Rating: 
Summary: Golden Age Illustrations in all their glory
Review: I have the original 82 publication of this book, but had to buy this edition because it has many additional artists from the civil war era all the way to the end of the millenium. I am glad there is a new rise of appreciation for some of the most under-rated artists of the past. This book contains a nice range of work with good reproductions. I only wish many of the images were printed in a larger format, but it probably would be difficult given the number of artists represented. In any case, I highly recommend this book for all lovers of art.
Rating:
Summary: Golden Age Illustrations in all their glory
Review: I have the original 82 publication of this book, but had to buy this edition because it has many additional artists from the civil war era all the way to the end of the millenium. I am glad there is a new rise of appreciation for some of the most under-rated artists of the past. This book contains a nice range of work with good reproductions. I only wish many of the images were printed in a larger format, but it probably would be difficult given the number of artists represented. In any case, I highly recommend this book for all lovers of art.
Rating:
Summary: Great Art, little organizational forethought
Review: If you are an artist, illustrator, or simply love fine figurative art, this book is a must-buy. Most of the greatest illustrators are represented here. As a painter, illustrator, I especially revere the works of the Brandywine artists and those from the 1920's thru the 1960's. The colors are terrific and the vast array of illustrators is wonderfull. I have always felt that commercial illustrators were better trained and more disiciplined therefore more competent and confident in experimenting with style and media than those trained in the fine arts. However, as great as the images were in The Illustrator in America, for those who seek a bit more,especially those who paint, several things are lacking: Editorial content-the tag line that always accompanies book or magazine illustration which explains the event captured in paint, would be so helpful to have, and as a painter to me knowing the size and media of eaach piece is invaluable and instructive. I own the last two issues but I hope the authors do a bit more research and give us the above information, as well as a bibliography because in case we want to buy old magazines for the larger full-size reproductions, having the year and month or issue number would be extremely helpful.
Rating:
Summary: Great Art, little organizational forethought
Review: If you are an artist, illustrator, or simply love fine figurative art, this book is a must-buy. Most of the greatest illustrators are represented here. As a painter, illustrator, I especially revere the works of the Brandywine artists and those from the 1920's thru the 1960's. The colors are terrific and the vast array of illustrators is wonderfull. I have always felt that commercial illustrators were better trained and more disiciplined therefore more competent and confident in experimenting with style and media than those trained in the fine arts. However, as great as the images were in The Illustrator in America, for those who seek a bit more,especially those who paint, several things are lacking: Editorial content-the tag line that always accompanies book or magazine illustration which explains the event captured in paint, would be so helpful to have, and as a painter to me knowing the size and media of eaach piece is invaluable and instructive. I own the last two issues but I hope the authors do a bit more research and give us the above information, as well as a bibliography because in case we want to buy old magazines for the larger full-size reproductions, having the year and month or issue number would be extremely helpful.
Rating:
Summary: Illustrators Unite
Review: In my opinion there are not enough books available about the field of illustration. I am generally disapointed when I go to a book store and I see stacks of books devoted to graphic design and so few devoted to Illustration. When a book like "The Illustrator In America" comes along I will definately pick it up. This book is a wonderful addition to the library of illustrators as well as those who love this artform. As an aspiring illustrator myself this book is such a treasure. Not only does it provide history it is also a deep well of inspiration. Whatever field one may be in it is always important to know it's history. This book provides a great many examples of the work of prominent illustrators dating back to the 1860's. I was introduced to dozens of illustrators that I was not familiar with. Each artist is represented by one illustration and a biographical paragraph. The "big" illustrators like Parrish, Rockwell, N.C. Wyeth, C.F. Payne, Bernie Fuchs, Milton Glaser, etc are given 1-2 pages and 2-4 illustrations. "The Illustrator In America" is a good compliment to Apri Ermoyan's "Famous American Illustrators". Thank God for The Society Of Illustrators for putting these books together. I look forward to many more wonderful books like this in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Illustrators Unite
Review: In my opinion there are not enough books available about the field of illustration. I am generally disapointed when I go to a book store and I see stacks of books devoted to graphic design and so few devoted to Illustration. When a book like "The Illustrator In America" comes along I will definately pick it up. This book is a wonderful addition to the library of illustrators as well as those who love this artform. As an aspiring illustrator myself this book is such a treasure. Not only does it provide history it is also a deep well of inspiration. Whatever field one may be in it is always important to know it's history. This book provides a great many examples of the work of prominent illustrators dating back to the 1860's. I was introduced to dozens of illustrators that I was not familiar with. Each artist is represented by one illustration and a biographical paragraph. The "big" illustrators like Parrish, Rockwell, N.C. Wyeth, C.F. Payne, Bernie Fuchs, Milton Glaser, etc are given 1-2 pages and 2-4 illustrations. "The Illustrator In America" is a good compliment to Apri Ermoyan's "Famous American Illustrators". Thank God for The Society Of Illustrators for putting these books together. I look forward to many more wonderful books like this in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful Book
Review: This book is well organized, with gorgeous prints. Illustrations like these simply aren't being produced anymore, making this book all the more fascinating and valuable.
Rating:
Summary: The Wait is Over -- A Classic, Thoroughly Updated!
Review: Walt Reed has done it again! This time, he's added another 40 years to his sweeping survey of American illustrators. If you own the previous two editions of this work, you won't want to miss this updated treatment of Reed's subject. He's provided sumptuous new examples of the art of old favorites, and added a fine roster of previously unprofiled illustrators. The reproductions are gorgeous (this time around, they're ALL in color) and the book is beautifully designed. The price makes it a bargain. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: The Wait is Over -- A Classic, Thoroughly Updated!
Review: Walt Reed has done it again! This time, he's added another 40 years to his sweeping survey of American illustrators. If you own the previous two editions of this work, you won't want to miss this updated treatment of Reed's subject. He's provided sumptuous new examples of the art of old favorites, and added a fine roster of previously unprofiled illustrators. The reproductions are gorgeous (this time around, they're ALL in color) and the book is beautifully designed. The price makes it a bargain. Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I was looking for, but not so bad...
Review: What I wanted out of this book was an engaging art history examination of american illustration over the past two centuries. Something that gave proper respect and weight to a much maligned art form (Something exactly like the extraordinary Comics, Comix, and Graphic Novels published by phaidon). Instead I got a hybrid illustration annual and encyclopedia of artist bios. It's an ecclectic mix of greats rubbing elbows with the bad: NC Wyeth, Frazetta, Howard Pyle, Gibson, and Nast are presented beside a horde of Norman Rockwell clones and gaudy cowboy paintings. General overviews of time periods and the external influences on the art world in general are too brief for my liking. I would have liked to see more pictures per illustrator, but at five hundred pages it's already quite a hefty publication and a great deal of fun to spend tome time with. So despite my initial disappointment I have grown to like the book quite a bit and have spent many hours leafing through it. One major complaint regards the selection of recent illustrators profiled, because their account of the state of contemporary illustration totally SUCKS. I think they only profiled society members because they waste pages on some seriously weak artists while avoiding the kind of great artists that jam pack the Spectrum annuals year after year. There is so much great work in those books but not a stitch of it shows up here. Not Phil Hale not Dave McKean not Rick Berry, not even Michael Wheelan. It's a disappointing conclusion for such a thoroughly researched book but nothing that can't be remedied in the Fourth Edition.
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