun cartoons and dreamy watercolors really stand out with pretty much any kind of cool digital art.

Also, we collaborate with you to understand your aesthetic and creative vision so the final design feels genuinely yours.

You can check out some of our illustration portfolio examples to see if we are the real deal or not.

We keep things straightforward and pretty relaxed so you enjoy the process from start to end quite thoroughly.

The team at Artisticore has one simple stance, you are not just getting nice photos, you are getting extraordinary illustrations that show off your brand, book, or project in the best way possible.

That is why you can choose Artisticore for the job and let us bring your beautiful ideas to life.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it, those are the 16 illustration examples. Illustrations brighten the world by making things more interesting. More so, they help us understand the things of the world in a fun way. Every type of illustration differs, whether it is children’s book illustration or graffiti. The more you understand about the types of illustration styles, the easier it will be to choose the right one that meets your idea.

This is why working with a company like Artisticore has so much to offer, we know how to partner your project with the right illustration styles. Regardless of the requirement, a great illustration always stands out from the competition and will put a smile on someone’s face. The only requirement is to have fun with the process. Wait until you see how fun and colorful illustrations can be. Let’s get started! Artisticore is here to bring your vision to life.