Remember the first time you picked up a children’s storybook? What’s the first thing you did with it? If you were like me, the words on the pages were definitely not the first things to draw your attention. For as long as I can remember, I would flip through the pages and let the illustrations in the book unravel the story before the words did. Illustrations were the first forms of art that many individuals of our generation were exposed to. Recently, illustration has become a form of art that is losing focus to the more contemporary artistic trends of today. But Illustration Age thinks otherwise.

Illustration Age is a collection of a vast array of innovative artwork by internationally professional illustrators. The blog’s team is composed of experienced and talented illustrators including Thomas James, Marjolein Caljouw, Mark Kaufman, Kelly Weed Stanley, Mark Scheff, Michael Byers, Kyle T. Webster, and Steve Simpson, all of whom work to compose a diverse range of themes and styles of illustrations.

This blog is very up to date, which is reflected by the contemporary style and concepts of the illustrations displayed by the bloggers. It exposes the audience to the political, emotional, personal, and stylistic trends and impressions of today. For example, this drawing called Government Shutdown by Thomas James is a commentary on the breaking news that caught the United States by surprise just last week. Not only is this blog contemporary, but it also embraces many different themes as well, from romantic, to realistic, to science fiction, like this illustration by Andrew Jones which intrigues the audience through its intricate details and science fiction theme.

Many blogs that compile artwork of various artists usually have a description about the picture written by one of the site’s authors or editors that gives away most of the illustration’s suspense and mystery to the audience. But Illustration Age keeps the author’s intervention to a minimal unless the illustration can’t be interpreted on it’s own. But something that this blog also does differently and that I admire is that it allows the actual illustrators to share their own insight or mindset when creating the piece. The work called Powerful Experimental Piece provides viewers with a background by the illustrator that allows them to perceive the piece with a new lens, creating a more complete picture in their minds.

The layout of the blog also places emphasis on the illustrations and focus on the actual artwork through its simplicity. The blue and white theme is very subtle and directly contrasts the vivid colors and 2D animations of the illustrations that the blog showcases. The posts are ordered by time posted, with the most recent posts appearing first, rather than by a certain category, making it easier for viewers to access the latest works fast. This blog also provides a link under most of the illustrations that brings the viewers to the illustrator’s blogs or websites, if they do have one, allowing them to take a look at more works by that same illustrator. This is very convenient because if viewers happen to take a particular interest in an illustrator and his or her style, they can now follow that artist without hassle.

Illustration Age also provides many links, services, and guides for aspiring illustrators or for those who wish to start their own illustration business under the “Resources” category on the blog. But unfortunately some of these services must be purchased. Under this same category, there is a link to a segment of the blog called Illustration Friday, which is a weekly illustration challenge in which anyone could submit their illustrations that pertain to the theme of each week, making this blog more engaging than others.

The blog is generally very popular, with 100,000 views every month and 34,000 Facebook followers. This explains why it’s a hot spot for many advertisements, which show up along the right side of the blog’s page. But thankfully no advertisements pop up and interrupt the viewers as they explore the blog. Illustration Age also does have a section to sell some of the illustrations featured in the blog or by illustrators who are recognized there. Although such a section does exist, it doesn’t prevent people like me who want to appreciate illustrations by searching the blog for free.

In a world today where a majority of the art-appreciating population has focused on the newer forms of art, like photography or street art, Illustration Age has definitely peaked my interest in illustrations once again. It sheds a new light on the two-dimensional medium of art, making it something that can rouse the viewer’s passions, thoughts, and interests through its contemporary take on this relatively old form of art, speaking from the perspective of a girl of this generation who has grown up watching cartoons and reading illustrated storybooks as a child. But fear not illustrators, because this blog is definitely making illustrations an eternal mode of art. As they say, “Long Live Illustration!”