Hand to Eye: Contemporary Illustration [Paperback]

So with the launch of new book, Hand to Eye, it's refreshing to see real illustrators taking pen to paper rather than mouse to mousepad. And Hand to Eye, features a whole bunch of contemporary illustrators that were, have been, and always will be, hell bent on their art form without that pixelated touch - artists who never sent a thank you note yo Adobe. ... Hand to Eye is proof that while it's possible to turn everything into a series of O's and 1's, the real talent lies with the human touch. --Dazed & Confused

A sequel to the highly successful Pen & Mouse, Hand to Eye features forty-five illustrators from around the world. Including both commissioned artwork and experimental projects, the work collected here shows that cutting-edge computer illustration is still thriving and continues to push boundaries. In the last two years, however, there has been a noticeable move towards a handcrafted style, perhaps a logical reaction to the torrent of digital imagery. More and more image-makers are turning to traditional tools and techniques, and their methods vary widely: some work solely with pen, pencil and paint; others create images using tapestry and embroidery, and many incorporate digital elements into handmade art. Hand to Eye reflects these diverse approaches to image-making, from the cleanness of slick, vector-based work, through photorealism, to a lo-fi, handcrafted aesthetic; from exquisitely detailed, brightly coloured collages to simple, single-colour sketches.

Angus Hyland is a graduate of the RCA and a partner at Pentagram Design, London. In 2001 Hyland was the co-curator, with Roanne Bell, of 'Picture This', a British Council exhibition featuring the work of London illustrators. Roanne Bell is staff writer/DVD editor of the leading communication arts journal Creative Review.