Illustrator

Class Specifications – D.15
Principal Illustrator – 6111
Senior Illustrator – 6112
Illustrator – 6113
Assistant Illustrator – 6114

June, 1976

Series Concept

Illustrators perform or supervise the drawing or painting of plates for purposes of scientific, technical or non-technical illustrations used in publications, slides, film strips, posters, maps, charts, exhibits or other visual aids; draw freehand or with instruments, using common art media and techniques such as pencil, carbon dust, crayon, pen-and-ink, lettering, tempera, scratch boards, oils, wash or air brush; understand and apply the advantages and limitations of reproduction methods including letter press and offset lithography; and perform other related duties as required. Incumbents understand and use instruments and equipment such as but not limited to any of the following: Camera lSystemwideda, slit lamp, scanning or translucent electronic microscope and dioptic graph.

The series consists of four levels which are distinguished by (1) the degree of complexity involved in the illustrations and (2) the level of supervision exercised over others.

Class Concepts

Principal illustrator

Under direction incumbents perform a wide variety of scientific or technical illustrative work requiring a high degree of skill in the use of the instruments and media; may work from rough drawings but give form and substance to highly theoretical constructs; reduce complex ideas to simple diagrams or schematic concepts; make original contributions to research projects of academic supervisors by providing independent interpretation of material being illustrated; and may supervise Illustrators in the production of illustrations.

Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and responsibility are:

Makes detailed scale drawings of insects, and parts of insects showing external and internal structure in larval, pupal, and adult stages after choosing the scale of magnification, determining the size and composition of plates, and selecting the characteristic features to be emphasized based on subject-matter knowledge.

May instruct graduate students in the use of the media and instruments for illustration by demonstrating various techniques and criticizing the illustrations of graduate students.

The Principal level is distinguished from lower levels by less need for review of the final product or intermittent stages of a drawing; by a closer working relationship with faculty members; and by a more advanced use of scientific or technical knowledge of the subjects being illustrated.

Senior Illustrator

Under general supervision incumbents lay out and prepare illustrations; establish the style, color treatment, format, and medium of illustrations; recognize scientific or other subject matter terms in the layout of work; are assigned responsibility for the accuracy of illustrations; design and produce teaching displays; and prepare three-dimensional models using various media such as wax or latex.

Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and responsibility are:

Makes scale drawing, with emphasis on characteristic features, of fossil bones and skulls after consulting literature and published drawings for size, shape, and features of similar fossils.

Makes sketches showing typical ecological community of various species of animals referring to field notes and sketches of faculty who collected the specimens and to literature on the location, habitats, and social in- tegration of the species under study.

The Senior level is distinguished from lower level Illustrators by the greater emphasis on interpretation of illustrative material rather than factual representation and by less technical guidance or review.

Illustrator

Under supervision incumbents prepare illustrations, posters, graphs, charts and displays; lay out illustrations under a format and-style established by a higher level Illustrator; and make tracings and freehand drawings for simple duplication processes.

Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and responsibility are:

• Lays out lettering, drawings, coloring, and shading work involved in the preparation of charts, maps, diagrams, and signs.
• Paints background and letters for exhibit screens or posters.
• Colors and retouches transparencies, maps, and photographs and letters captions for photographs and illustrations by use of leroy lettering, lettering machine, or freehand lettering.
• Reproduces posters and other materials using silk screen methods.
• Prepares layouts for bulletins, film strips, visual devices for television, transparencies, catalogs and pamphlets, including text material and covers.
• Designs, constructs, and installs visual education exhibits.

Assistant Illustrator

Under close supervision, in a training capacity, incumbents perform simple illustrating tasks; and receive specific instruction in illustrating techniques, practices and work methods.

Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and responsibility are:

• Applies shades or color with various media to posters, drawings, and charts.
• Draws simple charts, graphs, diagrams and illustrations.
• Letters by hand or by use of templates.
• Traces charts, graphs and does detail or background work on illustrations prepared by higher level Illustrators.
• Assists in the preparation of designs for posters, signs, and announcements.
• Assists in the design and production of exhibits.

Assistant Illustrators carry out assignments under the guidance of higher level Illustrators. The work is reviewed for accuracy and adequacy during and upon completion of assignments.

Minimum Qualifications

Principal Illustrator

Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma, and four years of progressively difficult illustration experience;-or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Senior Illustrator

Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma, and three years of progressively difficult illustration experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Illustrator

Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma, and two years of illustration experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Assistant Illustrator

Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.