Fine Art or Illustration?
And Does It Matter?
Compiled by, with prologue and narrative, from, Strother MacMinn©

Editor’s Note: Strother MacMinn (1918-1998) instructed at Art Center College of Design for nearly 50 years and also did design work for individuals and companies including GM, Henry Dreyfuss, Coachcraft and Toyota. In this article, adapted with permission from a 1990 publication, MacMinn assembled comments and observations from 12 notable artists. (Note: The term "Fine Art" was coined in 1767 in reference to art created for purely aesthetic expression, communication, or contemplation. In other words: "Art for art's sake.")

Why should there need to be a definition between fine art and illustration, especially when the “subject” of automotive art is an automobile with – in most, but not every case – an established identity?

Each category has distinction and dignity. Some drawings and paintings, done with artful precision and creativity, are done solely to illustrate a story or process. Thus, it’s good to let the experts, the artists, figuratively draw the line with their own comments and definitions.

“Art, fine or cheap, is widely described by any dictionary but we could agree here that basically it requires, in any of its forms, to be done or performed with absolute freedom. Art becomes the supreme expression of mankind’s freedom. You can be a painter, sculptor, musician or writer, and you can do your thing because of inner impulse or someone else’s suggestion, order or commission. But as long as you manage to do your stuff, shaking out any kind of strings or compromises, you are an artist.” Héctor Luis Bergandi

“Fine art is more of a blind path; the artist experiences an emotion and generates that into the work as he goes along. The work is made up of many facets and nuances, all woven together to produce the finished work. It has a presence, a spontaneity; it breaths and it’s alive.” Peter Maier

“To me, in a piece of fine art, it is the composition or graphic layout and technique that are more important than the subject matter.” M. Randall Mytar

“Fine art, for me, goes beyond illustration in that there is no ‘end’, no conclusion, and the pursuit is life long.” Tom Hale

“Art does not necessarily follow the ‘truth’ of the subject but it does follow various artistic truths such as composition. Colors, lines and shapes come together to provide the viewer with a sensual (as in senses) experience.” Hutch Haney

“Fine art is saying something subtle and seductive other than ‘I’m just a motorcar’. The car performs part of the interest, not just the interest – it’s in a situation, part of an expression.” Nicola Wood

Following these ideals there is, inevitably, some investigation into the area between the two definitions.

“Polarization of attitudes in fine art versus illustration should never be about their respective aesthetic virtues. The argument centers on the degree of pandering by the artist to commercial interest; pandering that compromises the integrity of the work. It may be true that illustration, because of its narrative task, is more likely to be flawed with compromise than fine art but that is not always the case. Sometimes the pure force of an artist’s integrity, vision and skill push aside the tangled web of outside influence.” Ray Noble

“Distinction between what works as an illustration and what works as fine art is loaded with controversy. Suppose that the work is done as an adjunct to help the reader visualize what the writing is about but it in no way keeps the work from being fine art. Consider Rembrandt’s drawings and etchings of Biblical scenes. In illustration the area of ‘how to…’ drawings slips over the edge as soon as you consider Leonardo da Vinci’s line and wash drawings of his military siege equipment. They were illustrations to Leonardo, perhaps, but they were also extremely sensitive and direct drawings only one step removed from this great mind and certainly within the realm of what we call fine art today. ‘Within the realm of what we call fine art today’ suggests that this is not a constant. It is not. What we call ‘illustration’ is also subject to change. This confuses the process of clearly distinguishing between the two, but I think that is exactly what should happen. The distinction is clear only as we approach the extremes. Not to ignore the distinctions, but eventually we reach a point where the quality of the work – whether it’s called illustration or fine art – determines its true value and the formal definition serves little purpose.” Dennis Fritz

“Illustration and fine art share many similar ideas. Technical skill is important to both as it allows one to more effectively communicate. In illustration I find that technical skill can often be an end itself; in fine art the technical skill is merely a means to an end. I personally believe that great illustrators, such as Norman Rockwell, blur the line between fine art and illustration. There is some magic that exists above and beyond story telling and technique.” Tom Hale

“A case closer to us is that of honest-to-god illustrator Peter Helck who, although being far better than most of us, always denied being a fine artist, and to that I respectfully agree no matter how much I like his work.” Héctor Luis Bergandi

“There is a very fine line between fine art and illustration. I do not believe that as far as the quality of art goes that being labeled fine art is better than being labeled illustration, or vice versa. My simple definition is based on the original primary purpose of the artwork. Was the artist creating art for art’s sake, communicating his feelings, making a statement; or was the art created for business’ sake, i.e., to sell a product with the artist’s feelings and statement coming secondary, if at all.” Ken Eberts

Regarding illustration, artists made these comments:

“When I illustrate, I have a particular objective in mind, a story to tell or a message to display. I might simply be illustrating a design for others to view and understand. I must, by necessity, rely on technique to achieve my objective. It is generally a one-shot piece of artwork with a single goal in mind.” Tom Hale

“More commercial, more exact and precise, since the purpose of illustration is to demonstrate/illustrate a product of automotive concern. Material must reproduce easily for the media, be slick, up-to-date and trendy. It must appeal to a wider audience because of its purpose to get an idea across.” Mark Stehrenberger

“Subject matter is the most important thing in an illustration. The main purpose of the illustration is to sell or explain the subject.” M. Randall Mytar

“Illustration takes more of a planned path. Although it has spontaneity, it is more of a calculated thing. It did not just happen.” Peter Maier

“Any drawing, painting, engraving or whatever plastic expression that is used to explain, adorn, embellish, interpret, accompany a pre-existing piece of text, music, or whatever other form of art or expression, is an illustration.” Héctor Luis Bergandi

”The illustration is to provide technical or other information. Fine art is its own statement and emotion.” Steve Posson

“With the automobile as a subject it is more difficult to ‘draw the line’ between art and illustration: the automobile has been primarily illustrated for commercial purposes. However, more and more we are seeing the automobile being used as a ‘vehicle’ for exploring and appreciating how shapes, colors and other artistic truths make us feel.” Hutch Haney

These expressions from eleven artists with varying comments but agreeing, above all, that conscience and creativity are an essential part of the definition of whether a painting is fine art or illustration. The issue may never be resolved or defined to everyone’s satisfaction. Today he’s iconic – but Peter Helck expressed his opinion in a letter dated October 5, 1983:

“Re: the barrier separating Commercial Art from that in the Fine Art category (now considerably reduced), I recall the statement by illustrator Robert Fawcett – one of the best – that works of integrity and quality in both categories qualified as Real Art.”