What Counts As Traditional Illustration?

Traditional illustration is basically any illustration that has not been created digitally i.e. with a computer. Traditional illustrations are created using traditional media, such as watercolour, acrylic, pen and ink, charcoal, pastels, oil pastels, oil paints, crayons and any other media which is used to create illustrations.

Generally, traditional illustration is used for book covers more than digital illustration, particularly for children's picture books. Some illustrators may tend to stick to traditional illustration because they aren't familiar with technology, or they may stick to it because they are used to that particular way of working. Graphics tablets are becoming more widely used by artists, and may create a more traditional effect than colouring an illustration digitally with a computer mouse.