I think the kind of illustration I like to do most is simple iconic ink imagery. One of my favorite projects of this kind was a set of illustrations for the annual report for a software company. They wanted something very different and expressive that would play against the stereotype of what a software company is supposed to be. The illustrations were printed full bleed on one side of the page, and typogaphy, printed on vellum, followed. When the pages turned it created a lovely transparent effect. This kind of work looks very simple when it is seen in print–but like a perfect letter in a font, each image goes through many refinements before it meets the criteria of the perfect blend of realism, abstraction, and iconic presence.

Iconic ink illustrations for TCDI corporation, ©Iskra Johnson