Illustrators

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An artist who supports a writing or some concept by sketching/drawing a visual representation explaining the content of the said text or idea. Illustration has been used for a long time to elucidate difficult concepts that are difficult to describe through written text. Here is a list of some of the famous illustrators.
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 1 
Norman Rockwell
(American Painter & Illustrator Known for His Works ‘Scout at Ship's Wheel’ &‘Santa and Scouts in Snow’)
Norman Rockwell
6
Birthdate: February 3, 1894
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: November 8, 1978

Painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell became famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life he created for The Saturday Evening Post. He was associated with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for over six decades and produced covers for their publications and calendars. A prolific artist, he made more than 4,000 original works in his lifetime.

 2 
Dr. Seuss
(Children's Author And Illustrator)
Dr. Seuss
8
Birthdate: March 2, 1904
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
Died: September 24, 1991

Dr. Seuss was an American children's author, illustrator, and political cartoonist. He is credited with writing some of the most famous children's books ever, including The Cat in the Hat. His works were translated into over 20 languages and sold more than 600 million copies by the time of his death. Many of his creations were adapted into animated cartoons.

 3 
Gerda Wegener
(Danish Illustrator, Painter and Partner of Transgender Woman Lili Elbe)
Gerda Wegener
4
Birthdate: March 15, 1886
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hammelev, Denmark
Died: July 28, 1940

Gerda Wegener was a Danish painter and illustrator. She began painting as a young girl and received her training at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. As a painter, she often depicted confident and elegant women performing a variety of activities in her works. She also painted fashion illustrations and what was labeled “lesbian erotica.” 

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 4 
Christopher Tolkien
(Editor, Illustrator, Academic and the Son of Author J. R. R. Tolkien)
Christopher Tolkien
6
Birthdate: November 21, 1924
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Leeds, United Kingdom
Died: January 16, 2020

Christopher Tolkien was a French and English academic editor. The son of legendary author J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher edited much of his father's work, which was published after his father's demise. Christopher Tolkien is also credited with drawing the original maps in, The Lord of the Rings, one of his father's highly acclaimed novels.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti
4
Birthdate: May 12, 1828
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
Died: April 9, 1882

Known for founding the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Dante Gabriel Rossetti was a legendary poet and painter of the 19th century. His illustrations also adorned the books of his poet sister Christina Rossetti. Known for volumes such as The House of Life, he also influenced the Aesthetic movement.

 6 
Édouard-Henri Avril
(French Painter, Commercial Artist and Illustrator of Erotic Literature)
Édouard-Henri Avril
4
Birthdate: May 21, 1849
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Algiers, French Algeria
Died: July 28, 1928

Before he revolutionized 19th-century erotica as Paul Avril, Édouard-Henri Avril was a soldier. An injury sustained in the Franco-Prussian War cut short his military life, and he was pushed into Paris sex salons to study art. His most notable works, such as the illustrations for Fanny Hill, were largely banned.

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 7 
Alphonse Mucha
(Painter)
Alphonse Mucha
6
Birthdate: July 24, 1860
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ivancice, Czechia
Died: July 14, 1939
 8 
Gustave Doré
(Artist Best Known for His Prolific Output of Wood-Engravings and Illustrated Texts)
Gustave Doré
4
Birthdate: January 6, 1832
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Strasbourg, France
Died: January 23, 1883

Best known for his wood-engraving, Gustave Doré was a child prodigy who began his artwork at the tender age of 5. A master lithographer and caricaturist, he began his career with Journal pour Rire. He also worked on commissions from authors such as Cervantes, Milton, and Dante.

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 9 
Dav Pilkey
(Author and Illustrator of the Children's Book Series 'Captain Underpants' & 'Dog Man')
Dav Pilkey
4
Birthdate: March 4, 1966
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Dav Pilkey is an American cartoonist, illustrator, and author of children's literature. Pilkey is best known for illustrating and authoring a popular children's book series named Captain Underpants which earned him the prestigious Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Award in 2007.

 10 
Eric Carle
(Author)
Eric Carle
4
Birthdate: June 25, 1929
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Syracuse, New York, United States
Died: May 23, 2021
 11 
Tove Jansson
(Finnish Penwoman and the Author of the Children’s Book Series 'Moomin')
Tove Jansson
4
Birthdate: August 9, 1914
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Died: June 27, 2001
Finnish author Tove Jansson was the woman behind the phenomenally successful children’s books and comics on the fictional white hippo-like creatures she called Moomins. While the Moomins books have been translated into more than 50 languages, Jansson’s literary works also include several other novels and short stories.
 12 
Marjane Satrapi
(Graphic Novelist Known for Her Works 'Persepolis' and 'Chicken with Plums')
Marjane Satrapi
4
Birthdate: November 22, 1969
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rasht, Iran

Marjane Satrapi is a graphic novelist, illustrator, cartoonist, children's book author, and film director. Satrapi achieved international recognition in the early-2000s after releasing her critically acclaimed graphic novels. She is best known for writing and directing an animated biographical drama film titled Persepolis, which received nominations at prestigious award ceremonies, such as the Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, and Golden Globes.

 13 
Lucian Freud
(British Painter Who was One of the Foremost 20th-Century English Portraitists)
Lucian Freud
4
Birthdate: December 8, 1922
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: July 20, 2011

The son of architect L. Freud and the grandson of legendary psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, painter Lucian Freud was born in Berlin but later moved to London to flee Nazism. He showed an inclination toward surrealism initially but later drifted to realism. Cedric Morris remains one of his notable works.

 14 
Frank Frazetta
(Renowned Illustrator of the 20th Century Popularly Known as the 'Godfather of Fantasy Art')
Frank Frazetta
4
Birthdate: February 9, 1928
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: May 10, 2010

Frank Frazetta was an American science fiction and fantasy artist remembered for his work on comic books, LP record album covers, paperback book covers, posters, and paintings among other media. Nicknamed the Godfather of fantasy art, Frazetta is also considered one of the 20th century's best-known illustrators. He was honored at the World Fantasy Convention with a Life Achievement Award. 

 15 
Aubrey Beardsley
(Illustrator)
Aubrey Beardsley
4
Birthdate: August 21, 1872
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Brighton, England
Died: March 16, 1898

Aubrey Beardsley was an English illustrator and author, whose works emphasized the grotesque, the decadent, and the erotic. A leading figure in the aesthetic movement, he was deeply influenced by black ink drawings. He attended classes at the Westminster School of Art before beginning his career as an artist. He was considered an eccentric person.  

 16 
Gene Deitch
(Animator)
Gene Deitch
4
Birthdate: August 8, 1924
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: April 16, 2020
 17 
Djuna Barnes
(Artist)
Djuna Barnes
4
Birthdate: June 12, 1892
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Storm King Mountain, New York, United States
Died: June 18, 1982
 18 
Judith Kerr
(Writer and illustrator whose books sold more than 10 million copies around the world)
Judith Kerr
3
Birthdate: June 14, 1923
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: May 22, 2019
 19 
Lisa Frank
(Businesswoman)
Lisa Frank
6
Birthdate: April 21, 1955
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, United States
 20 
Lisa Hanawalt
(Cartoonists)
Lisa Hanawalt
4
Birthdate: June 19, 1983
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Palo Alto, California, United States
 21 
Tyrus Wong
(Chinese-born American Painter, Calligrapher, Animator, Ceramicist, Muralist, Kite-Maker, Lithographer, and Set Designer)
Tyrus Wong
4
Birthdate: October 25, 1910
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Taishan, Guangdong, Jiangmen, China
Died: December 30, 2016
 22 
Pierre Bonnard
(French Painter and Member of the Post-Impressionist Group of Avant-Garde Painters ‘Les Nabis’)
Pierre Bonnard
4
Birthdate: October 3, 1867
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
Died: January 23, 1947

French painter Pierre Bonnard was part of Les Nabis and later led the Intimists. Known for his love for bright colors, he painted a range of subjects, from domestic scenes to nudes, and could even paint from memory. Though a womanizer, Bonnard was married to his muse Marthe de Méligny.

 23 
Marc Brown
(Author, Illustrator of children's books)
Marc Brown
3
Birthdate: November 25, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
 24 
Arthur Rackham
(Former Illustrator best-known works include the illustrations for Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm)
Arthur Rackham
3
Birthdate: September 19, 1867
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Vauxhall, London, England, United Kingdom
Died: September 6, 1939
 25 
John Tenniel
(Illustrator)
John Tenniel
4
Birthdate: February 28, 1820
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bayswater, London, England
Died: February 25, 1914
 26 
W. S. Gilbert
(Dramatist)
W. S. Gilbert
4
Birthdate: November 18, 1836
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Southampton Street, London, England
Died: May 29, 1911
 27 
Maxfield Parrish
(Painter)
Maxfield Parrish
4
Birthdate: July 25, 1870
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: March 30, 1966
 28 
Jan Berenstain
(Author)
Jan Berenstain
4
Birthdate: July 26, 1923
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: February 24, 2012
 29 
Lauren Tsai
(Actress, Model)
Lauren Tsai
2
Birthdate: February 11, 1998
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States
 30 
N. C. Wyeth
(Painter)
N. C. Wyeth
3
Birthdate: October 22, 1882
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Needham, Massachusetts, United States
Died: October 19, 1945
 31 
Erté
(Russian-born French Artist and Designer)
Erté
3
Birthdate: November 23, 1892
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Died: April 21, 1990

Russian-French designer and artist Romain de Tirtoff, better known as Erté, not just designed clothes but also created sets, costumes, and posters for opera and ballet performances. He had worked for Harper’s Bazaar and the Folies-Bergère, and had also penned quite a few books on design and illustration.

 32 
James Tissot
(Painter)
James Tissot
4
Birthdate: October 15, 1836
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Nantes, France
Died: August 8, 1902
 33 
Ralph McQuarrie
(Illustrator)
Ralph McQuarrie
3
Birthdate: June 13, 1929
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Gary, Indiana, United States
Died: March 3, 2012
 34 
Glen Keane
(Animator)
Glen Keane
4
Birthdate: April 13, 1954
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
 35 
Arthur Ransome
(Author)
Arthur Ransome
3
Birthdate: January 18, 1884
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Leeds, England
Died: June 3, 1967
 36 
Robert W. Chambers
(Novelist)
Robert W. Chambers
3
Birthdate: May 26, 1865
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: December 16, 1933
 37 
Tasha Tudor
(Illustrator)
Tasha Tudor
3
Birthdate: August 28, 1915
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: June 18, 2008
 38 
Alan Lee
(Illustrator)
Alan Lee
3
Birthdate: August 20, 1947
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Middlesex, England
 39 
John Bauer
(Swedish Painter and Illustrator)
John Bauer
3
Birthdate: June 4, 1882
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Jönköping, Sweden
Died: November 20, 1918

Swedish painter John Bauer, best known for his portraits of dense forests and fairy tale creatures, first gained fame with the release of his book Amongst Gnomes and Trolls. Part of the Romantic nationalistic movement, he was inspired by both the Italian Renaissance and Sami cultures. He died in a shipwreck.

 40 
Jorge Gutierrez
(Animator who co-wrote and directed The Book of Life, which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film)
Jorge Gutierrez
3
Birthdate: 1975 AD
Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
 41 
H. A. Rey
(Illustrator)
H. A. Rey
3
Birthdate: September 16, 1898
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
Died: August 26, 1977
 42 
Theodor Kittelsen
(Artist, illustrator)
Theodor Kittelsen
3
Birthdate: April 27, 1857
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kragerø, Norway
Died: January 21, 1914

Theodor Kittelsen was a Norwegian artist best remembered for his nature paintings and illustrations of legends and fairy tales, especially of trolls. Widely regarded as one of the most popular Norwegian artists of all time, Kittelsen's art has inspired the cover design of many albums released by famous folk metal and black metal bands like Empyrium, Burzum, Satyricon, and Otyg.

 43 
Mo Willems
(Animator, Children's writer)
Mo Willems
0
Birthdate: February 11, 1968
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Des Plaines, Illinois, United States
 44 
Bernie Wrightson
(Comics artist, Illustrator)
Bernie Wrightson
0
Birthdate: October 27, 1948
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Dundalk, Maryland, United States
Died: March 18, 2017
 45 
Devdutt Pattanaik
(Well-Known Indian Mythologist, Speaker, Illustrator, and Author)
Devdutt Pattanaik
4
Birthdate: December 11, 1970
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Mumbai, India

Indian mythologist and author Devdutt Pattanaik has redefined the genres of Indian folklore, legends and myths by retelling ancient tales through his books. A qualified physician, he later studied comparative mythology and penned bestsellers such as My Gita. His shows, such as Business Sutra and Devlok, have been hits, too.

 46 
Charles Dana Gibson
(Illustrator)
Charles Dana Gibson
3
Birthdate: September 14, 1867
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: December 23, 1944
 47 
Carl Larsson
(Swedish Painter Known for His Watercolors of Idyllic Family Life)
Carl Larsson
3
Birthdate: May 28, 1853
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: January 22, 1919

Part of the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century, Swedish painter Carl Larsson is best remembered for his iconic painting Midvinterblot, or Midwinter Sacrifice. Born to a poor casual laborer, he had a tough childhood and began working as an illustrator at age 18.

 48 
Alien Huang
(Singer, Actor)
Alien Huang
4
Birthdate: November 28, 1983
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan
Died: September 16, 2020
 49 
Roger Hargreaves
(Author)
Roger Hargreaves
3
Birthdate: May 9, 1935
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, England
Died: September 11, 1988
 50 
Saul Steinberg
(Comics artist, Painter, Illustrator)
Saul Steinberg
3
Birthdate: June 15, 1914
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Râmnicu Sărat, Romania
Died: May 12, 1999

A qualified architect, Saul Steinberg later established himself as a cartoonist and an illustrator and is best remembered for his contributions to The New Yorker. Born to Jewish parents in Romania, he escaped to the U.S. in the wake of anti-Semitic attacks. He also designed advertisements, murals, and theater sets.