Food illustrator: Uses for food illustration

This is part of a series of blog posts about different uses for illustration (particularly focusing on the themes and topics that I like to illustrate).

While I don’t especially like to pigeon-hole myself too much, I do tend to think of myself as a lifestyle illustrator, with a particular focus on, or love of, illustrating the everyday. And food illustration most certainly falls within everyday illustration, while also being able to encompass luxury and aspiration.

I think there can be a tendency to assume that the main use for food illustration would be cook books, but there are many potential uses for food illustration!

Potential uses for food illustration

Illustrating branded packaging

For example, for food and drink brands for their social media, newsletters, or even advertising

Illustrated recipes

For example, for recipe cards, cook books, food magazines or food columns in newspapers

Illustrating meals and kitchen objects

For example, for cook books, food magazines, lifestyle books and articles, social media posts, wall art

Illustrating individual food items

For example, for nutritional lists, food books, lifestyle social media or online articles, packaging for food companies

Illustrating drinks

For example, for drink industry advertising and social media, food and drink magazines, cocktail books, or maybe just general lifestyle purposes to illustrate the variety of rituals and comfort that goes with drinks of different kinds

Illustrating types of food or nutrition types

For example, for instructional leaflets, posters, presentations, for tote bags, or packaging for fruit and veg companies

If you’re a food illustrator, what types of uses have you illustrated for? I’m sure there are lots more that I haven’t covered here!

If you’re an art director or designer commissioning illustrations, what purposes have you used food illustration for?

And, if you’re looking to commission some food illustration, and you feel my style would work for your purposes, please do reach out – see the Get in Touch page for my contact information and see the Food & Drink part of my portfolio for more examples of my food illustration.