Limner Journal

Limner is one of my visual references, and possibly even case studies for this project. I'm interested in the contrast between their eloquent discussions on contemporary illustration, and the rather 'lo-fi' images that exist on their pages as well as their unruly design decisions.

Text from Issue 3

'Our time is a time for crossing barriers, for erasing old categories - for probing around.'

- The Medium is the Massage, Marshall McLuhan

'Limner 3 contains only self-authored and directed work. We have chosen this focus because of its significant value in the case of 'probing around' and 'crossing barriers'.'

'Self-directed work within illustration functions as an expansion of individual practice, while also having the potential to expand the entire medium itself'

'It's a continuation of learning, questioning and honing of skills and ideas. It's a space for experimentation, for making mistakes, for using boundaries and for developing a visual language and authorial voice outside of the constraints involved with commissioned work.'

'Self-authored work has a unique position, sitting outside of a more traditional definition of illustration in a commercial or editorial setting, yet it is this position that means it has the possibility to redefine the commercial idea of illustration'

'Through the internet, self publishing, and exhibitions, it is now more visible and possibly more influential, than ever'

'We're asked to create work on a certain theme, with a specific function, for a specific audience, so what does it mean for illustration when we step outside of these parameters?'

'There is a feeling when making self-directed or self-authored work that you need to justify it to yourself, as the practitioner, much more so than commissioned work, in that it's no longer a "job" but sits halfway between work and a leisure pursuit'

'It can be treated in this way, as part of the process & the honing of your technique, or a space to rediscover the enjoyment of creating illustration outside of the usually panicked and stress-fraught commission/deadline structure'

ILLUSTRATOR AS AUTHOR

'As McLuhan, again, pointed out, it was advent of print technology that 'did away with anonymity' and created the idea of authorship as we know it.'

'He was discussing the impact of the, then new, process of xerography, which made it much easier for the individual to become both publisher and author.'