Illustration series 1: How illustration can communicate a complex message

I was recently asked for my views on "How illustration can communicate a complex message?", my thoughts to which are illustration can massively communicate big intelligent messages and narrative and present them with veracity. There must be a hundred examples of why illustration over photography can communicate complex messages better than the use of the camera...which is a long standing argument.

It was one as a student I picked up on with the argument of the fashion photographer and the fashion illustrator - of which both roles could communicate and present both honest, complex and untruthful messages of the garments they were projecting.  

Just the other day for instance I was in my local bookshop browsing and stumbled across a new graphic novel of Don Quixote. Now in terms of literature I've never read that book, In my mind I just saw it as a book that was beyond me, too intelligent far to complex and highbrow. But being confronted by this graphic novel and flicking through the pages, the barrier had dropped. The drawings and economy of line the use of color had sucked me in the drawings were communicating complex text in a lighter manner. Of course the drawings still retain a deal of intelligence which do the text justice; but the use of illustration has made it more easier and hopefully for a wider audience. I can now see me finally digesting this story and what's more I know I'm going to enjoy it a lot more.

Over the years  I've digested hundreds of illustrations by a host of illustrators and I've learnt that illustration can communicate messages of sex for example, where I'm certain the use of photography would look far to graphic and frankly pornographic. I think illustration can communicate taboo subjects but present them in a less harsh and softer way to the viewer. Jasper Goodall is a prime example in some of his early works and compositions if they were replicated by a photographer I'm sure the editor would have to discard those images for its pornographic content.

Most recently I was brought in to produce artwork for the new Bolton college for a prospectus, the key was to communicate the messages of diversity among its students, and that it was fun and an attractive place to work and study and a place of "Progress". The college had used photography a lot for past student recruitment, but it was discussed that the use of my illustration would dispel any politics and class barriers. In the pitch stages illustration was discussed as presenting honesty and being able to evoke nostalgia in all people while retaining and presenting an intelligence to the college. It sounds daft but I've worked with a lot of students and they sometimes don't think about the simple message of diversity and pluralism with the characters they draw or trying to communicate messages of emotions we experience in this life. As an artist I cannot get away from the infinite and complex message of love and I doubt I ever will. It's a subject I will return to time and time again....

Al Heighton's recent work for Bolton college:

Al Heighton is a cheeky chap from Doncaster South Yorkshire who graduated in 2001 from the University of Salford with a First class honor's degree in Graphic Design, but gravitated to illustration to amuse folk and for it's immediacy in terms of production. Al describes his work sitting somewhere in an adult world and a children's world it's often peppered with wit and possibly a reference to drinking tea. Al has produced work for the Arctic Monkey's, the Guardian, Marks and Spencer, Bolton College, Newby Hall, Adaptavist and many more. Most recently Al completed a solo show " The Sporting Almanac of Al Heighton" see http://hornseys.com in Ripon North Yorkshire. Al enjoys a good book, riding his bike and thinking about the next drawing. http://alanheighton.co.uk