Illustration as Object

Illustration as object has only really come about in the past century, alongside the rise of the Illustrator as a career and Illustration as art form. 

From tote bags to jigsaw puzzles, illustration is available to put on any object or product you desire. 

For this post I will be concentration on the rise of the illustrated badge, button or pin as object within this subject. 

Initially the badge started off as more of a means for the graphical arts with political slogans or funny statements adorning the small space of the object. These products have been around since the turn of the last century and came with the invention of Celluloid, the first reasonably priced 'buttons' were produced in 1896 by Whitehead and Hoag. In the first year of production more than a million badges were made, they included badges of football players, actresses and actors and were free with packets of cigarettes. 

These small canvasses really took off in the 1950's with companies using them to "promote holiday camps, comics, social clubs and products". 

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/4433299606286439/

The 1960's utilised the badge for political slogans, and were an indicator of what party you supported, badges were used alongside armbands and patches. They were also used as a signal of what type of things you were interested in, mostly musical preferences and bands began to make these objects to promote themselves. 

In the 1970's badges were worn by punks and this is how they really took off as a fashion item rather than a statement. Badges are easily produced and are limitless in their appeal to artists, and in more modern times to illustrators almost exclusively.  

One Illustrators that features in the book Badge, Button, Pin by Gavin Lucas, his contemporary illustrative style works really well with this from of presentation. These series of badges was apparently a celebration of British wildlife, the simple line of the illustration is really appealing and works really well on a small space, The colours are muted and the series of images comes to life when placed onto a usable object.

LUCAS G, Badge Button Pin, P13